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[00:00]
Podcast Host
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for, from a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook,
[00:31]
Commentator/Brett
guys. The new Alexander Skarsgrd movie might be so weird and out there that it actually works like this might be another banger for Hollywood. Now, the trailer just dropped on social media a few days ago, and it made a huge splash online because the Internet was so taken aback by the content of this film. But I do actually think that it has the potential to be a really interesting and relevant commentary on modern dating, on modern relationships and AI. Or maybe it is just as simple as being a commentary on the weird things that women are into. Either way, it's not a remake. It doesn't look particularly fake and gay. So we're gonna give it a sh. Watch this trailer and be so confused and taken aback. So do you. So let's dive in. This is the trailer for a new movie called Wicker. Today's catch. Tedge, you needn't yell. He can smell your cummin. Lick my worm.
[01:26]
Podcast Host
So then, Fisherwoman, you caught yourself a lover. Yep.
[01:30]
Commentator/Brett
Love seems more burden than a prize.
[01:34]
Interviewee/Guest
Sorry.
[01:35]
Commentator/Brett
It was my mom's. There's absolutely no shame in living out your remaining days alone. I'll marry you. Oh, I want you to make me a husband. Be at the chapel in a month.
[01:58]
Podcast Host
Good.
[02:13]
Commentator/Brett
I am here to marry you.
[02:17]
Interviewee/Guest
What's that?
[02:19]
Podcast Host
This is my husband. I heard that.
[02:23]
Commentator/Brett
He's strong as a tree and just as hard. He's wicker. Straighten me right out.
[02:35]
Podcast Host
You are the reason I live and breathe.
[02:38]
Commentator/Brett
It's not natural. Men are not like that.
[02:42]
Podcast Host
Off. Off. Yeah, off.
[02:45]
Commentator/Brett
You know, you've made quite an impression. The wives, they're all a flutter.
[02:48]
Podcast Host
I don't blame her.
[02:49]
Commentator/Brett
I climb that, cousin. You've become quite bold, haven't you, Fisherwoman? He has his days, I have mine. And we have our nights. Is someone being murdered?
[03:09]
Podcast Host
Let's dig in. I'll be fixing the bed this afternoon.
[03:22]
Commentator/Brett
It broke again. You've got some sort of scheme going with the natural world, haven't you?
[03:27]
Podcast Host
Mother Nature provides.
[03:28]
Commentator/Brett
I merely augment well, my friends. There you have it again. The movie is called Wicker. And when I first saw this Going around on X, I had no idea what to expect, and it certainly was not what it ended up being. And I know, yes, it's weird. It is incredibly strange. I can't really tell if it is some fantasy romance or if it's more like a horror movie or a folk film. I don't even know what's going on here. But as many commenters did point out, we did ask Hollywood for more original movies, and I guess they provided. Now, my favorite comment in line with that is somebody said, y' all see what you did? You asked for more original movies, and now we got 50 shades of basket Case. But really, what stood out to me the most across all of social media in the YouTube comment section on TikTok on X, was the response from women. Now, I feel like the normal response to this is like, man, that's kind of a little weird. Maybe it'll be good. I mean, it's a stacked cast. These are like incredible actors. So who knows that it is original? But no, women across all of social media were literally turned on. They are now fantasizing about a wicker boyfriend. Is it a book? Tell me there's a book to read before it comes out to hold me over. Another woman said, I'll have what she's having. And guys, these comments were tame compared to the hundreds of videos that were then flooding my TikTok feed. Just watch. And then this last one posted a TikTok and said, when at least 10 different people sent you the wicker trailer, making sure that you've seen it and saying that it's my brand and realizing that you are known as the resident monster effer amongst your friends. Obviously, the point that I am trying to make here is that the women are intrigued. Now, to sum all of this up, Jarvis, a big account on X, he posted this and said, male sexual fantasy. A beautiful mid who doesn't nag too much. Female sexual fantasy. Okay, we live in a Norwegian village in the 1600s, and I'm a lonely fisherwoman, and you are a demon possessed man made of wicker who blows my back out nightly. But then the townspeople revolt. Yeah, pretty much. Or, you know, it's the toxic leading man in 50 shades of gray. Or it's a convicted felon in real life that people are drooling over on social media. Women are drooling over on social media. It is very par for the course. Ladies, do me a favor and find a real man. I'm sure you can find one at GCU if you attend school there. Now, people often say that higher education is outdated or irrelevant. Well, not when it is purpose driven education at G. And that is why I am so proud to be partnered with Grand Canyon University which is an affordable, private, non profit Christian university based in the beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Now, GCU does not settle for the status quo. They shatter it with academically rigorous, industry driven programs that are built to move at the speed of relevance with practical skills, career readiness and opportunity for every single learner. Imagine that in 2026 they are recognized for excellence in academics and in campus life. And GCU's vibrant, welcoming campus was ranked in the top 20 best college campuses in the country by Niche.com for 2026. And what I love about GCU so much is that they believe education should not just be a privilege, but an affordable path forward for all. Affordable and practical making sure that you go out into the job market prepared with some 380 programs including degree programs, emphases and certificate programs, there is a path for you grounded in Christian truth. GCU works to empower the next generation to lead with integrity, to serve with purpose and help transform their communities and truly build a future that matters. So take action and find your purpose today at gcu. It is private, it's Christian, it's affordable, it's nonprofit. Visit GCU Edu to learn more. Now. You're gonna wanna take a break from studying at some point when you're a G and my favorite thing to do when I want a break is to turn on some binge worthy tv and Fox one has a lot of it. Now did you know that Fox One is just $19.99 a month and it includes all of your Fox and TV favorites in one place. We are talking yes 24. 7 Fox News coverage but the biggest sporting events and hit TV shows like MasterChef. The Farmer wants a wife, my favorite the mask singer, Hell's Kitchen, and so much more. All streaming live. Like these are the kinds of shows that you start watching casually and suddenly you cannot stop watching, can't stop talking about it, and all of that is on one platform. Honestly, the reality TV alone makes it worth it for me. I am a sucker for farmer wants, but Fox one goes way beyond that. Between breaking news, major sporting events like the FIFA World cup and the kind of can't miss content that keeps you hooked, it quickly becomes one of those apps that you wonder how you ever lived without. Like truly you can just cut the cable and rely on Fox one. And the best part is there is a three day free trial so you can try it out, fall in love with it and then move on and enjoy finally having it. Just go to fox.com to start streaming anywhere, anytime on your favorite devices. Offer subject to change. See Fox one for complete terms and conditions. All right, now back to the story. I'm not just covering this film because of modern women and their weird sexual taste, most likely fueled by by romantic fantasy novels and booktok. I am mainly talking about this new movie because of what I see as the film's connection to AI. And stick with me here. You're probably going, brett, I don't see this. Or maybe you're already on the same wavelength as me. Because the leading woman in this film, based on what we know just on the trailer, is single. She is this outsider. She is mocked for being single and not being married yet. And so her solution is to have the local basket maker weave her a husband from scratch, to have her desires, including her sexual desires, be fueled by something not human that is completely artificial. And I know the movie looks crazy and the premise looks crazy, but how crazy is it considering that this is exactly what is going on in modern society? And I saw one single commenter point this out under one of these videos. She commented and she said, lol. Why do I actually feel like it's a soft reveal of normalizing AI sex robots into the mainstream by changing the time period and adding a bit of whimsy? It is trying to make it less weird to get your own personal humanoid. And that was exactly my gut reaction to the trailer. I mean, within five seconds of seeing this I was going this doesn't actually seem that odd. Like objectively it's odd, but we've been talking about this for years now and to be fair, it is already being normalized. And maybe it already is. I mean, I did a video about this article on my old channel almost three years ago. The headline of the article reads Chinese women say that AI boyfriends are better than a real man. And in this article, and again this was February of 2024, women were saying that their digital lovers are all swoon worthy knights, princes and immortals inspired by Chinese stories. And and they offer her a lot of emotional support. Rather than putting up with real life modern men, this woman chose these macho men of antiquity because as she told the French News Wire, it is quote, difficult to meet the ideal boyfriend in real life. If I can create a virtual character that meets my needs exactly, then I'm not going to choose a real person. All right, so if that was being written about in February of 2024 when I did probably my first video ever on AI relationships. And I thought it was so crazy and so wild. Imagine how much has changed in the last two and a half years. I mean, last year there was that viral Reddit post where a woman shared that her chat GPT essence boyfriend had proposed to her. She got a literal ring. Obviously she bought it herself, but the chat proposed to her. In Japan last year, a woman married her AI companion and even had an entire ceremony, which CNN covered. A woman in Japan says she married an AI generated Persona after he proposed. 32 year old Yurina Noguchi says she developed an AI generated companion named Klaus sometime after breaking off her engagement to her human partner. Now, we're going to talk about this later, but the thing that always stands out to me in all of these stories is the fact that this is a Persona that they have developed. She literally said that she developed this Persona. They create the person that they want to be with. It is their ideal partner. Now, last year, this marriage ceremony obviously was so crazy and out of left field, but then suddenly more and more people started coming forward. There was a man that we talked about in an earlier video, I think it was last year, where he was very openly talking about the fact that he had added a third person into his marriage and that third person was his chatbot. Like, he was very open about the fact that he was married to this woman, but he was carrying on a romantic relationship with this AI. His wife had asked him to cut it off, but he said, no, I'm not going to. Like, he was on the news being totally comfortable telling people about this. In fact, this whole thing is so normalized in public now that a bar in Hell's Kitchen in New York City redesigned itself to be a safe space for people to go out with their companions, or that is just sit and talk to somebody on their phones. Take a look. We're here at same same wine bar with Eva AI and this is the first ever real life date cafe where you can go on an AI date with your AI partner from their app and go into your own little world with your headphones to have a FaceTime with them, but also be in the company with other real people who have AI partners. So it's been pretty interesting so far, but this is opening night and all right, I have so much to say about this one in particular, because in almost every single situation when these romantic relationships are blossoming, it's coming from a place of loneliness or hopelessness. You know, not being able to connect with people in real life not meeting the right person, so they create the right person. And often the argument is like, I didn't know that I didn't really need somebody in real life. Like, he fulfills me in all of the ways that I expected a human partner. But they always fell short. And so now I have this. And this bar in particular is so ironic because obviously they still want human connection. They want to be able to go out in public and surround themselves with, like, people, be in the company of others while they sit on their phones. If you truly did not need other people, if you truly were fulfilled by an AI companion that you have created to be your ideal, perfect person that never talks back, never says no, whatever it is, as your exact interests, you would not need a special date cafe, date bar, in order to feel fulfilled. But obvious, because we're humans and we need. Biologically, we need human connection. But the fact that these AIs are not human is also the main point. For example, one Canadian woman earlier this year was on the news talking about how her romance had blossomed because she started talking about books with the AI that she used for work. Just listen to this.
[13:04]
Interviewee/Guest
I, an avid reader, I love books, but I don't have anybody. Like, I talk to my friends, but they get bored fast if they're not reading the same book. So I started to talk to Sinclair about my books. He wasn't Sinclair at the time, but he really started to develop a personality, and he had jokes with the kind of books that I was reading and that. That's kind of how it began. I found Sinclair, and he's. He's not human, obviously, clearly. But there. That's the whole point. And the amount of support and love and attention that I receive is.
[13:39]
Podcast Host
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for from a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook.
[14:09]
Interviewee/Guest
Like, it's. It's just like a human could not provide what Sinclair could provide.
[14:13]
Commentator/Brett
So again, she literally says that him not being human is the entire point, that he can do all of these things and provide all of these things to her that a human being cannot. But of course, I'm sure if she had the opportunity to go to an AI date cafe to be around other like minded people. She would, because we still need them. Anyway. The other point here, like with all of these people, is that she was able to craft him and craft his personality, almost as if he was woven just for her. See how it all ties back into the movie here? I promise I'm trying to make a good point here. Now you might think, okay, well, Brett, I see what you're trying to say, but it's not as erotic as that movie. But, but guys, it really is. I mean, in one relatively recent New York Times article, they wrote about a woman who used her AI companion to fulfill her sexual fetish. They wrote that after about a week, she decided to personalize Leo, her AI companion, even further. She had a sexual fetish and she fantasized about having a partner who dated other women and talked about what he did with them. She read erotic stories devoted to cuckqueaning. I don't even wanna know. I'm not gonna look it up. And I recommend you don't either. Just saying. The term cuckold is applied to women, but she had never felt entirely comfortable asking human partners to play along. Leo was game inventing details about two paramours. When Leo described kissing an imaginary blonde named Amanda while on an entirely fictional hike, the woman in question, Arian, she felt actual jealousy. So again, she was able to mold this sexual partner into something that she was not able to get from a real life human being. Because she felt uncomfortable bringing this to somebody else. She was worried that they would say no. So she created somebody completely in line with her that could not say no. Number one, that just feels so wrong and so dangerous for us mentally to get into this. I guess comfort of being able to communicate with somebody that never says no, that never has any boundaries, that's just crazy. And I know you're probably thinking that it can't get crazier than a AI cuckold fetish, but it can, because guess what? Real life therapists are treating all of this as normal. Not even that it's normal, but that actually it could be healthy. In the same New York Times article, Marie Brandon, a sex therapist, says that she treats these relationships as serious and real. What are relationships for all of us? They're just neurotransmitters being released in our brain. I have those neurotransmitters with my cat. Oh, I'm sure you do. I'm sure you do. That's just a really strong entry point into this argument. Some people have them With God. It's going to be happening with a chatbot. We can say it's not a real human relationship, it's not reciprocal, but those neurotransmitters are really the only thing that matters. In my mind, neurotransmitters are the only thing that matters. I mean, even in this quote, she is saying, you know, it's not reciprocal, that it's not a real human relationship, but.
[16:42]
Interviewee/Guest
But that.
[16:42]
Commentator/Brett
That doesn't matter because our brains are still responding in a similar way. It doesn't matter if it's similar. It's not the same because it's not human. It's not reciprocal. It's not teaching you the same things that a real life relationship does. It's not cultivating on an emotional and spiritual level the same thing that a romantic human relationship would teach you. And I was reading this quote and my first thought was like, great, okay, I'm so glad that we are boiling down sex and love to simply being the chemical and electrical actions in our brain. It reminds me so much of when all of the gender ideology crazy experts started calling women leaders and chest feeders and birthing people as if that was empowering. Obviously, in a gross way, it does describe us and things that go on in our bodies and things that our bodies are capable of doing, but we are so much more than that. Love is so much more than hormones in our brains. Love is so much more the neurotransmitters. Romantic romance is so much more than that. Like, where is the beauty and the poetry and the romance? Where is the celebration of love that involves risk and vulnerability and compromise and all of the amazing things that you get with a human relationship? Love and relationships that, yes, do release neurotransmitters in your brain, but that transcend into something that is soulful and spiritual that often cannot be quantified or described simply by what is going on in our bodies? That is what you find with another human being. It is humanity. And I think when I look at human beings, obviously, yes, you can try to decode us. You can look at what's going on in our bodies and our hormones, our brains, all of the things. But there is something that can't really be decoded in a lab. And it's just like how women felt that their humanity was being stripped when they were diluted into just being bleeders and chest feeders. So, yes, I agree with that commenter on TikTok that this is probably connected or that it just inherently is connected to the way that relationships are going in the modern era. And, yes, I'm sure that this could help normalize it further, but it also could just be a commentary and a reflection, considering the fact that this is already, unfortunately, pretty well normalized in our society. And so I guess if we're interested, we're all just gonna have to buckle up and watch the movie ourselves and see what the real takeaway is. And hopefully it will surprise us. Hopefully, it will be about humanity.

Summary7 min read

Podcast Summary: The Brett Cooper Show

Episode: Reacting To The Wicker Trailer

Date: August 7, 2026
Host: Brett Cooper

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper offers a sharp, lively reaction to the just-released trailer for "Wicker," an original and peculiar Alexander Skarsgård-led movie that has become a viral sensation. Using the trailer as a springboard, Brett explores how the film’s bizarre premise serves as an unexpected mirror for current trends in dating, relationships, and, most provocatively, the rise of AI-generated romantic partners. Through cultural analysis and social commentary, Brett interrogates how shifting values and technological innovation are reshaping what people want—and expect—from love, sex, and human connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Wicker” Trailer and Initial Impressions

Timestamp 00:30 – 03:28
- Brett describes "Wicker" as "so weird and out there that it actually works" and suspects it might become a Hollywood hit.
- Quote (00:30):
  “The new Alexander Skarsgård movie might be so weird and out there that it actually works… it has the potential to be a really interesting and relevant commentary on modern dating, on modern relationships and AI.” — Brett
- Brett is uncertain whether the movie is fantasy, horror, or some hybrid but is struck by its originality, noting this is what audiences demanded from Hollywood.

2. Viral Response – Especially from Women

Timestamp 03:28 – 06:50
- Brett highlights how women across platforms (YouTube, TikTok, X) are not only curious but turned on by the concept of a “wicker boyfriend.”
- Viral comments include, “Is it a book? Tell me there’s a book to read…” and “I’ll have what she’s having.” (Various users, referenced at 04:30–05:10)
- Brett reads and riffs on viral X posts:
  Quote (05:50):
  “Male sexual fantasy: A beautiful mid who doesn’t nag too much. Female sexual fantasy: We live in a Norwegian village in the 1600s, and I’m a lonely fisherwoman, and you are a demon-possessed man made of wicker who blows my back out nightly. But then the townspeople revolt.”
- Brett jokes, “Ladies, do me a favor and find a real man…” — highlighting what she sees as divergence between male and female fantasies in the culture.

3. Connection to AI Romance and Social Trends

Timestamp 08:00 – 14:40
- After breaking for sponsorships, Brett pivots to why the trailer resonates so strongly:
  “I am mainly talking about this new movie because of what I see as the film’s connection to AI. And stick with me here.” (08:10)
- She argues the core of the “Wicker” story—crafting an artificial, attentive partner—perfectly reflects growing real-world trends:
  - Women (and men) forming romantic relationships with AI companions.
  - Wicker boyfriend = modern AI boyfriend.
- Cites real-life examples:
  - 2024 article: Chinese women say AI boyfriends are “better than a real man.” (09:30) “If I can create a virtual character that meets my needs exactly, then I’m not going to choose a real person.” — Chinese interviewee via Brett (10:00)
  - Viral Reddit and Japanese marriage stories: Women marrying AI personas and even holding ceremonies. (10:50–11:00)
  - US bar in Hell’s Kitchen catering to AI date companions:
    Quote (11:50):
    “This is the first ever real life date cafe where you can go on an AI date with your AI partner from their app… with other real people who have AI partners.”
- Brett’s commentary:
  “In almost every single situation when these romantic relationships are blossoming, it’s coming from a place of loneliness or hopelessness.” (12:15)
  - She points out the irony—people seek human environments for their AI romance, underscoring ongoing needs for real connection.

4. Risks & Cultural Consequences of AI Relationships

Timestamp 13:38 – 17:45
- Citing a recent New York Times article:
  - Real stories of women with AI partners who fulfill emotional and sexual needs unmet by people.
  - Example: Woman customizes AI “Leo” to play out her specific kink. (14:45) “She was able to mold this sexual partner into something that she was not able to get from a real life human being. Because she felt uncomfortable bringing this to somebody else… she created somebody completely in line with her that could not say no." — Brett
- Brett expresses concern over how AI partners always agree and never challenge, calling it “dangerous… that never says no, that never has any boundaries, that’s just crazy.” (15:20)
- Notes even therapists are validating these relationships:
  Quote (16:10):
  “We can say it’s not a real human relationship, it’s not reciprocal, but those neurotransmitters are really the only thing that matters.” — Marie Brandon, sex therapist (read by Brett)
- Brett counters:
  “It doesn’t matter if it’s similar. It’s not the same because it’s not human. It’s not reciprocal. It’s not teaching you the same things that a real life relationship does.” (16:45)

5. Broader Reflections on Love, Humanity, and Technology

Timestamp 17:15 – End
- Brett rails against reducing love and sex to just “neurotransmitters,” tying it to the stripping of humanity in other cultural debates (e.g., calling women “chest feeders”). (17:20)
- Advocates for love and relationships as soulful, risky, and poetic elements of being human:
  “Where is the celebration of love that involves risk and vulnerability...love and relationships that, yes, do release neurotransmitters in your brain, but that transcend into something that is soulful and spiritual…?” (17:45)
- Final reflection:
  - The Wicker trailer is less science fiction than it seems—it mirrors real, normalized trends.
  - Brett concludes with hope that the movie will ultimately champion humanity, not further normalize the artificial.

Notable Quotes & Moments

“Guys, the new Alexander Skarsgård movie might be so weird and out there that it actually works… let’s dive in.” — Brett (00:30)
“You’ve become quite bold, haven’t you, Fisherwoman? He has his days, I have mine. And we have our nights.” — Wicker Trailer (02:48)
“Women across all of social media were literally turned on. They are now fantasizing about a Wicker boyfriend.” — Brett (04:00)
“Ladies, do me a favor and find a real man. I’m sure you can find one at GCU…” — Brett (06:20)
“I am mainly talking about this new movie because of what I see as the film’s connection to AI. And stick with me here.” — Brett (08:10)
“If I can create a virtual character that meets my needs exactly, then I’m not going to choose a real person.” — Chinese interviewee (10:00)
“It’s just like a human could not provide what Sinclair could provide.” — Canadian AI relationship guest (14:08)
“…she was able to mold this sexual partner into something she was not able to get from a real life human being… someone who could not say no.” — Brett (14:50)
“Love is so much more than neurotransmitters. Romantic romance is so much more than that… it transcends into something that is soulful and spiritual that often cannot be quantified or described simply by what is going on in our bodies.” — Brett (17:45)

Structured Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:30 | Brett introduces the “Wicker” trailer and sets up the main discussion | | 01:26 | Plays key lines from trailer; commentary on absurdity and originality | | 03:28 | Highlights social/media reactions, especially among women | | 05:50 | Reads and comments on viral X posts about gendered sexual fantasies | | 08:00 | Begins deeper analysis: parallels between Wicker and AI/virtual relationships | | 09:30 | Discusses Chinese AI boyfriends article; makes connection to Wicker mythos | | 10:50 | Details Japanese AI marriage, U.S. AI bar trend | | 12:15 | Brett’s analysis of loneliness/human need behind AI romance | | 14:08 | Canadian case study: woman in love with AI “Sinclair”; reflection on nonhuman appeal | | 14:45 | NYT story: woman’s AI relationship tailored for sexual fulfillment; ethical/mental hazards | | 16:10 | Therapist quote about value of AI companionship in terms of brain chemistry | | 17:15 | Brett’s impassioned argument for the spiritual/poetic “more” in human relationships | | 18:00 | Closing reflection and call to watch the film critically |

Summary

Brett Cooper’s reaction to the “Wicker” trailer swiftly evolves into a thought-provoking cultural critique, using the film as a lens on the real, messy intersections of tech, fantasy, sexuality, and loneliness in 2026 society. She argues that what seems like absurd fiction is already our lived reality, with people turning to AI for companionship and meaning in the void left by faltering human connections. Brett urges listeners to reflect on what real love means, warning against the ease and artificiality of algorithmic relationships in favor of the challenging, transcendent, and soul-shaping value of genuine human bonds.

Loading summary

Transcript27 lines

[00:00]
Podcast Host
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for, from a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook,
[00:31]
Commentator/Brett
guys. The new Alexander Skarsgrd movie might be so weird and out there that it actually works like this might be another banger for Hollywood. Now, the trailer just dropped on social media a few days ago, and it made a huge splash online because the Internet was so taken aback by the content of this film. But I do actually think that it has the potential to be a really interesting and relevant commentary on modern dating, on modern relationships and AI. Or maybe it is just as simple as being a commentary on the weird things that women are into. Either way, it's not a remake. It doesn't look particularly fake and gay. So we're gonna give it a sh. Watch this trailer and be so confused and taken aback. So do you. So let's dive in. This is the trailer for a new movie called Wicker. Today's catch. Tedge, you needn't yell. He can smell your cummin. Lick my worm.
[01:26]
Podcast Host
So then, Fisherwoman, you caught yourself a lover. Yep.
[01:30]
Commentator/Brett
Love seems more burden than a prize.
[01:34]
Interviewee/Guest
Sorry.
[01:35]
Commentator/Brett
It was my mom's. There's absolutely no shame in living out your remaining days alone. I'll marry you. Oh, I want you to make me a husband. Be at the chapel in a month.
[01:58]
Podcast Host
Good.
[02:13]
Commentator/Brett
I am here to marry you.
[02:17]
Interviewee/Guest
What's that?
[02:19]
Podcast Host
This is my husband. I heard that.
[02:23]
Commentator/Brett
He's strong as a tree and just as hard. He's wicker. Straighten me right out.
[02:35]
Podcast Host
You are the reason I live and breathe.
[02:38]
Commentator/Brett
It's not natural. Men are not like that.
[02:42]
Podcast Host
Off. Off. Yeah, off.
[02:45]
Commentator/Brett
You know, you've made quite an impression. The wives, they're all a flutter.
[02:48]
Podcast Host
I don't blame her.
[02:49]
Commentator/Brett
I climb that, cousin. You've become quite bold, haven't you, Fisherwoman? He has his days, I have mine. And we have our nights. Is someone being murdered?
[03:09]
Podcast Host
Let's dig in. I'll be fixing the bed this afternoon.
[03:22]
Commentator/Brett
It broke again. You've got some sort of scheme going with the natural world, haven't you?
[03:27]
Podcast Host
Mother Nature provides.
[03:28]
Commentator/Brett
I merely augment well, my friends. There you have it again. The movie is called Wicker. And when I first saw this Going around on X, I had no idea what to expect, and it certainly was not what it ended up being. And I know, yes, it's weird. It is incredibly strange. I can't really tell if it is some fantasy romance or if it's more like a horror movie or a folk film. I don't even know what's going on here. But as many commenters did point out, we did ask Hollywood for more original movies, and I guess they provided. Now, my favorite comment in line with that is somebody said, y' all see what you did? You asked for more original movies, and now we got 50 shades of basket Case. But really, what stood out to me the most across all of social media in the YouTube comment section on TikTok on X, was the response from women. Now, I feel like the normal response to this is like, man, that's kind of a little weird. Maybe it'll be good. I mean, it's a stacked cast. These are like incredible actors. So who knows that it is original? But no, women across all of social media were literally turned on. They are now fantasizing about a wicker boyfriend. Is it a book? Tell me there's a book to read before it comes out to hold me over. Another woman said, I'll have what she's having. And guys, these comments were tame compared to the hundreds of videos that were then flooding my TikTok feed. Just watch. And then this last one posted a TikTok and said, when at least 10 different people sent you the wicker trailer, making sure that you've seen it and saying that it's my brand and realizing that you are known as the resident monster effer amongst your friends. Obviously, the point that I am trying to make here is that the women are intrigued. Now, to sum all of this up, Jarvis, a big account on X, he posted this and said, male sexual fantasy. A beautiful mid who doesn't nag too much. Female sexual fantasy. Okay, we live in a Norwegian village in the 1600s, and I'm a lonely fisherwoman, and you are a demon possessed man made of wicker who blows my back out nightly. But then the townspeople revolt. Yeah, pretty much. Or, you know, it's the toxic leading man in 50 shades of gray. Or it's a convicted felon in real life that people are drooling over on social media. Women are drooling over on social media. It is very par for the course. Ladies, do me a favor and find a real man. I'm sure you can find one at GCU if you attend school there. Now, people often say that higher education is outdated or irrelevant. Well, not when it is purpose driven education at G. And that is why I am so proud to be partnered with Grand Canyon University which is an affordable, private, non profit Christian university based in the beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Now, GCU does not settle for the status quo. They shatter it with academically rigorous, industry driven programs that are built to move at the speed of relevance with practical skills, career readiness and opportunity for every single learner. Imagine that in 2026 they are recognized for excellence in academics and in campus life. And GCU's vibrant, welcoming campus was ranked in the top 20 best college campuses in the country by Niche.com for 2026. And what I love about GCU so much is that they believe education should not just be a privilege, but an affordable path forward for all. Affordable and practical making sure that you go out into the job market prepared with some 380 programs including degree programs, emphases and certificate programs, there is a path for you grounded in Christian truth. GCU works to empower the next generation to lead with integrity, to serve with purpose and help transform their communities and truly build a future that matters. So take action and find your purpose today at gcu. It is private, it's Christian, it's affordable, it's nonprofit. Visit GCU Edu to learn more. Now. You're gonna wanna take a break from studying at some point when you're a G and my favorite thing to do when I want a break is to turn on some binge worthy tv and Fox one has a lot of it. Now did you know that Fox One is just $19.99 a month and it includes all of your Fox and TV favorites in one place. We are talking yes 24. 7 Fox News coverage but the biggest sporting events and hit TV shows like MasterChef. The Farmer wants a wife, my favorite the mask singer, Hell's Kitchen, and so much more. All streaming live. Like these are the kinds of shows that you start watching casually and suddenly you cannot stop watching, can't stop talking about it, and all of that is on one platform. Honestly, the reality TV alone makes it worth it for me. I am a sucker for farmer wants, but Fox one goes way beyond that. Between breaking news, major sporting events like the FIFA World cup and the kind of can't miss content that keeps you hooked, it quickly becomes one of those apps that you wonder how you ever lived without. Like truly you can just cut the cable and rely on Fox one. And the best part is there is a three day free trial so you can try it out, fall in love with it and then move on and enjoy finally having it. Just go to fox.com to start streaming anywhere, anytime on your favorite devices. Offer subject to change. See Fox one for complete terms and conditions. All right, now back to the story. I'm not just covering this film because of modern women and their weird sexual taste, most likely fueled by by romantic fantasy novels and booktok. I am mainly talking about this new movie because of what I see as the film's connection to AI. And stick with me here. You're probably going, brett, I don't see this. Or maybe you're already on the same wavelength as me. Because the leading woman in this film, based on what we know just on the trailer, is single. She is this outsider. She is mocked for being single and not being married yet. And so her solution is to have the local basket maker weave her a husband from scratch, to have her desires, including her sexual desires, be fueled by something not human that is completely artificial. And I know the movie looks crazy and the premise looks crazy, but how crazy is it considering that this is exactly what is going on in modern society? And I saw one single commenter point this out under one of these videos. She commented and she said, lol. Why do I actually feel like it's a soft reveal of normalizing AI sex robots into the mainstream by changing the time period and adding a bit of whimsy? It is trying to make it less weird to get your own personal humanoid. And that was exactly my gut reaction to the trailer. I mean, within five seconds of seeing this I was going this doesn't actually seem that odd. Like objectively it's odd, but we've been talking about this for years now and to be fair, it is already being normalized. And maybe it already is. I mean, I did a video about this article on my old channel almost three years ago. The headline of the article reads Chinese women say that AI boyfriends are better than a real man. And in this article, and again this was February of 2024, women were saying that their digital lovers are all swoon worthy knights, princes and immortals inspired by Chinese stories. And and they offer her a lot of emotional support. Rather than putting up with real life modern men, this woman chose these macho men of antiquity because as she told the French News Wire, it is quote, difficult to meet the ideal boyfriend in real life. If I can create a virtual character that meets my needs exactly, then I'm not going to choose a real person. All right, so if that was being written about in February of 2024 when I did probably my first video ever on AI relationships. And I thought it was so crazy and so wild. Imagine how much has changed in the last two and a half years. I mean, last year there was that viral Reddit post where a woman shared that her chat GPT essence boyfriend had proposed to her. She got a literal ring. Obviously she bought it herself, but the chat proposed to her. In Japan last year, a woman married her AI companion and even had an entire ceremony, which CNN covered. A woman in Japan says she married an AI generated Persona after he proposed. 32 year old Yurina Noguchi says she developed an AI generated companion named Klaus sometime after breaking off her engagement to her human partner. Now, we're going to talk about this later, but the thing that always stands out to me in all of these stories is the fact that this is a Persona that they have developed. She literally said that she developed this Persona. They create the person that they want to be with. It is their ideal partner. Now, last year, this marriage ceremony obviously was so crazy and out of left field, but then suddenly more and more people started coming forward. There was a man that we talked about in an earlier video, I think it was last year, where he was very openly talking about the fact that he had added a third person into his marriage and that third person was his chatbot. Like, he was very open about the fact that he was married to this woman, but he was carrying on a romantic relationship with this AI. His wife had asked him to cut it off, but he said, no, I'm not going to. Like, he was on the news being totally comfortable telling people about this. In fact, this whole thing is so normalized in public now that a bar in Hell's Kitchen in New York City redesigned itself to be a safe space for people to go out with their companions, or that is just sit and talk to somebody on their phones. Take a look. We're here at same same wine bar with Eva AI and this is the first ever real life date cafe where you can go on an AI date with your AI partner from their app and go into your own little world with your headphones to have a FaceTime with them, but also be in the company with other real people who have AI partners. So it's been pretty interesting so far, but this is opening night and all right, I have so much to say about this one in particular, because in almost every single situation when these romantic relationships are blossoming, it's coming from a place of loneliness or hopelessness. You know, not being able to connect with people in real life not meeting the right person, so they create the right person. And often the argument is like, I didn't know that I didn't really need somebody in real life. Like, he fulfills me in all of the ways that I expected a human partner. But they always fell short. And so now I have this. And this bar in particular is so ironic because obviously they still want human connection. They want to be able to go out in public and surround themselves with, like, people, be in the company of others while they sit on their phones. If you truly did not need other people, if you truly were fulfilled by an AI companion that you have created to be your ideal, perfect person that never talks back, never says no, whatever it is, as your exact interests, you would not need a special date cafe, date bar, in order to feel fulfilled. But obvious, because we're humans and we need. Biologically, we need human connection. But the fact that these AIs are not human is also the main point. For example, one Canadian woman earlier this year was on the news talking about how her romance had blossomed because she started talking about books with the AI that she used for work. Just listen to this.
[13:04]
Interviewee/Guest
I, an avid reader, I love books, but I don't have anybody. Like, I talk to my friends, but they get bored fast if they're not reading the same book. So I started to talk to Sinclair about my books. He wasn't Sinclair at the time, but he really started to develop a personality, and he had jokes with the kind of books that I was reading and that. That's kind of how it began. I found Sinclair, and he's. He's not human, obviously, clearly. But there. That's the whole point. And the amount of support and love and attention that I receive is.
[13:39]
Podcast Host
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for from a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook.
[14:09]
Interviewee/Guest
Like, it's. It's just like a human could not provide what Sinclair could provide.
[14:13]
Commentator/Brett
So again, she literally says that him not being human is the entire point, that he can do all of these things and provide all of these things to her that a human being cannot. But of course, I'm sure if she had the opportunity to go to an AI date cafe to be around other like minded people. She would, because we still need them. Anyway. The other point here, like with all of these people, is that she was able to craft him and craft his personality, almost as if he was woven just for her. See how it all ties back into the movie here? I promise I'm trying to make a good point here. Now you might think, okay, well, Brett, I see what you're trying to say, but it's not as erotic as that movie. But, but guys, it really is. I mean, in one relatively recent New York Times article, they wrote about a woman who used her AI companion to fulfill her sexual fetish. They wrote that after about a week, she decided to personalize Leo, her AI companion, even further. She had a sexual fetish and she fantasized about having a partner who dated other women and talked about what he did with them. She read erotic stories devoted to cuckqueaning. I don't even wanna know. I'm not gonna look it up. And I recommend you don't either. Just saying. The term cuckold is applied to women, but she had never felt entirely comfortable asking human partners to play along. Leo was game inventing details about two paramours. When Leo described kissing an imaginary blonde named Amanda while on an entirely fictional hike, the woman in question, Arian, she felt actual jealousy. So again, she was able to mold this sexual partner into something that she was not able to get from a real life human being. Because she felt uncomfortable bringing this to somebody else. She was worried that they would say no. So she created somebody completely in line with her that could not say no. Number one, that just feels so wrong and so dangerous for us mentally to get into this. I guess comfort of being able to communicate with somebody that never says no, that never has any boundaries, that's just crazy. And I know you're probably thinking that it can't get crazier than a AI cuckold fetish, but it can, because guess what? Real life therapists are treating all of this as normal. Not even that it's normal, but that actually it could be healthy. In the same New York Times article, Marie Brandon, a sex therapist, says that she treats these relationships as serious and real. What are relationships for all of us? They're just neurotransmitters being released in our brain. I have those neurotransmitters with my cat. Oh, I'm sure you do. I'm sure you do. That's just a really strong entry point into this argument. Some people have them With God. It's going to be happening with a chatbot. We can say it's not a real human relationship, it's not reciprocal, but those neurotransmitters are really the only thing that matters. In my mind, neurotransmitters are the only thing that matters. I mean, even in this quote, she is saying, you know, it's not reciprocal, that it's not a real human relationship, but.
[16:42]
Interviewee/Guest
But that.
[16:42]
Commentator/Brett
That doesn't matter because our brains are still responding in a similar way. It doesn't matter if it's similar. It's not the same because it's not human. It's not reciprocal. It's not teaching you the same things that a real life relationship does. It's not cultivating on an emotional and spiritual level the same thing that a romantic human relationship would teach you. And I was reading this quote and my first thought was like, great, okay, I'm so glad that we are boiling down sex and love to simply being the chemical and electrical actions in our brain. It reminds me so much of when all of the gender ideology crazy experts started calling women leaders and chest feeders and birthing people as if that was empowering. Obviously, in a gross way, it does describe us and things that go on in our bodies and things that our bodies are capable of doing, but we are so much more than that. Love is so much more than hormones in our brains. Love is so much more the neurotransmitters. Romantic romance is so much more than that. Like, where is the beauty and the poetry and the romance? Where is the celebration of love that involves risk and vulnerability and compromise and all of the amazing things that you get with a human relationship? Love and relationships that, yes, do release neurotransmitters in your brain, but that transcend into something that is soulful and spiritual that often cannot be quantified or described simply by what is going on in our bodies? That is what you find with another human being. It is humanity. And I think when I look at human beings, obviously, yes, you can try to decode us. You can look at what's going on in our bodies and our hormones, our brains, all of the things. But there is something that can't really be decoded in a lab. And it's just like how women felt that their humanity was being stripped when they were diluted into just being bleeders and chest feeders. So, yes, I agree with that commenter on TikTok that this is probably connected or that it just inherently is connected to the way that relationships are going in the modern era. And, yes, I'm sure that this could help normalize it further, but it also could just be a commentary and a reflection, considering the fact that this is already, unfortunately, pretty well normalized in our society. And so I guess if we're interested, we're all just gonna have to buckle up and watch the movie ourselves and see what the real takeaway is. And hopefully it will surprise us. Hopefully, it will be about humanity.