Arts
Every year at the end of Thanksgiving, I say my goodbyes to my family members, and the moment the door closes behind the last guest, I connect my phone to a speaker and play Christmas music. Classic tunes surround my family as we begin cleaning up and getting ready for the next phase of the holiday season: Chrismukkah.
While it might not seem obvious, listening to Christmas music is actually a very Jewish pastime because most of the creative minds behind popular holiday hits are Jews.
If there’s one place where you are able to see the full impact of “Wicked: For Good,” it’s online. The movie didn’t just trend – it took over people’s feeds. Fan art, cast photos, aesthetic edits, and behind-the-scenes clips are flooding Reels, making the movie feel like a full cultural moment.
Ever since “Wicked: For Good” hit theaters on Nov. 21, 2025, it feels like the entire internet has been taken over by reactions, edits, and emotional breakdowns from fans. TikTok and Instagram have basically turned green with “Wicked” content. But beyond the hype, does the movie live up to its massive online energy?
I’ve always been a fan of giant robot action. From “Transformers” and “Mobile Suit Gundam”, to “Pacific Rim” and “Titanfall”, mecha combat has had its grip on my heart. Earlier this year, “Mecha Break” joined the ranks, and now “Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon” has as well.
The game starts off with a sullen and tense mission to acquire a pilot’s license for you, 621, an augmented human piloting a mecha known as an AC, or Armored Core. Coming from offworld, you and your boss, Handler Walter, sneak onto the planet of Rubicon and loot the license from an AC wreck.
I was pursuing a bookstore one day, when a novel in the corner caught my eye. While I know not to judge a book by its cover, I couldn’t help myself. The striking cover with the famous painting “The Great Wave” by Katsushika Hokusai splashed across, with rainbow letters reading, “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” stopped me in my tracks. The title was mysterious, yet familiar, and I felt that I had no choice but to bring the book home.
“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin is a novel from 2022 that follows two childhood best friends Sadie Green and Sam Masur over the course of decades, in their exploits as video game designers and later business partners in their business called “Unfair Games” that they founded with their friend, Marx.
The movie “Weapons” has taken the internet by storm with many saying that it’s a wonderful movie, and the reviews and ratings reflect that – the movie earning 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.5 out of 10 star rating on IMDb. However, was it really that good?
Critic Bill Goodykoontz on Rotten Tomatoes says, “This is definitely a horror movie, increasingly by the minute. It’s also really funny – in places – and the finale combines horror and comedy in a way that doesn’t cheapen either one,” and left it a 4.5 out of 5 score.
The last few years have been incredible for mecha and video game fans. First “Titanfall 2” made a huge comeback after years of near emptiness, then “Armored Core VI” released and revitalized the mecha combat genre once again. Then on July 2 of 2025, “Mecha Break” released and made its name known.
What is “Mecha Break” though? “Mecha Break” is an online multiplayer mecha combat game with a hero shooter twist. While “Armored Core VI” allows you to make your own unique mecha, “Mecha Break” takes more after its 2016 cousin, “Titanfall 2”, and has you choose from an assortment of machines with specific roles and abilities.
The Federal Way High School Drama Department has been busy preparing for their run of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The show opens on Nov. 14, and it will feature some Highline College Running Start students in its cast and crew.
These Highline students include Alinea Kirshenbaum, who will play Anne Frank, Avi Taylor, who will play Otto Frank, and Gale Miller, who is the Stage Manager Senior Trainer.
Listening to “My Little Love” always felt like speaking to that missing piece of yourself, apologizing for not being able to have a clear mind. For not being able to see. Being present but not genuine. In the song, Adele is speaking to her son about her most beautiful reflection of herself, which is him at an important point in both their journeys.
She expresses the guilt she feels for being able to have come so far knowing he’s hurt, knowing her choices might have broken him or have an effect on him in the future. The song is a confession, as well an apology.
Imagine heavy drums, legs bouncing, head nodding – this is what takes over when listening to Afrobeats. The category of music has been around since earlier than 2009 and is only growing in listeners in recent years.
Back then, Afrobeats music was spread throughout YouTube, Facebook, or you’d have to attend weddings and a dance hall to hear the new hits. But now it’s played on the radio!
“Chicago” tells the story of rivaling Vaudeville performers in Chicago, Velma Kelly (played by Claire Marshall) and Roxie Hart (played by Ellie Roddy), and their endeavors with men who have wronged them and the criminal justice system.
After seven years, Chicago finally hit a stage in Seattle (the 2020 tour stops were cancelled due to the global pandemic) at the 5th Avenue Theatre from Oct. 22 – Nov. 2. Simply put, this show was worth the wait.
It’s been eight years since “Andromeda” was released and it’s time to give it a look back. “Mass Effect: Andromeda” is a sci-fi RPG developed by Bioware that was released in 2017. It is a spin off series that takes place 600 years after “Mass Effect 3” (though the characters started their journey after “Mass Effect 2”) in a different galaxy altogether.
Honestly, I rarely give media five stars or a 10/10 rating as I always see how it could improve in one way or another. “Good Boy”, however, has earned all five stars and all ten points.
Not only does it soar with its concept, it sticks an impeccable landing and even does an impressive pose at the end. I absolutely recommend “Good Boy” to anyone who loves horror movies.
The black character always dies first. We all know it. It’s practically printed in the horror rule book right after ‘don’t split up.’ But “The Blackening” tears that page out, sets it on fire, and laughs while doing it. This movie takes that tired trope and says, ‘What if the Black characters didn’t die first? What if they lived, had fun, made jokes and had actual personalities?’
Radical. I know.
Released in 2023, “The Blackening” brought something horror desperately needed: a cast full of Black characters with range – messy, funny, chaotic, brilliant – and absolutely nobody here is the ‘token friend.’
Based on an odd yet relatively famous fanfiction, SenLinYu’s “Alchemised” takes the reader on a terrifying, heartwrenching, tearjerking journey through a dystopian war-torn society.
A colleague of mine explained the book “Alchemised”, saying “I can describe this book as a twisted blending of schoolyard magic and fucked up shit” and you know what? I can’t think of a better description for it.
With its soaring music and heartfelt storytelling, “Wicked” casts more than a spell – it sparks a conversation about identity, acceptance, friendship, and most of all, self-love. The Broadway-musical adaptation film invited audiences to look beyond its breathtaking visuals and magical setting to uncover a message about what it truly means to be human.
“Wicked” was one of the most anticipated film adaptations of 2024 and had very high expectations from fans of the beloved Broadway musical. Its release sparked plenty of conversation. While some viewers praised its stunning visuals and powerful performances, others felt it didn’t fully capture the magic of the stage version.
Once in a blue moon, an anime that changes up the formula and excels at it appears. This time around, it’s “The Witch and The Beast.” The anime focuses on the two main characters, Ashaf and Guideau, as they hunt down a legendary witch. To those who don’t want to be spoiled, don’t worry, this is a spoiler free review.
The show starts off strong with an action packed introduction that not only showcases the type of fight choreography the show employs, but also the inherent outlandishness of magic.
I love pop music. Every time an artist like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, or Billie Eilish announce an album, I immediately pre-save, pre-add, and pre-order. I am also an avid vinyl appreciator. I love the feeling of physically holding music and slowly lowering the needle of my record player and immersing myself in the catchiness of pop that has defined my girlhood.
At least, that’s how it used to feel when artists would simply come out with one standard vinyl, and then maybe announce a deluxe version a few months later. Now, it seems every artist is releasing numerous versions of each album, sometimes with the only difference being that each vinyl is a different color and the album cover is a different image.
Music has been around almost as long as humanity has. Like fire, stone tools, art, and clothing, humanity created music early into its life cycle. From the beginning, percussive slams and melodic hums have entertained and evolved to what they are now. Back then, music was made to celebrate. How has it changed since?
Well for one, cavemen didn’t have stereos and surround sound. More importantly, now music has lyricism and writing attached. Whether it’s upbeat pop or grungy rock, most every song has lyrics that convey a message and speak to the listener.
If you accidentally killed your most admired professor, would you descend to the deepest level of Hell to bring them back? Katabasis (proper pronunciation is contested and often contextual), in its literary definition, is the story of a hero’s descent to the Underworld.
R. F. Kuang’s sixth novel of the same name uses those familiar sources, Orpheus and Dante, and analytical philosophy, as the skeleton for this gory, academic fantasy.
Transformers is a series that resides in the childhood memories of many of us. The memories may be hazy, but from the first introduction to the giant shapeshifting robots in the original 1984 cartoon, every other day I would watch episodes of the classic cartoon. Love for this series has persevered to this day.
Then one day at seven years old, I stumbled upon a VHS tape (yes I grew up with VHS) of the 1986 movie. Yeah that was a mistake, though it’s one I don’t regret. After seeing fan favorite Transformers die brutally or already dead with no fanfare, realization set in that even the seemingly invincible giant robots could die.
“The Conjuring” is one of the movies where you mention it and at least one person in the room knows what you’re talking about. The story of Ed and Lorraine Warren is a famous one, made that way by the movies, and as of Sept. 5, 2025, their story comes to an end in “The Conjuring: Last Rites.”
Before going into the movie, a lot of people seem to have left a five star review, or higher. “The Conjuring and the Conjuring 2 remain some of the best horror films within the last 15 years for my taste. Some would even say the conjuring is one of the top horror films of all time,” said reviewer tresm87 on IMDb.
The last thing you would expect from a franchise based around giant robots is thought-provoking and graciously portrayed queer relationships, yet here we are. Officially starting in 1984 as an animated cartoon, the Transformers is an incredible franchise with something for everyone.
From the scores of toys for the collectors, kids, and stop motion enthusiasts, to the array of shows, movies, and comics for fans of the lore and characters, Transformers has it all. This is further exemplified by the amount of care and attention put into the many facets of Transformers sexuality.
Everyone’s heard of “Helldivers” right? If you haven’t, here’s an explanation: “Helldivers” is a game series following super soldiers (the namesake of the game) that defend Super Earth from evil aliens and murderous machines.
At least, that’s what the game jokes about it being. In reality, the truth is more complicated than that.
Pat Barker’s “The Silence of the Girls” (2018) landed on the radar as a direct response to a new literary trend hitting the market – Greek mythological retellings. Classical stories are being rewritten with contemporary themes, though at the end of the day, it would be nice to have an original story.
James Gunn’s “Superman” movie landed in the box office, with mixed reviews across the political spectrum. At the end of the day, many are glad to have a new soundtrack for the summer and a return to the traditional values of what Superman is all about.
In the first two weeks of its release, “Superman” soared past its $225 million production budget, earning $416 million worldwide. The film is overall rated 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.6/10 on IMDb.
In today’s world, more movies and shows are starting to tell real stories from different voices. Recently, some amazing projects created by Black directors and writers have stood out in a big way.
These works highlight Black creativity, strength, and storytelling, and prove that Black stories deserve just as much attention as any others.
Fifteen years after the first LP under the name Car Seat Headrest, lead singer/songwriter Will Toledo comes through with “The Scholars”, a 70-minute rock opera that works fine as a narrative piece, and truly shines as a benchmark for how far the band has come over the years.
If you’re a listener untainted by the Seattle indie-rock bands’ particular brand of angst, this newest album may take a little time to find its footing. The lyrics are complex and difficult to figure, and the narrative contained within the words is told with little attention to traditional story structure.
Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight” is a powerful and timely film that boldly redefines how Black history – especially Black women’s history – is portrayed on screen.
Now streaming on Netflix, the film tells the remarkable true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the first and only all-Black, all-female unit in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.
Two unrelated projects from separate comedians have highlighted a societal appreciation for ‘cringe’ humor. Nathan Fielder’s HBO Max show “The Rehearsal”, and Tim Robinson’s A24 dark comedy “Friendship” take place in this tragic space of social imbalance, giving us main characters who can do anything but fit in.
While Fielder and Robinson are vastly different comedic minds, both have imbued the world with true gems of awkward humor this summer. Each comedian has individually taken great care in giving us the cringe that we might actually need.
In today’s media landscape, where audiences are craving fresh stories and authentic voices, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” stands tall as a bold and unforgettable celebration of Black storytelling.
This film doesn’t just entertain – it uplifts, challenges, and redefines how we view Black history, creativity, and cultural legacy on screen.
While refraining from saying that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is back with their new movie “Thunderbolts*”, one can say that this Marvel film has a more improved action-to-storyline balance than others have in the past few years since “Avengers: Endgame” was released.
The film focuses on mental health; the characters work through their own trauma while trying to figure out their place and status in the new world. They help each other out of seemingly bottomless pits both literally and figuratively. Their challenges persist as Valentina, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, continues to stick her hands in the mud and manipulate the characters’ lives.
“Transformers” has always been a special series. Unlike other ’80s action series centered on selling toys, “Transformers” has managed to successfully stay relevant in mainstream media in a consistent manner. While “He-Man”, “Thundercats”, and “GI JOE” have jumped in and then disappeared, “Transformers” simply never left.
Of course, Hasbro’s darling and mainstay money maker hasn’t been without struggle. After the original series finished, it looked like “Transformers” would be forgotten. Then “Beast Wars” came. Since then, “Transformers” has grown to a mainstay of pop culture. After all, there’s nothing cooler than giant robots.
At a time when authentic portrayals of young Black love are still few and far between, Netflix’s “Forever” offers a refreshing and heartfelt portrayal of first love.
Through its setting and reimagined context, “Forever” tells a story that’s not only about love, but about what it means to be young, Black, and striving – for freedom, for connection, and for a future that feels like it belongs to you.
Nothing matches the feeling of being in a crowded theatre, the lights going low, and everyone putting away their cellphones for a few hours. While theatre is a magical place, the price of tickets can oftentimes be not so magical, especially for students.
The great news is that many resources are available for students to access theatre at reduced prices and sometimes for free! As a self-proclaimed theatre kid who loves a deal, here are my top suggestions for accessing affordable live theatre.
“Caddo Lake” stars Eliza Scanlen as Ellie, taking up a particular role of a perhaps mentally struggling character, and Dylan O’Brien as Paris, taking him out of his usual acting role as the sarcastic comic-relief, and putting him in the spotlight in this serious and mind twisting film.
The writers of “Caddo Lake” somehow pack in time travel, mystery, sci-fi, and thriller, into a sub two hour movie, all while giving the watchers insight into the separate, yet entirely intertwined lives of Ellie and Paris.
“Bad Batch” finished its final season last year on this very day. After the previous season’s strong and impactful finale, a lot of hype and intrigue was riding on the conclusion to the series. Did it pay off? Let’s find out.
***Be warned, this is not a spoiler free review.***
In the first episode, the “Bad Batch” starts on a somber note due to the tragic finale of season two. After the heartbreaking loss of Tech, one of the original members of the Bad Batch, and Omega’s capture, the surviving team members go home and lick their wounds.
On March 31, Seattle’s very own coffee shop, Starbucks, launched a brand-new mug collaboration with Disney. The limited mugs can only be purchased at the Disney parks or online.
The Disney food blog says, “this mug is a great way to bring the joy and magic of Disneyland back home.”
With two different options of the special mugs being sold, collectors can pick from options of either a Disneyland design or the Disneyworld design. The mugs feature different designs and themes than previous launches, including Car Land or Grizzly Peak.
“Parade” tells the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who moved to Atlanta to pursue a career at a pencil factory in 1913. There, he met Lucille Selig, whom he later married. As a Jewish man from Brooklyn, Leo is portrayed as a man who often felt out of place even with his Southern Jewish wife.
Leo, who held a management position at the pencil factory, was later charged with the rape and murder of thirteen-year-old factory worker Mary Phagan.
It’s not everyday that a generational social commentary also doubles as a sober and gutting rendition of your worst nightmares, but that is exactly what fell into my lap when I finally succumbed to the umpteenth recommendation of “Tender is the Flesh” by Augustina Bazterrica. This book is what happens when an author peeks behind the human veil and refuses to pull away when things get ugly.
We are immediately thrust into a world where a virus renders all animals inedible, and cannibalism is not just legalized, but mandated. Marcos, an employee at a human flesh processing plant, is our periscope into the hellish society that preserves the privileged class by slaughtering the poor.
“Blink Twice” is intense, highly abrasive, and extraordinarily unsettling. The movie starts unassuming, but has a far from comfortable, underlying feeling of: “Something is going to go wrong, but when?”
That feeling does not give away until the last 20 minutes, keeping the watcher on the edge of their seat, and genuinely enthralled. Starring Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie, “Blink Twice” is a psychological thriller, truly living up to the label.
Who here is playing “Marvel Rivals”? I imagine quite a few people have tried out the newest Marvel game. For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, “Marvel Rivals” is a hero shooter created by Chinese game studio, NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel.
The game was released on Dec. 6, 2024 and immediately became a smash hit. The premise of the game is simple. Team up with five other players to capture and either push or defend the objective, and make sure the enemy team can’t do the same. If you want success, creating the perfect team is integral, but how?
The perfect mix of predictable and surprising, philosophic and visual; “The Atlas 6” by Olivie Blake put her onto my radar at its initial release, and her name remained a staple until I finally sat down and tore through the book within a week.
The first book in a trilogy always has the responsibility to introduce the characters, their goals and limitations, and setting the stage for the larger story the series aims to tell. Blake sets up a perfect ring for our six protagonists to show the readers who they are, and what they can do, even if it is (straight-up) evil at times.
It’s been a year and some change since “Baldur’s Gate 3” released, and despite it being a single player RPG from a smaller game studio, it continues to get consistently major updates that add a breath of fresh air to the game.
This isn’t a rare occurrence of course, there are quite a few games that do this as well. However they aren’t as common as the games that add battlepasses and seasons. Take “Call of Duty” and “Halo: Infinite”, both of which have microtransactions and seasons throughout their games.
In the Quarter Quell of the 21st century, Suzanne Collins’ fifth installment of “The Hunger Games” saga, “Sunrise on the Reaping” arrived in bookstores early on March 18. Collins used her power to commentate on implicit submission and propaganda, while breaking hearts with a story we’ve held close since 2010.
Reader’s should absolutely read “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” before picking this one up. And if you haven’t read the original trilogy, what are you doing here? The shadow of Lucy Gray Baird is still on District 12 and the Covey, and to understand the full timeline of events readers need to go back to the 10th games.
Conan O’Brien has made headlines in the past year with a legendary guest appearance on “Hot Ones”, a successful Oscars hosting, and his acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize for his career in comedy that has spanned over decades. Though O’Brien has carved his legacy in the irreverent and goofy, his speech at the Kennedy Center was as prescient as they come, marking his signature marriage of silliness and poignant resolve.
O’Brien’s acceptance speech at the Kennedy Center spoke of his larger comedic ethos, and still thoughtfully acknowledged the recent disruption by President Trump, who named himself chairman of the center and then ousted the very trustees that nominated O’Brien to begin with.
“Dragon Age” is one of the premier fantasy RPGs of all time. Its cultural influence isn’t as large as “Final Fantasy” or the “Elder Scrolls”, but it’s one of the greats. Starting with the humble “Dragon Age: Origins” that was released in 2009, “Dragon Age” has cemented itself as a cornerstone of fantasy media.
“Veilguard” is a new stab at the “Dragon Age” universe that attempts to change the player’s perspective. Instead of being this well established character with a lengthy backstory that you either take part in or barely remember due to its lack of relevance, you have one defining event that sets up your connection to the main story.
El musical de Emilia Pérez fue uno de los más criticados por la comunidad Mexicana por la mala representación del director y los actores.
Muchas críticas rodearon la película por falta de diversidad e inclusión de actores hispanos, y muchos argumentaban sobre la forma en que los actores no interpretaron bien el vocabulario de las palabras en español especialmente los “mexicanos”.
The 97th Academy Awards aired last Sunday, featuring a cavalcade of one of cinema’s strongest selections in years, as well as the remarkably-seasoned Conan O’Brien hosting.
As with any Oscars event, this year came with scandalous rumors, a catty monologue, and no shortage of fan reactions over who did, or didn’t, deserve to take home the golden statue.
The tokenization of the deaf main character in “A Silent Voice” turns what could’ve been a beautiful movie about bullying, healing, and forgiveness into a film that feels emotionally exploitative to watch.
To promote prolific director Naoko Yamada’s newest English release “The Colors Within”, her film “A Silent Voice” returned to American theaters this past December.
Winning the Japanese Movie Critics Award for Best Animated Feature Film, “A Silent Voice” has become a beloved film among anime fans and critics alike since its release in 2016.
The 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremony was a two-hour event that gave 15 awards to actors and ensembles for their incredible performances, highlighting some of the biggest names in the industry as well as up-and-coming stars.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Netflix Sunday, Feb. 23., with charming host Kirsten Bell lighting up the stage. Shogun won four awards for best ensemble performances, plus actress and actor in a drama. Six-decade Hollywood star Jane Fonda was given SAG’s Life Achievement Award, and so much more, all complemented with nostalgic montages and skits in between.
The world tuned in last week to Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) landmark 50th anniversary special and the entire entertainment industry seemed to be in attendance, performing, or both.
Much like any SNL episode in the past half-century, viewers from all over the world looked on as the most famous people alive stood shoulder to shoulder to celebrate arguably the most consequential syndicated program in history.
“Onyx Storm” is a strange mix of hope and despair, making it a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the whole book. As I began the current end of the Empyrean series by Rebbeca Yarros, I was hopeful. That changed promptly about an eighth into the book.
I say “current end” because Yarros has taken a break from writing, which is extraordinarily sad, but the reason is understandable. According to every source out there, she has taken a break because she promised to spend the summer with her kids, as well as the fact that she pushed herself past her limit, physically and mentally.
Winning five Grammys over a diss track about Drake and performing a star studding halftime performance at the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans in the same week? No other artist than Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar could pull it off.
The show starts with viewers seeing the stage set up as a Playstation controller. “Salutations!” exclaimed Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam. Fans of Lamar may recognize Uncle Sam as one of the main characters of his 2015 hit album, “To Pimp a Butterfly”.
The Grammys kicked off last week with multiple performances from renowned artists, many of which went home making history in the process.
After so many years Beyoncé was finally able to win the most prestigious Album of the Year along with Best Country Album with her “Cowboy Carter”. Beyoncé came into the Grammys with the most nominations for her albums. She is the most nominated artist in Grammy history with 99 throughout her career.
As one of the most expensive holidays next to Christmas and New Years, Valentine’s Day grosses about $27.5 billion nationally per year. From $20 bouquets at the grocery store, to $30 chocolates, and of course all of the pressure to make the day romantic, or to find a partner, Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming.
If you aren’t feeling the love this year, or you and your partner simply aren’t into the classic “mushy” Valentine’s Day movies and want some different options, or if you’re single and want to be festive without having to watch the classics, compiled below is a list of movies from horror and thriller, to revenge and comedy, for you to binge.
“Spiritfarer” is one game that pops up every few years seemingly unnoticed due to its arguably niche concept.
However, the game’s core message and tragically beautiful story is so well done, that it’s disappointing how few people know of it. That is where this article comes in.
The next installment in our sequence of reviews shines light on the second (of three books) in the ever popular “Empyrean Series” by Rebecca Yarros. “Iron Flame” dives deeper into the story created in the first book of the series “Fourth Wing” as we see the rebellion take form as the war continues to get more dangerous and brings in some new fighters.
There are no lack of jaw dropping moments in this book. It is a rollercoaster of emotions, you might cry, you might laugh, possibly even both at the same time, but the plot twist at the end – which shall NOT be spoiled – that includes Barlowe and Riorson, will stun you.
At its core, Gundam is a grounded anti-war drama meant to showcase the horrid truths behind warfare. Civilians die tragically, characters lose people they care about left and right, all because the leaders of Zeon are obsessed with destroying Earth so they can be the premier superpower.
Gundam is a famous series that began in 1979 that follows a young boy named Amuro Ray. Thrust into a war beyond his comprehension, 15 year old Amuro is forced to fight to survive after his home is attacked by a nation of space colonists known as Zeon. Yes, you saw that right. The main character is only 15, and he’s not even the youngest protagonist in Gundam history.
It may be a struggle to find books that contain that beautiful touch of fantasy in a mature setting, but Rebecca Yarros, the author of “Fourth Wing,” has supplied readers with that with the danger of the dragon world, the wit of the characters, and of course the romance that sets this book apart, and had driven its recent popularity.
“Fourth Wing” is a book about a “war college for dragon riders” and how the main character, Violet Sorrengail, navigates and finds her way through Basgiath War College, a dark and intimidating school whose main goal it seems, is to scare their students into being warriors.
“Keep your eye on the donut, not the hole” has been oft repeated in order to call on us to look beyond tragedy and see the true beauty in things; it’s an optimistic sentiment that’s been evoked to pay tribute to legendary director David Lynch, who passed away last week just days before his 79th birthday.
The internet has been aflame with fans of Lynch’s work giving deeply personal accounts of the impact he’s had on their lives.
Rebecca Yarros, a traditional contemporary romance writer who’s been in the industry a decade publishing books for the common hopeless romantic, took on a new genre with a groundbreaking romantasy series in early spring of 2023. That May, “The Emperyan” series was born.
The release of the debut novel, “Fourth Wing”, was closely followed by its sequel, “Iron Flame”, which was released in November of the same year – only five months after its debut. It instantly captured the hearts of a generation with 1.1 million copies of the first two books sold within 13 months of release.
Blending heartbreak with beauty, and humor with tragedy, dark themes in literature captivate by breaking traditional storytelling boundaries. Through tales of forbidden love, moral ambiguity, and raw emotion, these stories reflect the messy, imperfect realities of life that allure its audiences.
Yet why do we find ourselves drawn to stories that explore the forbidden, the tragic, and the macabre? From stories of doomed romance to jokes born out of despair, literature’s darker themes strike a chord with readers who crave more than just happy endings. But what is it about these themes that fascinates their audience?
I know everyone says to not judge a book by its cover, but “The Roommate” by Rosie Danan is not a book that I would usually pick up, with its pink, frilly, heart-covered cover.
I still have no clue what provoked me to buy this book, I was even low on money at the time and put back a much different book that I believed I would have preferred.
This book embodies a Hallmark™ movie and I have grown to love that about it the more I read it. Yes, I’ve read it more than once – I’m pretty sure I’m re-reading it for the third time.
Most people have heard of Gundam at least once. It’s a powerhouse that rivals franchises like Star Wars and Halo in terms of popularity. After all, you can’t say it hasn’t had an effect when size accurate statues exist in not just Japan, but China as well. Gundam is a long running series with a legacy that seems intimidating, but it’s surprisingly easy to get into.
Created by screenwriter and novelist Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1979, the first Gundam series, “Mobile Suit Gundam”, is a tragic war drama set far in the future known as the Universal Century.
With a nearly untouched IP and a contested author behind the brand, HBO has their work cut out for them with their attempt at a new Harry Potter TV series.
The producers will have to balance the consumer demand for a blacklisting of all things J.K. Rowling and the author’s rights of creative control.
While double features are examined in our ‘Movie Duel!’ series, this selection took a turn once a far more strange phenomenon reared its festive head.
“Hometown Holiday” and “Christmas in the City” are both Hallmark Christmas movies available on Netflix, and their similarities become more and more stark until you realize something even stranger is happening.
Fans of Saturday Night Live (SNL) were delighted to see the temporary return of alum Andy Samberg during its landmark 50th season, which covered comedic takes on this year’s presidential election, where Samberg played Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris.
What was originally set as a short stint playing a political figure transformed into an even bigger surprise for fans as the Oct. 5 pre-election show featured a more-than-welcome new song from SNL trio Lonely Island, featuring Samberg with his musical partners and lifelong friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone.
What seemed like a simple anime about adventure, and the many ways to prepare food, turned out to be so much more.
For those of you who have never heard of Dungeon Meshi, or Delicious In Dungeon, it’s a manga and anime about a group of curious adventurers traveling through a dangerous dungeon, whilst battling monsters and hunger. At least, that’s the spoiler free version.
There has been a frenzy online over the dark romance/horror book series by H.D. Carlton called Cat and Mouse, and for good reason. The books are aged (suggested) 18+ and focus on the main character Adeline Reilly, who in the chapters through her perspective, is referred to as “The Manipulator.”
The books also focus on her stalker who remains unnamed throughout the majority of book one, other than the nickname “Z” and in the chapters that are through his perspective he is referenced to as “The Shadow.”
This year’s new horror film is said to be the scariest movie of the century, netting an 86% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though the withheld acclaim has not come without its dissenters.
“Longlegs” was directed by Osgood Perkins, son of Psycho actor Anthony Perkins – a fact alone that makes him something of horror movie royalty. Perkins takes the classic movie plot of an FBI agent pursuing a serial killer before he continues wreaking havoc, and expertly directs a fiercely skilled cast, wielding some of the most chilling and off-putting performances in recent memory.
Horror movies have an interesting habit of embodying contemporary societal fears, whether they are the vampire films of the ‘90s, alien invasion films of the ‘80s, or zombie flicks in the 2000s.
The 2020s is no exception either, as our current focal point of terror is far and away forced birth and a lack of reproductive freedoms.
Having been around since 1975, Iron Maiden, possibly the most popular English Heavy Metal band in the world, has been on countless world tours since its inception and has enjoyed overwhelming popularity and success.
Iron Maiden performed at the Tacoma Dome this past week, bringing in entire families, stretching across generations, and carrying on their commitment to bringing music and shows to the world. They continue on their “Future Past” tour across North America and Canada.
How much gore can a person handle in one sitting? Movie-goers were put to the test as “Terrifier 3” hit the theaters this fall.
People are preparing for the third movie in the Terrifier series. This movie included warning signs to the audience before walking in as well as vomit bags as some scenes got way too graphic and hard to watch. This may seem like an overreaction, but the resounding feedback for the film highlights just how shocked most audiences have been, even sparking censorship among some cultures.
Despite the fantastical nature of anime, there’s a noticeable lack of both POC (people of color), and/or people who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. Even with its popularity overseas, anime largely remains exclusive to anyone who doesn’t fit a certain mold.
While anime has instances of darker-skinned characters, they’re fewer in number compared to their lighter counterparts and are almost always Japanese. While dark-skinned Japanese representation is great, it’s only one type of representation.
Bringing us into the spooky season this year was none other than Tim Burton, the King of family-spooky night, with the reprisal of Beetlejuice. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” hits theaters in time to kick off the haunting season, 36 years after the original premiered.
Winona Ryder, Catherine O’hara, and Michael Keaton all reprise their roles as Lydia Deetz, Delia Deetz, and the exorcist himself, Beetlejuice.
When most people hear the word “Battle Royale,” they automatically think of the popular video game genre. But have you ever heard of the origin of the inspiration of that wildly popular video game genre?
“Battle Royale” started as a science fiction thriller novel written by Koushun Takami. It was completed in 1996 but wasn’t published till 1999. The novel consists of a class of junior high students taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing.
Although Japan has been open to the world for centuries, closing itself off from the world for nearly 215 years (a period known as Sakoku), has its long-lasting consequences, particularly in Japan’s entertainment industry. Said consequences have seeped into almost every aspect of Japanese culture in one way or another.
Unfortunately, like other countries in their “medieval” periods, Japan turned women into a commodity of sorts, something to be bought and sold. It isn’t easy to undo the centuries of cultural and mental damage such practices brought to the nation. Despite this, there are people out there demanding change.
Dragon Age is a strange game franchise. It’s wonderful, but it can be labeled ‘inconsistent’ as so many things have changed about it over the years.
The first in the series, “Dragon Age Origins” (DAO), was an edgy dark fantasy from 2009, complete with overt violence and horrifying social injustices that are handled kind of recklessly.
The 2008 horror thriller “The Strangers” was for many years considered a cult classic, with eerie dialogue and morbidly fascinating character design keeping the film relevant throughout the years. As with anything, its continued popularity spurred several more movies.
“The Strangers”, loosely based on a few true stories of home invasions, follows a young couple as they are terrorized by a group of three masked strangers during a stay at an isolated cabin.
Starring Liv Tyler (“Lord of the Rings”, “Empire Records”) and Scott Speedman (“Underworld”) as a couple on the brink of a potential break-up, the movie is distinctive in that a fractured relationship must be put aside in order to survive together.
Centerstage Theatre closes its 2023-2024 season with “Ten Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith”, a poignant family drama which follows the chaos that unfolds in an immigrant, Muslim-Egyptian family where the children of the family, all young adults in their own right, start to diverge and wrestle with the family values they’d been raised with.
The whole cast is stellar – bringing charisma, passion, and earnestness to their roles. The show itself is captivating and thought provoking, tackling powerful and heavy subject matter, mostly regarding religion, and the way those beliefs can become heavily intertwined with family dynamics, and an attempt to detangle the two and understand each other.
Minecraft, the block game beloved by many and old enough to be a part of many childhoods, has reached its 15th anniversary. The game has gone through many changes throughout the years and is still being updated regularly.
Minecraft has been able to consistently stay relevant even after 15 years. There are multiple factors that play into its relevance. The game is still actively being developed to this day. There are many creations generated by its user base. The game has plenty of media coverage through the various content creators.
Minecraft is a sandbox game where you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it. The game features many mechanics that enable you to play any way you want. You can build, fight, or innovate.
If you’ve played video games or at least have friends who do so, chances are you’ve heard about “Fallout”, the games series originally created by Interplay Productions/Entertainment, Black Isle Studios, and later by Bethesda. Set in a retro futuristic post-apocalyptic America after a devastating nuclear holocaust, “Fallout” is an RPG with a unique style known as dieselpunk.
Despite their games’ success, Interplay struggled financially for years, and eventually “Fallout” was sold to its current owners, Bethesda. Fast forward to today, and Bethesda has released multiple successful Fallout titles, which has led to the creation of Amazon’s Fallout series. ***Be warned, there are massive spoilers ahead.***
The game “Wuthering Waves” was released this month. According to the creators it’s a “story-rich open-world action RPG.” You start as the amnesiac character Rover, and you explore the world ahead of you.
The game had more than 30 million pre-registrations and the reveal stream has over 400k views. The game server opened around one and a half hours earlier than scheduled, leading many to be unprepared for the grand opening. Within the first ten minutes of the servers opening, over 100k accounts had been created already as signified by the user ID number.
“I Saw the TV Glow” is a captivating, heart wrenching film that perfectly encapsulates the lonely feeling of growing up queer in suburbia, and the confusion that comes when one doesn’t have the words to express it.
The film follows Owen, through middle school and high school all the way into adulthood, and his elusive friendship with a girl named Maddy.
They first meet when Owen is in seventh grade and Maddy is in ninth, and he strikes up a conversation with her about the book she’s reading: an episode guide to the fictional show, “The Pink Opaque”.
Have you ever wanted to play a game that lets you unleash torrents of magical destruction? Or do you simply wish to have conversations with dogs and skeletons alike? If that calls to you, consider playing “Baldur’s Gate 3”. “Baldur’s Gate 3” is a computer role-playing game (or CRPG for short), that allows you to adventure in the land known as the Forgotten Realms.
To those who may be unfamiliar with the genre, CRPGs are RPGs made originally for PCs and home computers. They’re designed a certain way with emphasis on intricate storylines and a simple yet effective gameplay style.
Netflix’s limited series “Baby Reindeer”, written by and starring Richard Gadd is a version of his own real-life experience with a crazed serial stalker. While stalking is the core element of the show, the deeper and more poignant theme is the human need to be known and the consequences of the perceptions of strangers.
Gadd portrays a fictionalized version of himself, Donny Dunn, opposite Jessica Gunning as his stalker ‘Martha’. The series is based on Gadd’s one-man stage play of the same name and with both presentations narrated by Gadd himself.
“Challengers” is director Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, which follows the turbulent relationships between its three main characters through the lens of their tennis careers. Unlike most love triangle romances, where one character is being chased by two others, this story gives each pairing equal attention, and showcases the ways the three get so deeply intertwined with each other over the years.
The movie itself is about tennis. Tennis is what connects Tashi Duncan, Art Donaldson, and Patrick Zweig. Art and Patrick had been best friends since boarding school, but once they meet Tashi at the start of their college tennis careers, a wrench is thrown in their friendship – they both like her, and she likes both of them, and they’re both sort of into each other, but none of them quite know how to make any of it work.
For anyone looking to explore the seas, Jules Verne gave us a peak at what could be down there in his 1867 masterpiece “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. With Professor of Natural Science Pierre Arronax, his trusty advisor counsel, and gruff Canadian harpooner Ned Land, the adventure through the water is an ultimate escapism dream for any reader.
With each chapter, epic battle scenes and treks through seafloor forests are broken up by detailed descriptions of the life found where no man has reached. For those uninterested in scientific descriptions or analyses, Penguin Classics has a well abridged version that keeps the action going.
The novel was originally published in a magazine as part of a serialization through publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel.
Based off of the Harry Potter franchise there have been many games that have been modeled after the books and movies, with all the original characters in place. But never before has there been quite a unique game made after this franchise that creates a whole new story like “Hogwarts Legacy”.
What’s more, not only does this game have its own story line and main quests, but depending on the house you choose this main story quest is a little bit different for each house.
Another feature that makes this gaming experience more unique is that the world map is huge and full of secrets – secret caves, tombs, and the one forbidden forest. With a hidden magical creature known as the classic unicorn. However, lots of other story mode games have huge maps. But what other game lets you travel by flying on a broomstick?
As we all tuck into theaters for the re-release of the Star Wars saga and the many films it gave us this weekend, nerds will give thanks to George Lucas, the creator of the series making May the fourth a sort-of Star Wars thanksgiving.
“May the fourth be with you,” we’ll all say to each other.
The origin of this social holiday came from a congratulatory publication for Maragaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. After securing the election, her political party placed the congratulations in the evening news on May 4th, 1979. It said, “May the fourth be with you Maggie. Congratulations.”
The action thriller “John Wick” premiered in 2014 and starred Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman who is pulled back into the seedy underworld of hitmen and organized crime after the murder of his puppy. “John Wick” both revolutionized and did irreversible damage to the action genre.
The film’s stylistic fight sequences and constant jump cuts drew recognition from audiences and critics alike, spawning three movies, a tv mini series and a growing list of copycat films.
Keanu Reeves, known best for his cult classic roles in “The Matrix” trilogy and the stoner comedy “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” plays the titular character of John Wick. Reeves has long been a semi-controversial actor in terms of his acting abilities, but the role of Wick has since endeared him to even the most critical of movie goers.
AI art introduced itself to the general public through novelty TikTok filters, but has since been used in major theatrical releases both promotionally and narratively. In a creative era already permeated by reboots and remakes, this dependence on AI art allows film executives to continue their mistreatment of creatives, in the form of writers and authors.
A24’s newest release “Civil War” was a top-five highest grossing film for the studio and continues its run in the theaters. A political thriller starring Kirsten Dunst, “Civil War” centers around the dubious ethics of war photography and journalism.
The 2023 drama biopic “Blackberry” is centered around the meteoric rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone, the Blackberry. Focusing especially on the character dynamics between co-founders Mike Lazardis and Doug Fregin with the involvement of corporate centric Jim Balsillie.
Glenn Howerton, revered for his role as the loveably psychotic Dennis Reynolds in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” portrays Jim Balsillie. Balsillie, whose drive for professional success leads him to interact with his colleagues in an abrasive, nearly pathetic manner, is a role that plays perfectly into Howerton’s strengths.
Based on the polarizing New Yorker short story of the same name, “Cat Person” is a 2023 thriller starring Emilia Jones and Nicholas Braun, currently streaming on Hulu. Both the original short story, written by Harvard graduate Kristen Roupenian, and the feature film have generated a fair share of conflict online.
The short story, and the movie by association, have been the center of a slew of online conversations. Ranging from criticisms of the unspoken representation of privilege, the supposed demonization of a vulnerable man, and the nuances of a bad experience in the bedroom.
“Lighting and thunder require time; the light of the stars requires time; deeds, though done, still require time to be seen and heard. This deed is still more distant from them than most distant stars—and yet they have done it themselves.”
This is a quote from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzshe that is included in the director’s notes for the show “Rope” which is currently playing at Renton Civic Theatre. The show is a thriller by Alfred Hitchcock and Patrick Hamilton, which follows two young men over the course of an evening as they attempt to get away with the “perfect murder”.
Music has always been a strong platform for people to express their emotions and their beliefs about a particular situation or simply about whatever’s on their mind. A lot of thought is put into how a song is made, and as a result, everyone has a different interpretation of its message.
For example, Creep by Radiohead, to some listeners, is about a young man who has low self-esteem and has fallen in love with someone whom he considers way out of his league. For others however, the song is about said young man struggling against his own self-loathing and depression as he feels outshined by a peer.
“First Date, The Musical” opened at Centerstage Theatre recently, and it’s a rollercoaster of a romantic comedy.
Somewhat reminiscent of the 1995 film “Before Sunrise,” the entire show takes place over the course of a single evening, following the two lead characters, Casey and Aaron, as their relationship evolves over the course of a single blind date.
Casey is played by Jessie Sellek, who has been in a variety of other productions at Centerstage, most recently, Fairy Sweetheart in “Sleeping Beauty”.
The 2024 release, “Immaculate” centers around devout nun Cecilia, portrayed by Sydney Sweeney and her immaculate conception during her time at an Italian convent. Sweeney served as a main producer, script editor, and lead actress in one of the best performances of her career.
Sweeney’s career took off during her time on HBO’s mega-hit “Euphoria” as Cassie Howard, a role that allowed her to consistently show off her skills as a on-cue crier. She continued her partnership with HBO with a role on season one of the streaming exclusive “The White Lotus”.
After finding a mysterious red envelope and being compelled by a group of old women into marrying their dead grandson, police detective Wu Ming-Han has to solve a drug case while simultaneously coming to terms with the ghost husband to whom he is now wedded. Maybe the hardest thing to believe about this movie is that it gradually gets weirder from there.
Wu (played by Greg Han Hsu) starts off the film as an arrogant and homophobic cop, chiefly concerned with his own career’s trajectory, and as he is faced with the unbelievable task of marrying a dead man, lest he continue to receive bad luck.
The comedy trio of Please Don’t Destroy are responsible for most of the viral content coming out of Saturday Night Live’s current seasons. Composed of Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy all of whom met as students at New York University.
Gaining traction on social media platform TikTok, the group consistently went viral with their surrealist comedy sketches. Particularly during the COVID-19 quarantine period of 2020, the group frequently collaborated on each of their three individual accounts.