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Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Review
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (Jane Austen a gâché ma vie) is not your average rom-com nor your average dose of literary cottagcore. It follows Agathe (Camille Rutherford), an awkward, aspiring writer from Paris invited to spend two weeks at a writers' retreat in England held by Jane Austen's distant relatives, a strange event that she needs to pull her out of her slump — in writing and in life. What could be a basic struggling artist's journey of self-discovery and inspiration has many nuances and idiosyncrasies, making for a thoroughly off-the-beaten-path narrative that provokes thought despite some minor loose threads.
Camille Rutherford brings to life the quirky, fluttery, romantic, and perpetually unsure nature of Agathe Robinson, who works at the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris and writes the beginning chapters of books she never finishes. She just seems to be looking for something more.
Camille Rutherford brings to life the quirky, fluttery, romantic, and perpetually unsure nature of Agathe Robinson, who works at the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris and writes the beginning chapters of books she never finishes. She just seems to be looking for something more.
Sinners Deeper Meaning Explained
Ryan Coogler's Sinners debuted to widespread acclaim, which was no surprise considering its poignant story about so much more than vampires. Leading up to its release, perhaps the biggest draw was Sinners' cast, with Creed and Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan taking on the dual role of twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Of course, Sinners' promise of fresh vampire lore was also a crowd-pleasing element to market, one which the movie certainly delivered with all the most classic vampire strengths and weaknesses incorporated into the story.
Yet the movie goes far beyond this, depicting an overlap of biological and found families standing together to the best of their ability when they are threatened by human and supernatural evils.
Yet the movie goes far beyond this, depicting an overlap of biological and found families standing together to the best of their ability when they are threatened by human and supernatural evils.
Andor Season 2 Review
"The Empire cannot win" has been a line regularly used by the marketing for Andor season 2, indicating the desperation that permeates the entire show. The conclusion of what is still going to be the frontrunner for the best Star Wars TV show (at least of the Disney+ originals) only goes further with its depiction of the brutality of the Empire, showing how people on both sides are beginning to crack, and irrevocably changing the subtext of Star Wars.
Andor season 2 is more about Diego Luna's Cassian Andor than season 1 is, but it still frames his story with a rotating roster of supporting characters who denote that what's happening is bigger than one person, all with the ever-looming threat of the Death Star hanging over them. Intrigue and tension expertly build and boil over into action and catharsis with each arc.
Andor season 2 is more about Diego Luna's Cassian Andor than season 1 is, but it still frames his story with a rotating roster of supporting characters who denote that what's happening is bigger than one person, all with the ever-looming threat of the Death Star hanging over them. Intrigue and tension expertly build and boil over into action and catharsis with each arc.
The Death of Snow White Review
Part Once Upon a Time, part Grimms' Fairy Tales, part gore fest, The Death of Snow White pulls no punches. Sanae Loutsis leads as the charming titular princess in a movie that sticks to the framework of the tale but fills it with death and mayhem. The Death of Snow White is just having fun with a story that has been told one too many times but still offers up some elements that at least make you think about how this narrative could have greater meaning, which is even more pointed in the month of Disney's live-action Snow White debacle.
With my recently published Rumpelstiltskin review, this has been the month for quirky, low-budget fairy tale retellings for me. What I have drawn from the inevitable comparison is that while Rumpelstiltskin is trying to be a serious movie in a lot of ways, The Death of Snow White embraces the camp. There is some great comedy in this, and the performances go hand in hand with the script and production. With early conversations leaning into the goofiness, it permits us not to take everything else too seriously, leading to being surprised by some oddly genuine moments and decent dramatic acting.
With my recently published Rumpelstiltskin review, this has been the month for quirky, low-budget fairy tale retellings for me. What I have drawn from the inevitable comparison is that while Rumpelstiltskin is trying to be a serious movie in a lot of ways, The Death of Snow White embraces the camp. There is some great comedy in this, and the performances go hand in hand with the script and production. With early conversations leaning into the goofiness, it permits us not to take everything else too seriously, leading to being surprised by some oddly genuine moments and decent dramatic acting.
Rumpelstiltskin Review
I absolutely love modern fairy tale retellings, but drawing from this rich well of public domain and creating a new story that actually has something to say and isn't just a beat-for-beat adaptation is pretty tricky. Rumpelstiltskin is a horror-inclined indie project, produced by the intrepid Paranoid Android company, which follows the original tale pretty closely but fills in some empty spaces with additional plot. Compared to Once Upon a Time and Shrek's more sprawling and at times convoluted takes on the titular character, this tight, contained story has the potential to delve into him in a more personal way.
The 5 Best Picture Oscar Winners Of The 2020s, Ranked Worst To Best
Cover image by Ana Nieves. | The 2020s have seen some incredibly tight competition at the Oscars , but there has been variation in the years when there was an obvious Best Picture winner and an incredibly close call. Going into the most recent Oscars ceremony, there may have still been some debate left, but at some point in the evening it became clear that Anora would sweep and win Best Picture. This was similarly the case with the two Best Picture winners before it, which won in several major categories before going home with the top prize.
The early 2020s perhaps saw more disappointing and controversial wins, and the industry coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic likely affected this. The biggest surprises and snubs of the 2025 Oscars cannot compare to some of the shocking turns in recent years. On the other hand, all these movies were driven by their performances, as there is a definitive link between the Best Picture winner and the acting categories. However, each Best Picture winner in the past five years has offered something different in terms of the evolution of cinema, impacting which stories are told and how.
The early 2020s perhaps saw more disappointing and controversial wins, and the industry coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic likely affected this. The biggest surprises and snubs of the 2025 Oscars cannot compare to some of the shocking turns in recent years. On the other hand, all these movies were driven by their performances, as there is a definitive link between the Best Picture winner and the acting categories. However, each Best Picture winner in the past five years has offered something different in terms of the evolution of cinema, impacting which stories are told and how.
Interview with Amal El-Mohtar, The River Has Roots
Yeah of course! So, the story is a retelling of a 17th century-ish ballad type, that gets called “The Cruel Sister,” but you hear a lot of different names of it, it’s like “The Bonny Swans” as Loreena McKennitt did it, “Two Sisters” and so on. The general gist is that there are two sisters in the ballad, who are being courted by the same man who is never the villain of the song, mysteriously, but he prefers the younger sister, this older sister gets jealous, kills the younger sister, and then in being murdered the younger sister goes through this series of transformations, that usually ends up in her being an instrument at the end that sings the song of her murder.
I love ballads, I love this particular ballad, I have for a long time, but it’s always sort of itched at me as an elder sister, as the eldest of four, to be like, “But what if sisters loved each other the way my sister and I love each other?” and “What if the villainy was located in the correct person in this scenario?” So, the story in question is about two sisters who love each other very much, and whose sort of job is to sing to these willows that stand at the borders of faerie land and their mundane English village.
I love ballads, I love this particular ballad, I have for a long time, but it’s always sort of itched at me as an elder sister, as the eldest of four, to be like, “But what if sisters loved each other the way my sister and I love each other?” and “What if the villainy was located in the correct person in this scenario?” So, the story in question is about two sisters who love each other very much, and whose sort of job is to sing to these willows that stand at the borders of faerie land and their mundane English village.
Disney's Best Animated Movie Dominance Is Officially Over
Surprisingly (or not, depending on how you look at it), Flow took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature this year, cementing Disney's losing streak in recent years. The Best Animated Feature category has historically been dominated by the biggest animation studios in Hollywood, which typically turn out animated (and generally good) family films with broad appeal. However, more experimental, mature, and independent animated films have been on the rise. Flow is an entirely silent film, clocking in at only an hour and a half, and an international feature distributed by Janus Films and UFO Distribution.
Flow's protagonist is a cat, who finds itself in the company of a group of various animals forced to depend on each other when their home is flooded. Flow was evidently one of the best animated movies of 2024, but its awards season run still saw it overcome tough odds. Kicking things off with its Golden Globe win, Flow never lost momentum and made it all the way to Best Animated Feature, despite many still predicting The Wild Robot. However, what is most significant about Flow is what it shares with the most recent winners.
Flow's protagonist is a cat, who finds itself in the company of a group of various animals forced to depend on each other when their home is flooded. Flow was evidently one of the best animated movies of 2024, but its awards season run still saw it overcome tough odds. Kicking things off with its Golden Globe win, Flow never lost momentum and made it all the way to Best Animated Feature, despite many still predicting The Wild Robot. However, what is most significant about Flow is what it shares with the most recent winners.
Sword Stone Table Anthology Review
Arthuriana tends to hold its characters up as the be-all, end-all narrative: the greatest king and knights that ever lived, the most powerful sorcerers to exist, the civilization that we will never achieve again. Of course, there are a lot of fundamental issues with this viewpoint. Namely, the Arthurian myth is by no means universal when it marginalizes a lot of people. However, Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices achieves the feeling of Arthuriana being much more widespread in influence through a selection of short stories reinterpreting the legend through a LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC lens.
A kind of universality by allowing a legend to permeate all human experiences while stressing that life is fundamentally varied is something an anthology can achieve well. The creators of this book also made the brilliant decision to break it up into three sections — once, present, and future — to contribute to the sense of a mythos that can apply to all people throughout time, all poetically slotting into place with the obvious reference to the Once and Future King.
A kind of universality by allowing a legend to permeate all human experiences while stressing that life is fundamentally varied is something an anthology can achieve well. The creators of this book also made the brilliant decision to break it up into three sections — once, present, and future — to contribute to the sense of a mythos that can apply to all people throughout time, all poetically slotting into place with the obvious reference to the Once and Future King.
Being Ace: An Anthology Review
As partially noted by other reviewers upon the book’s release in 2023, Being Ace: An Anthology […] makes a key argument for many marginalized identities that aces have existed throughout history in every corner of the universe, an effect that is truly best accomplished through an anthology that can show more of those people and places than a single narrative. Ace rep in sci-fi-fantasy is thankfully moving out of robots and aliens intrinsically devoid of humanity, but as with much LGBTQIA+ rep, there is still a way to go. And Being Ace is the type of collection playing a crucial role in this movement, gathering a variety of sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary stories that muse on the truths of being ace.
Every Episode Of Helluva Boss, Ranked Worst To Best
Cover image by Simone Ashmoore. | Helluva Boss is a chaotic show from the pilot to its most recent season finale, showing off a wild vision of Hell and the demons who live there through their daily escapades as they strive to rise to the top. Helluva Boss is the other adult animated series from Hazbin Hotel creator Vivienne Medrado, available on her YouTube channel "VivziePop." While Hazbin Hotel's story shows what the devil and his daughter are up to, Helluva Boss follows Blitzø (Brandon Rogers) and his company of fellow Imp assassins, known as I.M.P. (Immediate Murder Professionals), who kill people in the living world.
With Imps being the working class of Hell, Blitzø and his employees — including his adoptive daughter Loona (Erica Lindbeck) and married couple Moxxie (Richard Steven Horvitz) and Millie (Vivian Nixon) — relentlessly fight an uphill battle with vulgar humor and vibrant style. The best episodes of Helluva Boss demonstrate a combination of the show's smartest adult jokes and the underlying themes of classism and troubled relationships, as well as making the most of the typically 20-minute narrative format. Helluva Boss is also more episodic than Hazbin Hotel, with each episode offering a contained adventure, and essentially its own color palette.
With Imps being the working class of Hell, Blitzø and his employees — including his adoptive daughter Loona (Erica Lindbeck) and married couple Moxxie (Richard Steven Horvitz) and Millie (Vivian Nixon) — relentlessly fight an uphill battle with vulgar humor and vibrant style. The best episodes of Helluva Boss demonstrate a combination of the show's smartest adult jokes and the underlying themes of classism and troubled relationships, as well as making the most of the typically 20-minute narrative format. Helluva Boss is also more episodic than Hazbin Hotel, with each episode offering a contained adventure, and essentially its own color palette.
Every Spoof Episode Of Phineas And Ferb, Ranked
Cover image by Ana Nieves. | Phineas and Ferb's signature brand of comedy naturally lent itself to several clever episodes that serve as standalone spoofs or parodies during its beloved four-season run. Phineas and Ferb's constant meta-humor is a staple part of the series' narrative, almost a kid-friendly version of the referential comedy largely established by The Simpsons. The cartoon which is one of Disney Channel's best sitcoms is also highly formulaic, with the same basic plot of the boys building something impossible and their sister trying to show their mother playing out in almost every episode.
The structure is expected to continue into Phineas and Ferb season 5, which will revive the show after a decade. However, especially (but not entirely) in the later seasons, the showrunners veered away from regular days of summer for episodes typically set in a separate universe with parallel characters, with a storyline obviously replicating that of another property (one either in the public domain or owned by Disney). However, Phineas and Ferb's parody episodes, whether telling another version of the regular plot or embarking on a totally new adventure, are some of the best of the entire series.
The structure is expected to continue into Phineas and Ferb season 5, which will revive the show after a decade. However, especially (but not entirely) in the later seasons, the showrunners veered away from regular days of summer for episodes typically set in a separate universe with parallel characters, with a storyline obviously replicating that of another property (one either in the public domain or owned by Disney). However, Phineas and Ferb's parody episodes, whether telling another version of the regular plot or embarking on a totally new adventure, are some of the best of the entire series.
Wicked Queer Docs. Standing On Business.
Wicked Queer in Boston celebrated its 40th anniversary this spring as the fourth longest-running LGBTQI+ film festival in North America; the documentary extension, taking place in the fall, is now in its third year. I practically lived in The Brattle Theatre for a week earlier in 2024 to write about the fiction films at Wicked Queer, making this November weekend a return to a friendly environment in a cosy historic theatre.
Art is one outlet for change, and while simmering in disappointment about the US election, I dove into works of art about groundbreaking figures who lead small revolutions with their own art. I anticipated Wicked Queer Docs to be a community-forward event and I hoped it would be celebratory. And when the weekend came, festival director Shawn Cotter regularly implored audiences to turn to each other for support in their introductions to the films.
Art is one outlet for change, and while simmering in disappointment about the US election, I dove into works of art about groundbreaking figures who lead small revolutions with their own art. I anticipated Wicked Queer Docs to be a community-forward event and I hoped it would be celebratory. And when the weekend came, festival director Shawn Cotter regularly implored audiences to turn to each other for support in their introductions to the films.
The Real Meaning Of The Nightmare Before Christmas' Story & Characters
Cover image by Yailin Chacon. | Tim Burton and Henry Selick's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a timeless, genre-bending classic, yet the message behind the movie and the character arcs require some deliberation. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, is in a creative slump when he sets out to steal Christmas and execute the holiday himself rather than Santa Claus. In the end, Jack sees the error of his ways, returns Christmas to Santa, and goes on being the Pumpkin King. Along the way, he realizes his love for downtrodden Halloween Town resident Sally, who has always loved him in return.
The plot is moderately roundabout, but filled with fascinating character and production design, as well as the masterful musical work of Danny Elfman in one of his first movies. The best lyrics and quotes from The Nightmare Before Christmas are deeply impactful, even if viewers don't completely understand why. It is a goofy adventure and thrilling mix of two drastically opposing aesthetics which wasn't appreciated by Disney when Burton first came up with the idea, perhaps in part because the meaning of Jack and Sally's story is subtle, coming together through many minor plot elements.
The plot is moderately roundabout, but filled with fascinating character and production design, as well as the masterful musical work of Danny Elfman in one of his first movies. The best lyrics and quotes from The Nightmare Before Christmas are deeply impactful, even if viewers don't completely understand why. It is a goofy adventure and thrilling mix of two drastically opposing aesthetics which wasn't appreciated by Disney when Burton first came up with the idea, perhaps in part because the meaning of Jack and Sally's story is subtle, coming together through many minor plot elements.
The ACOTAR, Throne Of Glass & Crescent City Timeline Explained
Cover image by Yailin Chacon. | Sarah J. Maas' unofficial fantasy saga spans all three of her book series to date, showcasing an occasionally interconnected timeline between A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City. Maas kicked off her career with the young adult Throne of Glass series, depicting the epic tale of Aelin and her allies reclaiming their kingdoms from evil forces. Midway through this series' publication, Maas started on A Court of Thorns and Roses, taking place in a distinct environment and following a new iteration of the Fae, and the intrepid human huntress who is pulled into their world.
A riveting moment in one of the best Throne of Glass books established that Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses take place in the same setting, inhabiting different realms of a multiverse-like structure. When Maas debuted Crescent City, her first entirely adult book series, it was safe to assume that the same logic held. The proposed adaptations of her works, including the A Court of Thorns and Roses TV show, are a long way off from becoming some kind of television entertainment universe. Moreover, the timeline between all three series is more complicated than other franchises of its kind.
A riveting moment in one of the best Throne of Glass books established that Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses take place in the same setting, inhabiting different realms of a multiverse-like structure. When Maas debuted Crescent City, her first entirely adult book series, it was safe to assume that the same logic held. The proposed adaptations of her works, including the A Court of Thorns and Roses TV show, are a long way off from becoming some kind of television entertainment universe. Moreover, the timeline between all three series is more complicated than other franchises of its kind.
10 Taylor Swift friendship bracelets to keep your spirits up after election season
“Because these things will change | Can you feel it now? | These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down | It's a revolution, the time will come | For us to finally win | And we'll sing hallelujah, we'll sing hallelujah.”
This past week I, like many Americans, have been dealing with feelings of sadness, fear, and confusion (an exact list that has been acknowledged by a text from the Harris-Walz campaign). I am deeply shaken by the non-existent standards of decency that apply to the presidency, and reflecting on how once again, a woman who is in every sense of the word more qualified being passed over for a man — and a clearly uninformed abuser and felon at that. I’m wondering if I should have done more, as I’m sure many people are, if life in general weren’t keeping us busy. There’s a long and difficult road ahead, and we are searching for ways to express our worries and stand together more than ever.
In the weeks leading up to the election, I took to making a lot of politically themed Swiftie friendship bracelets. Taylor Swift’s fandom has transcended all definitions, with stories about people sharing “Swifty Voter” and “Get Out The Vote” friendship bracelets cropping up in recent months. In summary, we utilized the fandom’s traditions to further vital causes and implore people to help.
This past week I, like many Americans, have been dealing with feelings of sadness, fear, and confusion (an exact list that has been acknowledged by a text from the Harris-Walz campaign). I am deeply shaken by the non-existent standards of decency that apply to the presidency, and reflecting on how once again, a woman who is in every sense of the word more qualified being passed over for a man — and a clearly uninformed abuser and felon at that. I’m wondering if I should have done more, as I’m sure many people are, if life in general weren’t keeping us busy. There’s a long and difficult road ahead, and we are searching for ways to express our worries and stand together more than ever.
In the weeks leading up to the election, I took to making a lot of politically themed Swiftie friendship bracelets. Taylor Swift’s fandom has transcended all definitions, with stories about people sharing “Swifty Voter” and “Get Out The Vote” friendship bracelets cropping up in recent months. In summary, we utilized the fandom’s traditions to further vital causes and implore people to help.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Review
The Wizards of Waverly Place revival sounds like it's trying to cash in on one of the ultimate examples of 2000s kids nostalgia, but Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is a hilarious, heartrending, and magical watch. The now-adult Justin Russo (David Henrie), having been fired as the headmaster of WizTech, is living in the mortal world with his wife and two sons, who are unaware of his wizard heritage. That is, until his sister Alex (Selena Gomez) turns up with spunky 12-year-old wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), with the request that Justin take her in and train her.
Kicking things off is the fantastic guest appearance by Gomez, who steps right back into the role of Alex, portraying her beloved sarcastic personality as well as the ways she has matured in the intervening years. Henrie is basically playing the same character as before and still has a great dynamic with Gomez. However, it is the new cast that impressively manages to all hold their own and endear themselves in a show that is banking on fondness for their predecessors.
Kicking things off is the fantastic guest appearance by Gomez, who steps right back into the role of Alex, portraying her beloved sarcastic personality as well as the ways she has matured in the intervening years. Henrie is basically playing the same character as before and still has a great dynamic with Gomez. However, it is the new cast that impressively manages to all hold their own and endear themselves in a show that is banking on fondness for their predecessors.
Blood of the Old Kings Review
Evil empires are hardly new in fantasy and cultivating original stories based on this premise with something substantial to say is a challenging feat. Blood of the Old Kings didn’t inspire me with its characters or its fantasy, but it showcases a thought-provoking discourse on what it means to exist in this setting.
The book opens with an impressive in media res, skipping over any standard overland adventure to reach the dragon’s abode, going straight to Loran bargaining with the entity. The description of the dragon is awesome, a terrifying blood-red, multi-eyed beast that only treats with humans and would-be kings on its own terms.
The book opens with an impressive in media res, skipping over any standard overland adventure to reach the dragon’s abode, going straight to Loran bargaining with the entity. The description of the dragon is awesome, a terrifying blood-red, multi-eyed beast that only treats with humans and would-be kings on its own terms.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Review
Reviewing Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is an acknowledgment that it is a sequel — when it hit theaters in 1980, Star Wars had already changed the world forever, and expectations were impossibly high. Theaters filled with fans frantically hoping the sequel would live up to it. And miraculously, it was even better. The instantly iconic and beloved trio of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher reprised their respective roles, and Luke took the next steps to become a Jedi while Han and Leia are on the run from the Empire, leading up to a magnificent final act.
The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as the best Star Wars movie. The first sequel is the dark and gritty answer to Star Wars' (the subtitle A New Hope was added for the 1981 re-release) optimism, pushing the character arcs to strenuous points with dire new circumstances before ending on a shockingly upsetting cliffhanger. The galaxy becomes bigger with more characters and more of the Force, while behind the camera, the crew continues to push the technical innovation that made Star Wars such a groundbreaking movie.
The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as the best Star Wars movie. The first sequel is the dark and gritty answer to Star Wars' (the subtitle A New Hope was added for the 1981 re-release) optimism, pushing the character arcs to strenuous points with dire new circumstances before ending on a shockingly upsetting cliffhanger. The galaxy becomes bigger with more characters and more of the Force, while behind the camera, the crew continues to push the technical innovation that made Star Wars such a groundbreaking movie.
ICYMI: Helluva Boss Is the Grittier (but Still Hilarious) Companion to Hazbin Hotel
Even with the uptake in adult animation in recent years, Hazbin Hotel was an outrageous and wonderful shock to the system when it premiered. Vivienne Medrano is a self-made creative who launched the Hazbin Hotel pilot on her YouTube channel @Vivziepop in 2019. The story of Lucifer’s (Jeremy Jordan) daughter Charlie (Erika Henningsen) attempting to rehabilitate Hell’s sinners was picked up by A24 and went through a long production before premiering on Prime Video in January 2024. But in between, Medrano debuted another hellishly creative series, featuring some denizens of Hell who were originally envisioned as one-off side characters in Hazbin Hotel but spiraled into their own deranged story.
All 4 Casey McQuiston Books, Ranked
Cover image by Yeider Chacon. | With the release of The Pairing, bestselling author Casey McQuiston's career now comprises four novels, each as good as the last. However, one or two of these books demonstrate slightly better writing. McQuiston first rose to fame for their BookTok hit Red, White & Royal Blue, a life-changing political rom-com following the romance between the fictional son of the President of the United States and the Prince of Wales. Despite the subsequent Red, White & Royal Blue movie's biggest changes from the book, it was still successful enough to initiate development for Red, White & Royal Blue 2.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Spoilers
The Dance of the Dragons truly began in House of the Dragon Season 2, despite some of the main characters’ efforts to avoid sending the dragons to war and the subsequent slaughter. Yet more political turmoil and fiery destruction await in Season 3. In future episodes, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen may find herself less inclined to reclaim the Iron Throne with as little carnage as possible when the war has cost her dearly.
The story will again bring her face-to-face with her former friend Queen Alicent Hightower, the mother of King Aegon II, Rhaenyra’s half-brother and her main competition for the throne. While George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood is the most dependable source for House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers, the changes the show has already made to the source material suggest certain events may play out differently on screen. Last chance to avoid major House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers as we explain what could happen next season based on the books.
The story will again bring her face-to-face with her former friend Queen Alicent Hightower, the mother of King Aegon II, Rhaenyra’s half-brother and her main competition for the throne. While George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood is the most dependable source for House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers, the changes the show has already made to the source material suggest certain events may play out differently on screen. Last chance to avoid major House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers as we explain what could happen next season based on the books.
Sisi & I Review
The fascinating if meandering drama Sisi & I (2023) (Sisi & Ich) showcases the strange and tragic life of Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria (Susanne Wolff), focusing on her relationship with her lady-in-waiting Countess Irma Stzáray (Sandra Hüller). Irma travels to a remote commune in Greece to be the empress’ companion, escaping her only other options of marriage or a convent. There, Irma is entranced by the carefree environment where Sisi dictates everything. However, the increasing demands of Sisi’s husband, Emperor Franz Joseph (Markus Schleinzer), soon pulls Sisi and Irma out of their haven and tests their bond.
Land of Women Review
The Apple TV+ miniseries Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres) is an intergenerational drama-comedy that reels you in right away, despite a mildly distracting subplot. Wine connoisseuse Gala (Eva Longoria) has a settled life in New York, until criminals demanding $15 million back from her husband drive her out of the country. Her husband only tells her she needs to flee before disappearing himself, so Gala collects her daughter Kate (Victoria Bazua) and mother Julia (Carmen Maura) and travels to the remote wine town in northern Spain Julia fled decades earlier — with no idea what to do next.
Interview with Jules Arbeaux, Author of Lord of the Empty Isles
A longlistee for the 2022 Bath Novel Award and 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, Jules Arbeaux graduated summa cum laude from a no-name college with a major in English, minors in creative writing and studio art, and the full knowledge that those areas of study would likely lead to starvation. As a writer and reader, Jules enjoys visceral, wrenching poetry and prose, multi-faceted characters, and powerful relationships of every sort. When not writing, Jules sells water-colour paintings and strange handmade jewellery at a local open-air market. Lord of the Empty Isles, forthcoming from Hodderscape in 2024, is the author’s debut novel.
What You Wish For Review
Nicholas Tomnay’s What You Wish For is a thriller from which one cannot look away, even if the overall moral of the story falls just short of flawless. The story follows Ryan (Nick Stahl), a down-on-his-luck chef who travels to South America to meet up with his former roommate Jack (Brian Groh) and escape threats due to his gambling debts. Jack, whom Ryan hasn’t seen in a decade, has everything Ryan could want. However, things take a dark turn when Jack dies and Ryan assumes Jack’s identity, only to discover an ugly truth about Jack’s successful career.
All 48 Songs In Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie (Taylor's Version), Ranked Worst To Best
Ranking every song in the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie is no easy feat. The concert movie captures a musical performance the likes of which has never been seen before, showcasing the music of Swift’s 10 albums. Swift's concert was edited into a shorter movie for its theatrical release, but the version now available to stream on Disney+ is three and a half hours long.
The movie’s title is now Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) due to the differences between it and the theatrical version. Using Swift's dazzling lyrics as a starting point, the Eras Tour team created performances to elevate each era. This Swiftie experience is now more widely accessible, and fans can watch every song in the Eras Tour movie multiple times before deciding on their favorite performance.
The movie’s title is now Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) due to the differences between it and the theatrical version. Using Swift's dazzling lyrics as a starting point, the Eras Tour team created performances to elevate each era. This Swiftie experience is now more widely accessible, and fans can watch every song in the Eras Tour movie multiple times before deciding on their favorite performance.
A day in the eyes of a theatregoer in Ashland, Oregon
Tucked away in the forests of Oregon is one of the most underrated destinations in the world. The lovely town of Ashland, Oregon is rarely featured in major travel publications. Yet it is a gorgeous world of its own, comprising a distinct Shakespearean and LGBTQ+ friendly culture, lots of sustainably delicious food, and fairy tale-esque forests. Its claim to international fame is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), but still few people have heard of it.
Having visited Ashland several times, I fall into a wistful routine every time I go back. The first thing I do is stop by all my favorite shops on Main Street and in the surrounding area. I lose myself in a cacophony of fairycore, vintage, and neoteric clothes, home goods, and trinkets from the likes of Thread Hysteria, Book Exchange, and Rare Earth. Among Ashland’s boutique shops, the department store Paddington Station is the crown jewel.
Having visited Ashland several times, I fall into a wistful routine every time I go back. The first thing I do is stop by all my favorite shops on Main Street and in the surrounding area. I lose myself in a cacophony of fairycore, vintage, and neoteric clothes, home goods, and trinkets from the likes of Thread Hysteria, Book Exchange, and Rare Earth. Among Ashland’s boutique shops, the department store Paddington Station is the crown jewel.
Silver Haze Review
Silver Haze is an appropriate title for writer-director Sacha Polak’s movie, which feels like drifting through a nonsensical but very real wave of emotion. Leading Silver Haze is Vicky Knight as Franky, a nurse who is still looking for answers about the fire that left her badly scarred 15 years ago. Her time is taken up with work, caring for her alcoholic mother, and an unsatisfying relationship with her boyfriend. However, Franky is set on a path of transformation and healing when she meets Florence (Esmé Creed-Miles), a new patient.
Screen Rant
I currently work as a staff writer for Screen Rant, publishing around 12 list-style articles every week. I cover both movies and television in a variety of genres.
In Conversation with Chloe Gong
Cover image by JON STUDIO. | Chloe Gong became a New York Times bestselling author while still a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where she double majored in English and International Relations. Fans of her Secret Shanghai series—comprised of two connected young adult duologies retelling Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It, set against the backdrop of 1920s-1930s Shanghai—were clamouring for Immortal Longings, her adult fiction debut and the first book in her Antony and Cleopatra-inspired Flesh and False Gods trilogy. I was as excited as anyone to attend the discussion at The Glee Club in Birmingham, part of Gong’s UK Immortal Longings tour. She was interviewed by Kate Dylan, author of the dystopian sci-fi novel Mindwalker.
Birmingham Cocktail Weekend 2023
Cover image by Anne-Marie Hayed for BCW 2023. | Local business owners proudly tell me about how in the past few years, Birmingham has become a hub for award-winning bartenders, training opportunities, and extraordinary drinks. Jacob Clarke and Katie Rouse of Couch and Matt Arnold of Passing Fancies were all finalists of World Class Great Britain, with Arnold winning and advancing to the global finals. Both bars (and others in Birmingham) are among the Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK.
July 2023 marked the 9th year of Birmingham Cocktail Weekend (BCW), where attendees can purchase a £5 wristband for access to £5 signature cocktails and other deals across town. Some venues also host masterclasses and tastings—often centred around a particular spirit—for the occasion. I reached out to Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living for the Weekend, the company behind BCW, to learn more about the event: in the last decade, BCW has grown from "a handful of venues" and about 1,000 attendees to over 40 venues and more than 3,000 attendees.
July 2023 marked the 9th year of Birmingham Cocktail Weekend (BCW), where attendees can purchase a £5 wristband for access to £5 signature cocktails and other deals across town. Some venues also host masterclasses and tastings—often centred around a particular spirit—for the occasion. I reached out to Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living for the Weekend, the company behind BCW, to learn more about the event: in the last decade, BCW has grown from "a handful of venues" and about 1,000 attendees to over 40 venues and more than 3,000 attendees.
The Latest From Bristol
Since I moved to the UK, I have found that everywhere I go, people tell me that Bristol is the place to be. It certainly sounded like my dream city: a university town with amazing food and drink options and artsy vibes. Appraisals of Bristol border on cliché, which means the city must continuously evolve to live up to these expectations. When I finally travelled there, I was armed with several National Geographic Traveller (NG) recommendations and hopefully I came away with a few new ones for you.
The Legacy of Studio Ghibli
Even in the West, where pop culture is dominated by Disney, it seems as though Studio Ghibli films were still a formative part of many people’s childhoods. In my case, my siblings and I went through a phase where we watched Ponyo (2008) on a loop.
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki (Miyazaki and Takahata are primarily directors and writers while Suzuki acts as a producer). The studio’s films have received unprecedented critical and commercial success and are regarded as some of the most noteworthy contributions to animation as an art form. The Ghibli films often feature themes of endurance during times of hardship, pacifism, environmentalism, and children being forced to grow up before their time while still maintaining their youthful wonder.
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki (Miyazaki and Takahata are primarily directors and writers while Suzuki acts as a producer). The studio’s films have received unprecedented critical and commercial success and are regarded as some of the most noteworthy contributions to animation as an art form. The Ghibli films often feature themes of endurance during times of hardship, pacifism, environmentalism, and children being forced to grow up before their time while still maintaining their youthful wonder.
"History's about to get overthrown": SIX in San Fransisco
Cover image by No Swan So Fine, used under a CC BY SA 4.0 license. | Topping the charts and ruling the box office right now is Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX, the pop-concert musical about the trials and tribulations of the six wives of Henry VIII. The show debuted in the West End in 2019 and on Broadway in 2020, and is still running at both locations. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time for the North American tour and got to see these queens live in concert at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco!
SIX is a short musical, clocking in at around an hour and a half, during which the six wives of Henry VIII are decked out in full punk-rock regalia for a concert and a competition: each queen will tell her story and the one who has had the worst experience with Henry will become the lead singer of their band. Marlow and Moss wrote SIX while they were students at Cambridge University for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now, they are the winners of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score Written for Theatre. Costume designer Gabriella Slade also won the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical, and the show has received numerous other accolades.
SIX is a short musical, clocking in at around an hour and a half, during which the six wives of Henry VIII are decked out in full punk-rock regalia for a concert and a competition: each queen will tell her story and the one who has had the worst experience with Henry will become the lead singer of their band. Marlow and Moss wrote SIX while they were students at Cambridge University for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now, they are the winners of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score Written for Theatre. Costume designer Gabriella Slade also won the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical, and the show has received numerous other accolades.
London Bookshop Crawl: Walking, Reading, and Relaxing
Every so often, I return to London to get lost in the myriad of shows, museums, and stores, and I never go to the same restaurant twice, as I am always missing out on another. This time, I dedicated an entire weekend to one of my favourite pastimes: book shopping. I’d been planning this short trip for months, and it happened to fall at the end of a stressful week in the middle of a stressful term. I was ready for a holiday where it was totally acceptable to have a night-in with some fantastic London cuisine, and finally read Red, White & Royal Blue after a long day of walking through bookshops.
For the past eight years, the curious minds at Ninja Book Box have invited fellow bookworms to gather and explore London together. Bex, one of the directors of Ninja Book Box, says this event started with a simple post on Twitter asking people if they wanted to go book shopping. The event has expanded over the years- it now includes guided tours through specific neighbourhoods, a quiz night, and discounts at participating locations.
For the past eight years, the curious minds at Ninja Book Box have invited fellow bookworms to gather and explore London together. Bex, one of the directors of Ninja Book Box, says this event started with a simple post on Twitter asking people if they wanted to go book shopping. The event has expanded over the years- it now includes guided tours through specific neighbourhoods, a quiz night, and discounts at participating locations.
Easter Vac Diaries: With Love from California
I had not been home in eight months when I boarded the gruelling eleven-and-a-half-hour flight from Heathrow to LAX. Just like how everyone who grew up in the UK isn’t nearly as excited as I am about travelling around Europe, I’m pretty apathetic towards Los Angeles and San Francisco. Been there, done that. Many, many times. But California still has its perks, including plenty of good food and drink and some nice places to sit and work without distraction.
I met up with my family and practically demanded that we visit the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences Museum, since I have not been back to LA since it opened. This establishment has several floors of exhibitions narrating cinematic history and innovation, and hosts events such as the “May the 4th” celebration with many interactive Star Wars-inspired activities. When I visited, an extensive exhibition on the making of the Godfather films was on display, as well as dozens of costumes and iconic outfits from the red carpet, including the dress Halle Berry wore to the Oscars for her landmark Best Actress win in 2002, David Bowie’s Goblin King costume from The Labyrinth, and Okoye’s armour from Black Panther.
I met up with my family and practically demanded that we visit the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences Museum, since I have not been back to LA since it opened. This establishment has several floors of exhibitions narrating cinematic history and innovation, and hosts events such as the “May the 4th” celebration with many interactive Star Wars-inspired activities. When I visited, an extensive exhibition on the making of the Godfather films was on display, as well as dozens of costumes and iconic outfits from the red carpet, including the dress Halle Berry wore to the Oscars for her landmark Best Actress win in 2002, David Bowie’s Goblin King costume from The Labyrinth, and Okoye’s armour from Black Panther.
Calling All Witches: Justice for The Owl House
Disney has done it again. I forgive them for a lot of things, either out of nostalgic fondness or because I believe that their mistakes reflect broader problems with the entertainment industry. However, there is one thing which I look at and can only think, “Yeah, you messed up”, and that is The Owl House (TOH).
I would argue that TOH (along with Amphibia) represents the proud legacy of Gravity Falls (GF) — both shows are created by veteran GF story boarders and feature the same fantastical vibes and wacky sense of humour, while still being exceptional in their own way. TOH, created by Dana Terrace, is about fourteen-year-old Luz Noceda, a quirky fantasy fangirl who stumbles upon a door to a magical otherworld, where she moves in with a sassy, forty-something witch called Eda and a dog-like demon called King (voiced by Alex Hirsch, the creator of GF). The show follows Luz’s adventures as she learns magic, forms meaningful friendships, and experiences first love.
I would argue that TOH (along with Amphibia) represents the proud legacy of Gravity Falls (GF) — both shows are created by veteran GF story boarders and feature the same fantastical vibes and wacky sense of humour, while still being exceptional in their own way. TOH, created by Dana Terrace, is about fourteen-year-old Luz Noceda, a quirky fantasy fangirl who stumbles upon a door to a magical otherworld, where she moves in with a sassy, forty-something witch called Eda and a dog-like demon called King (voiced by Alex Hirsch, the creator of GF). The show follows Luz’s adventures as she learns magic, forms meaningful friendships, and experiences first love.
Oscars 2023: Predictions
Cover image by @Thank You (23+ Millions) views via flickr, used under a CC BY 2.0 license. | It's "the Daniels" race to lose this year—Everything Everywhere All at Once leads the 95th Academy Awards with 11 nominations, with The Banshees of Inisherin and All Quiet on the Western Front close behind with 9 nominations each. A similar selection of actors and filmmakers were recognized as nominees and winners at the Golden Globes in January, but nothing is set in stone—the Academy has a history of making very different decisions from the HFPA. Without further ado, let's get into my predictions!
The Best Literary Friendships and What We Can Learn from Them
Cover illustration by Anna Wu. | Your best friend is the person you enjoy being around more than anyone else in the world. You have spectacular adventures together and tell each other everything. You probably also know exactly how to get on each other’s nerves. All relationships are complicated, but these heart-warming literary friendships can teach us so much about what we value in our friends.
1. Rosalind and Celia, As You Like It
Rosalind and Celia are cousins whose love is ‘dearer than the natural bond of sisters’. As such, they decide to flee to the Forest of Arden together rather than be separated. They are two of Shakespeare’s cleverest heroines, who challenge each other intellectually and pass their time in verbal sparring matches, such as when they debate the cruel apathy of Lady Fortune. They are a perfectly matched pair who are delightful to watch. Their friendship reminds us how rare yet amazing it is to meet someone and instantly click with them.
1. Rosalind and Celia, As You Like It
Rosalind and Celia are cousins whose love is ‘dearer than the natural bond of sisters’. As such, they decide to flee to the Forest of Arden together rather than be separated. They are two of Shakespeare’s cleverest heroines, who challenge each other intellectually and pass their time in verbal sparring matches, such as when they debate the cruel apathy of Lady Fortune. They are a perfectly matched pair who are delightful to watch. Their friendship reminds us how rare yet amazing it is to meet someone and instantly click with them.
"Creativity is overrated, but we do it anyway": Creativity in Cosplay
Fandom communities are harshly judged for their supposed disregard of the fabled concept of “originality.” Some people argue that fanfiction authors are inferior writers because they use other people’s characters and stories rather than devising anything of their own. Cosplay, while not as inherently controversial as fanfiction, raises a similar question: is replicating another’s creation as good as coming up with a “new” idea? Setting aside the argument that all forms of media are ultimately derived and reconstructed from the media the creator has seen, what exactly is the artistic process behind cosplay?
Like fanfiction writers, cosplayers are unbound. There is something freeing in making art which has no commercial value; you don’t have to worry about what will please an editor, producer, corporation, or potential customer, and its only purpose is to bring you joy. Cosplay is also a way to hone your skills; artists often start out by copying other works to practise their technique before trying to break new ground. But don’t underestimate the creative process of recreation, especially in the case of cosplay. Even the ones that are exact replicas from a film, television show, video game, theatrical performance, or another medium, require creative thinking.
Like fanfiction writers, cosplayers are unbound. There is something freeing in making art which has no commercial value; you don’t have to worry about what will please an editor, producer, corporation, or potential customer, and its only purpose is to bring you joy. Cosplay is also a way to hone your skills; artists often start out by copying other works to practise their technique before trying to break new ground. But don’t underestimate the creative process of recreation, especially in the case of cosplay. Even the ones that are exact replicas from a film, television show, video game, theatrical performance, or another medium, require creative thinking.
House of the Dragon: Looking back on Season 1
Cue the Game of Thrones (Thrones) theme music, which once may have made your toes curl with excitement and sent chills down your spine, but nowadays might just make you groan. Yet the feuding nobles seem to have made a comeback with House of the Dragon (House), the prequel to Thrones. This new show is the recent winner of the Golden Globe for Best Television Series (Drama), with Emma D’Arcy scoring a nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Television Series (Drama). After a disappointing end to the most popular show in the world, how did HBO return with such success?
House returns to Westeros 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, when the Targaryen dynasty is at the height of its power. After his queen dies in childbirth, King Viserys I Targaryen names his only living child—his daughter Rhaenyra—heir to the Iron Throne. However, Rhaenyra’s succession is jeopardised when her father marries Alicent Hightower, who gives birth to a son. This leads to a crisis of succession and a civil war which almost destroys House Targaryen, a conflict known in Westerosi history as the Dance of the Dragons.
House returns to Westeros 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, when the Targaryen dynasty is at the height of its power. After his queen dies in childbirth, King Viserys I Targaryen names his only living child—his daughter Rhaenyra—heir to the Iron Throne. However, Rhaenyra’s succession is jeopardised when her father marries Alicent Hightower, who gives birth to a son. This leads to a crisis of succession and a civil war which almost destroys House Targaryen, a conflict known in Westerosi history as the Dance of the Dragons.
London Theatre: Something Old, Something New, and Something Cheap in 2023
Cover image by @Pedro Szekely, used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license. | In today’s London theatre scene, the biggest stars regularly appear, and new talent has the chance to learn and take to the stage. The area comprised of Piccadilly, Soho, and Covent Garden is a sight to behold – especially during the Christmas season, when twinkling lights dangle from the rooftops, and you can find a Pikachu wearing a Santa suit socialising with a Darth Vader in Leicester Square. I’d choose the West End over Broadway any day. London is the home of musical phenomena and indie hits, a seat of theatrical history and innovation – where directors, writers, designers, and actors are remaking the status quo and addressing socio-political issues, often drawing on lived experience to do so.
Just after Christmas, I went back to London to see two of my favourite musicals for the second time (buying the cheapest possible seats for each): Moulin Rouge! and Matilda.
The latter has been the pride of the UK for ten years, and the production is still selling out nightly. This show is full of youthful wonder, brought to life by a rotating cast of almost thirty child actors. Matilda remains a heart-warming spectacle, and an unmoving pillar of the London theatre scene; the Cambridge Theatre has been its home since it debuted in 2011.
Just after Christmas, I went back to London to see two of my favourite musicals for the second time (buying the cheapest possible seats for each): Moulin Rouge! and Matilda.
The latter has been the pride of the UK for ten years, and the production is still selling out nightly. This show is full of youthful wonder, brought to life by a rotating cast of almost thirty child actors. Matilda remains a heart-warming spectacle, and an unmoving pillar of the London theatre scene; the Cambridge Theatre has been its home since it debuted in 2011.
Review of Chloe Gong's Foul Lady Fortune
Chloe Gong draws on her own Chinese heritage and her English degree in Foul Lady Fortune: a retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, set in 1930s Shanghai. When her life is saved by an experimental drug, Rosalind Lang (who takes her name directly from Shakespeare’s protagonist) becomes immortal, possessing a supernatural healing ability. Four years later, Rosalind is putting her new abilities to use as an assassin. Her code name: Fortune. Her latest mission: to investigate a series of murders while posing as a married couple with her new mission partner, Orion Hong (the Orlando-equivelant character).
Gong interlaces her Shakespearean-fantasy plot with the events of China’s civil war and the start of the Japanese invasion, while also addressing the lasting damage of European colonialism in 20th century Asia. Amidst the conflict, Rosalind and Orion are working for the Nationalist government while their respective siblings, Celia and Oliver, are Communist spies.
Gong interlaces her Shakespearean-fantasy plot with the events of China’s civil war and the start of the Japanese invasion, while also addressing the lasting damage of European colonialism in 20th century Asia. Amidst the conflict, Rosalind and Orion are working for the Nationalist government while their respective siblings, Celia and Oliver, are Communist spies.
From the Screen to the Stage: Moulin Rouge!
Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! (2001) is one of my all-time favourite films. It is therefore no small thing when I say that the theatrical adaptation is even better. The show premiered on Broadway in 2019, won ten Tony Awards (including Best Musical), and arrived in the West End earlier this year. Both Hollywood and Broadway tell the story of Christian, a starry-eyed writer who travels to Paris at the turn of the century and falls in love with a courtesan named Satine, the headliner of the notorious Moulin Rouge night club. Christian and Satine’s romance is jeopardised when Harold Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge, forms a dangerous business deal with a malevolent duke who lusts after Satine. With the duke sponsoring a show at the club which Christian is writing and Satine is starring in, tensions are on the rise, leading up to a fateful premier night.
Remakes and Rip-offs: The battle to be the next Game of Thrones
Cover illustration by Tilly Binucci. | Despite its disappointing final season, Game of Thrones’ impact on the television industry is undeniable. In the final years of the show, major producers started to anticipate a future gap in pop culture and plans for several more fantasy series began to take shape. We have seen the results these last few years, including shows like The Wheel of Time, The Witcher, His Dark Materials, House of the Dragon, and Rings of Power, with several more to come. High fantasy appears to be the reigning monarch of contemporary television—is this only because of the success of GOT? What else in our time could be causing audiences to crave swords and sorcery?
From a business perspective, this phenomenon is not difficult to understand. HBO proved that it was not only feasible to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a TV production but extremely profitable. With the coinciding rise of streaming services, companies like Netflix and Amazon have been eager to try their hand at epic fantasy. But how successful has the industry been in replacing GOT? Have any of these shows been worth watching?
From a business perspective, this phenomenon is not difficult to understand. HBO proved that it was not only feasible to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a TV production but extremely profitable. With the coinciding rise of streaming services, companies like Netflix and Amazon have been eager to try their hand at epic fantasy. But how successful has the industry been in replacing GOT? Have any of these shows been worth watching?
Bimble Around the World
Part of a collaboration I arranged between The Oxford Blue and Bimble. | If you were to plan a trip to Paris, landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame would probably be first on your itinerary. But have you really experienced the culture of a place until you’ve visited some lesser-known spots? The world is full of many unique individuals and communities, creating products and experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. A Jack the Ripper walking tour in London. A café in Naples where you receive a history lesson in coffee before being served amazing pasta, family style. A shop in Athens specializing in jewelry engraved with poetry. If you are visiting a new city or region and want a taste of what makes this place different, how do you find hidden gems such as these?
Way Out Yonder: Understanding "Where the Crawdads Sing" before You See the Movie
“Way out yonder, where the crawdads sing, the marsh knows one thing above all else: every creature will do what it must to survive.”
The quote above from the first trailer for the movie adaptation of Delia Owens’s bestselling debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing (2018), already shows that the filmmakers understand the foundation upon which the story is built. After years of saying I was going to read Crawdads, the release of the trailer finally spurred me into action, and I finished the book in two days. With the film’s premiere in July approaching fast, I would like to take this chance to share my thoughts on some of the book’s major themes and motifs.
Crawdads tells the story of Catherine “Kya” Clark, a young girl who raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. Kya lives alone in the marsh after being abandoned by her family; her mother and older siblings fled to escape her abusive father, who himself later disappears without a trace. Kya gets by selling mussels, fishing, and gardening, and becomes a local legend in the nearby town, known as “the marsh girl” – the wild child who lives alone in the swamp, avoiding social workers, officers, and anyone else who would take her away from everything she has ever known.
The quote above from the first trailer for the movie adaptation of Delia Owens’s bestselling debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing (2018), already shows that the filmmakers understand the foundation upon which the story is built. After years of saying I was going to read Crawdads, the release of the trailer finally spurred me into action, and I finished the book in two days. With the film’s premiere in July approaching fast, I would like to take this chance to share my thoughts on some of the book’s major themes and motifs.
Crawdads tells the story of Catherine “Kya” Clark, a young girl who raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. Kya lives alone in the marsh after being abandoned by her family; her mother and older siblings fled to escape her abusive father, who himself later disappears without a trace. Kya gets by selling mussels, fishing, and gardening, and becomes a local legend in the nearby town, known as “the marsh girl” – the wild child who lives alone in the swamp, avoiding social workers, officers, and anyone else who would take her away from everything she has ever known.
Review: Tick, Tick...Boom!
It is unlikely that anyone would have ever heard of Tick, Tick…Boom! if it weren’t for the later success of another Broadway production. A forgotten triumph of theatre, Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical was produced for off-Broadway after Larson posthumously achieved widespread recognition for Rent. Interest in the show was renewed last year following the release of a movie adaptation on Netflix. With a name like *whispers intensely* Lin-Manuel Miranda attached to the movie, any production nowadays would have to contend with immense audience expectations.
Amongst the Oxford theatre scene’s onslaught of springtime garden plays, Half Rhyme Productions dared to dramatize Larson’s original musical, helmed by director Felix Westcott and musical director Adam Najmudin Hall.
Amongst the Oxford theatre scene’s onslaught of springtime garden plays, Half Rhyme Productions dared to dramatize Larson’s original musical, helmed by director Felix Westcott and musical director Adam Najmudin Hall.
Total Annihilation and Teenage Angst: Carrie Review
Being seventeen is the worst, but at least your prom wasn’t smashed to pieces by a girl in a telekinetic rage. Founding Fellas Productions recently brought Carrie to the Oxford Playhouse, this being a musical adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. Directed by Ellie Cooper, Carrie was a sensational mix of upbeat musical numbers and moments of horror, all showing the turmoil of being young and figuring out where to go in life.
King’s classic horror novel tells the story of Carrie White, a socially awkward teenage girl raised by a fanatically religious mother. One fateful prom night, the school bullies play a traumatizing prank on Carrie, and she unleashes supernatural destruction. Harriet Nokes starred as Carrie, bringing to life a shy teenager who tries to keep her head down, but is all the while brimming with anger and frustration towards her classmates, her mother, and her life. Nokes excelled in portraying Carrie’s complex persona; the audience saw the other side of the character the moment her first solo began with the song “Carrie”. Nokes’s powerful belting voice was perfect to depict the potential that Carrie is holding back.
King’s classic horror novel tells the story of Carrie White, a socially awkward teenage girl raised by a fanatically religious mother. One fateful prom night, the school bullies play a traumatizing prank on Carrie, and she unleashes supernatural destruction. Harriet Nokes starred as Carrie, bringing to life a shy teenager who tries to keep her head down, but is all the while brimming with anger and frustration towards her classmates, her mother, and her life. Nokes excelled in portraying Carrie’s complex persona; the audience saw the other side of the character the moment her first solo began with the song “Carrie”. Nokes’s powerful belting voice was perfect to depict the potential that Carrie is holding back.
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