Code Geass
Code Geass is a good show despite its flaws. The show started in 2006, and unlike many other anime series, it is not based on a manga or anything. It is a show about secrets, mystique, revolution, action, politics, and the bonds between friends and family. Lelouch (lay-loosh) is the main character, and it’s debatable whether he’s a hero or villain. He gains the power to force absolute obedience from whoever looks into his eye and uses it to take control of a rebellion against the fictional Britannian Empire, which has colonized and now oppresses the country formerly known as Japan, where Lelouch lives in hiding from his father, the Emperor of Britannia. To me, this show is most remembered for 2.5 things: the constant forward momentum of the story, the non-sequiturs and weird choices, and the half-point is the egregious fan-service.I imagine the writers of this show frequently said “but then” in the writers’ room. For example, if two characters are fighting to the death, one character is just about to win, but then… They definitely wanted as many twists, turns, and surprises as possible. Each episode has at least one major development or a surprising outcome. I applaud the writers; this makes the show interesting, giving it perpetual forward momentum. The plot can seem crazy and out-of-control at times, but at least it’s always intriguing.
The bizarre choices and non-sequiturs in the story will be difficult to explain without spoilers. Frequently we have characters make decisions that aren’t in line with their previous actions and statements. Honestly, there’s not much I can say without providing even a modicum of spoilers. But it is these unexpected decisions which develop into the surprises and twists that make the series so entertaining.
The fan service in this show is so notorious that I learned of the show by seeing lewd figurines of the female characters. The show starts with small skirts and swimsuits, developing into girls playing around in the Japanese bath, showing them changing into swimsuits, and just full nudity. It is not unusual for anime to take this route in shows aimed at young men, but Code Geass leaned into it harder than most. While excess nudity is prevalent and awkward, these scenes do not ruin the show. Available on Pluto TV, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.
—Gage Wilson, Anime Editor
The FX original television-series The Bear features a young chef, Carmen, after he leaves his fast-paced culinary career at a Michelin-starred restaurant. When a tragic family event draws Carmen back to his family restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland (“The Beef,” for short), he soon realizes the unorganized working environment and the rocky state the restaurant is in. “The Beef” contains a family-like system in which each person in the kitchen relies on one another on a working and personal level. Carmen feels like an outsider once he returns home because everyone at The Beef feels jaded that he chose not to use his professional culinary skills for their business instead of the fine-dining restaurant. The complicated family dynamics that are intertwined within this show demonstrate why Carmen left Chicago, and these relationships are the foundation of this series.
Based on the book by Dr. Seuss, The Lorax is a musical movie that is perfect for family movie nights. The story follows a boy named Ted (voiced by Zac Efron) who lives in a world where there is no more nature and everything around him is artificial. They even have to buy fresh air in bottles because of how polluted the world has become! When Ted finds out his crush Audrey (Swift’s character), dreams of seeing a real tree, he decides he is going to get her one. He sneaks out of town to go visit a mysterious man named The Onceler, who is said to be the only person who knows what happens to the trees. The man tells Ted about the mythic creature called the Lorax who is the protector of the forest and tells him the story of where all the trees went.
The Giver is a story about a dystopian society based on the novel of the same title by author Lois Lowry. Within this society, the citizens have no memory of the past and are controlled in every aspect of their lives. They are told who they will marry, assigned children who have been genetically perfected, forced to take daily injections for their health, and assigned what job they will have for the rest of their lives. There is no music, no art, no literature, no emotion, not even color! Their world is completely black and white.
Trying to plan a night out? Just been too busy to find something fun to do to relax after a long week? Here are some fun events that are sure not to disappoint!
It’s said that one’s rom-com is another’s psychological horror. Vanilla Ice’s debut on the silver screen is one such movie. Our “hero” wins over an uptight honor student with the power of freestyle rapping and being “hip with the kids” (whatever that means). As evident from that plot description, this film audaciously lacks self-awareness. Whatever possible offense to take from Cool as Ice’s haphazard attempts to impress teens are lost with how absurd it gets, witness protection subplot and all. Available on Amazon Prime.
A chance encounter with an omnipresent benefactor gives a struggling chef the power to cook her feelings into whatever she makes. This movie features flat acting, flatter characters, and attempts at humor that read more as unintentional cringe comedy than human interaction. Don’t let the fancy Jewel Kilcher-flavored music standard for the late nineties fool you—this movie is as cookie-cutter as it comes. Available free on PLEX. 
If you’re in the mood for a ’90s rom-com starring Drew Barrymore, do yourself a favor and watch The Wedding Singer. But if you wouldn’t mind an unintentionally hilarious hate-watch, Never Been Kissed is here to fulfill your every snarky wish. Barrymore plays Josie Geller, who was so unpopular in high school that she was known to her classmates as Josie Grossie. So when adult Josie the journalist is assigned an undercover story that requires her to pose as a high-school student, she jumps at the chance for a do-over. With the help of her brother Rob (David Arquette), who formerly ran with the popular jocks in his teens, Josie manages to overcome her innate awkwardness and get a taste of life in the in-crowd. She also develops a schoolgirl crush on her teacher Mr. Coulson (Michael Vartan). And, putting the “gross” in Josie Grossie, Coulson returns her feelings, even though HE THINKS SHE’S A STUDENT. The #MeToo ick factor is too intense to get lost in the romance, but it’s great for indulging in a group cringe with your friends. Available on Starz. 
Radiolab consists of fun, informational deep dives into an eclectic variety of topics, from how blue horseshoe crab blood is used in pharmaceuticals to modern drone tactics used in wars like the Russo-Ukranian Conflict. The podcast sets out to explain these topics with solid, competent journalism laid out in a pleasant manner, accompanied with a stunning, dynamic soundtrack, this podcast makes learning enjoyable and easy. Consulting a healthy array of topically relevant sources, including many firsthand interviews from those deeply involved and respected within their communities, Radiolab reliably relays useful, relevant information about the world around us.
Among free-to-play games, Warframe is the only one to have its own official convention in North America. Warframe is an immensely popular online co-op game, blending fast movement, hack ‘n’ slash, and third-person shooting into a satisfying experience. Players play as warframes, which essentially function as classes, each one with different speed, shields, health, and abilities, cooperating in groups of four to complete the chosen mission.
Creating and writing a whole unique human being is difficult. So many writers fall into the trap of writing stereotypes or tropes as opposed to something resembling people. Furthermore, too many times readers have read stories in which the main hero is too perfect. Their intentions always pure, not a bad bone in their body.
Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender is an interesting mix of ideas—ideas which at first don’t seem like they mix well but when blended together taste oddly delicious. On one hand, it’s a coming-of-age novel about a loner longing for intimacy while navigating high school. Yet on the other hand, it’s a beautiful love story and a classic horror story.
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai is a memoir that illustrates the struggles of Dazai throughout his childhood up until shortly before his early death. Dazai published this book in the form of his notebooks, like a diary, and it starts in his middle school years. He writes how his father was abusive and how the servants of his house may or may not have sexually assaulted him—it’s unclear in the writing as it can be taken in a few ways. Once he graduated high school, he moved to Tokyo for college, away from the countryside where he lived. This is where he began experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and continued dabbling in art. He became addicted. He also became addicted to the idea of death, which resulted in multiple attempted suicides, two of which were double suicides, one of them being successful.