April 25, 2025
Limited Series: Baby Reindeer
Trigger warnings: Drug use, stalking, sexual assault
Excessive text messages sent from “iphoen,” hundreds of voice mails, and a strange nickname are just some of the things that Richard Gadd, a struggling comedian and bartender, had to deal with when he finds himself being stalked. One night, a lonely woman walks into the bar he works at and seems a bit down. To be kind, Richard offers her a cup of tea on the house, but little does he know that would be one of his biggest mistakes, as she becomes obsessed with him. She calls incessantly, sits at the bar during every one of Richard’s shifts, follows him, ruins his dates, and even shows up to his home. Along with the stalking, Richard is going through a lot of turmoil as the recent events remind him of past traumas and trigger his anxieties and memories about the things he has gone through.
The show is based on a true story and was written by Gadd himself as a way to deal with it all, as well as spread awareness about stalking and the effects it can have on people. We see just how awful his life was while being stalked by Martha and how difficult it is for him to do anything about the situation. He does not want to go to the police for various reasons, one of those reasons being unwanted sexual attention from Martha. This brings back memories of a sexual assault Richard experienced in his past, and it forces him to deal with that trauma. The show examines the effects of both sexual assault and the psychological battle between Richard and his stalker. It is one of those shows that just pulls you in, and when you think it can’t get worse for the main character it somehow does.
Reading the texts and hearing the voicemails left by Martha, along with hearing about Richard’s past experiences and then hearing it is a true story on top of all of that, are what makes this show worth the watch. It is so shocking you simply cannot look away. I definitely recommend giving this show a watch, but please check the content warnings before doing so.
Available on Netflix.
Shingle-style siding, ornately carved white balustrades on rooftop decks, a front porch that hugs the front of the house on more than one level, a humble 5,700 square-foot floor plan with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, decorated with beautifully detailed floral wallpaper and wainscotting. The house is surrounded by English gardens filled with nature’s most alluring and aromatic flowers, alongside a vegetable garden maintained by the area’s best horticulturist, all set against panoramic views of a pristine private beach and Atlantic Ocean waters! On paper, it sounds like a dream — a picture-perfect dollhouse come to life. In reality, it’s the scene of a murder, a cover-up, and the home of The Perfect Couple!
Everyone has a fantasy they live within. This delicate balance between fantasy and reality is one we’re all familiar with. Not every moment of your life is simply reality. Everyone has their own lens on life, and everyone escapes from life in their own way. Perception, paranoia, delusion, and stress. This is Paranoia Agent.
I, like many young girls who grew up during the 2010s, was and still am obsessed with One Direction. How could we not be? We got to watch the band come together with the help of Simon Cowell and the show X-Factor, and fell in love with each of the five members: Harry, the suave flirt; Liam, the mature gentleman; Niall, the shy goofball; Louis, the nerdy party animal; and Zayn, the mysterious bad boy. The obsession was real with these guys. Their fan base, lovingly known as the “Directioners,” knew all the words to every song, knew all there was to know about these boys, and would heavily debate who was the best. Personally, I was and always will be a Zayn girlie. What can I say? I like the bad boys. Unfortunately, on March 25th 2015, Zayn decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career, and while the band still made one more album after his departure, it was the beginning of the end. I still remember exactly where I was when I found out, and my entire 10-year-old world was left utterly devastated. But I suppose that’s enough rambling about the boys; let’s actually get to the music!
Big Time Rush, the beloved American boy band that formed in 2009, quickly rose to fame thanks to their hit Nickelodeon series of the same name. The show followed the adventures of four charming hockey players — Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan — who transformed into a boy band, skillfully blending scripted comedy with their real-life music journey. Their infectious sound and charismatic personalities won the hearts of fans around the globe in no time! The group delighted listeners with several successful albums like BTR (2010), Elevate (2011), and 24/Seven (2013), featuring chart-topping hits such as “Boyfriend,” “Windows Down,” “Til I Forget About You,” and the endearing fan-favorite ballad “Worldwide.” Their music masterfully combined catchy pop hooks with vibrant dance rhythms, earning them a loyal fanbase and lots of appearances on TV, award shows, and unforgettable tours throughout the early 2010s!
It was the ’90s, a time of plaid shirts, disaffected grunge bands, and snarling riotgrrrls. Some corners of the pop and R&B scenes, however, refused to roll their eyes and flip the bird at the world, opting instead for emotional ballads or raucous beats with impossibly tight harmonies. Ergo, this was also the era of the boy band and girl group, and the best of them (arguably, I guess) were Boyz II Men and Salt-N-Pepa.
That said, I also need to give a shout-out to Salt-N-Pepa, who were and still remain pure girl-group perfection, despite their ongoing feud with DJ Spinderella. I loved their ballads. I loved their dance tracks. I loved everything in between. “Push It” may have slightly scandalized Tipper Gore at the time, but it’s the best running track that never fails to make running suck a little less. “Whatta Man” manages tthe rare feat of celebrating a really great boyfriend without threatening to give you sugar shock (stupid ballads). And I dare you not to get at least a little happy listening to “Shoop.” Without Salt (Cheryl James); Pepa (Sandra Denton); and poor, beleaguered Spinderella (Deidra Roper), we don’t have TLC, Destiny’s Child, or any other truly great pop/R&B girl groups that came after 1990.
The Runaways were a groundbreaking all-girl rock band that burst onto the scene in the mid-1970s, shattering expectations and paving the way for future generations of women in rock music. Formed in Los Angeles in 1975, the group featured teenage members Joan Jett (rhythm guitar/vocals), Lita Ford (lead guitar), Cherie Currie (lead vocals), Sandy West (drums), and Jackie Fox (bass). Their gritty sound blended punk energy with hard rock riffs, creating a raw, rebellious style that challenged the male-dominated music industry. Though their time together was relatively short, with the band releasing just four studio albums before disbanding in 1979, their impact was lasting. Songs like “Cherry Bomb” became anthems of youthful defiance, and their unapologetic presence onstage helped redefine what rock could look and sound like.
The Dragon Age (DA) series has been close to my heart for many years. Its rich lore, complex characters, and incredibly immersive storytelling have given me countless hours of adventure and emotional engagement. Each game in the series provides a unique experience and a new main character to customize and control. Through every story, you can choose to be a specific race (Human, Elf, Qunari, Dwarf) and class (Warrior, Rogue, Mage), and you get to romance your companions! The game choices are very story-driven, so an option you take could affect the entire storyline, and ultimately, the fate of the world.
The Elder Scrolls is a beautiful world, rich with life, chaos, and magic. We see as much in the games, with almost constant world ending catastrophes, events not fully understood, and legendary warriors disappearing just as fast as they emerged. One thing, however, is not understood by many: the pantheons, planes, and the creation of the universe.
When it comes to video games, one of the main traits I’ve always searched for is the allowance of exploration. I want to dive into a world that can keep me focused on a single goal and not hold my hand while I work to achieve that goal. And that’s where Nintendo’s Metroid franchise comes into play. First appearing on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, Metroid is a space action-adventure series that prides itself on complex world layouts that are chock full of puzzles, secrets, and a bit of horror sprinkled on top.