Lovecraft Country
{5/5} “Nature holds itself impervious to the wishings of would-be sorcerers. But… There are cracks. Not exceptions to the rules, you understand — there’s no such thing — but special cases, natural anomalies that can be discovered and exploited by men of sufficient vision.” Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff, published in 2016 Atticus returned home […]
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
{5/5} “‘That was such a heartbreaking story.’ ‘I know, I hate stories where everybody lives.’” — Mantis & Drax The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, released in 2022 When Christmastime arrives on Knowhere, a band creates a song about it for Peter Quill but it’s not exactly accurate. Mantis and Drax get the idea […]
Jane the Virgin (season 5)
{5/5} “I’m a more selfish person than you, so sometimes I forget to think about other people, but I’m working on it, OK?… But hey, it is who I am so don’t expect, like, a huge change.” — Petra Jane the Virgin season 5, aired in 2018-19 Somehow Michael is alive, but he has amnesia […]
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
{5/5} “Sometimes books don’t find us until the right time.” The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, released in 2022 A. J. Fikry owns a bookstore. He had a copy of a rare book that he was planning to auction off and retire on the proceeds. But someone stole it. Or maybe he did something […]
Star Trek: The Lives of Dax
{4.5/5} “It was that smile that won me, made me want to know the Trill more deeply. The humor was there, some joke that I could not quite see. And Dax was inviting me to open my eyes, as if he had greater confidence in my potential than I did.” (from “The Music Between the […]
DaCapo Chamber Choir’s “Earthrise”
I attended the DaCapo Chamber Choir’s concert “Earthrise.” Here’s the program: Henry Purcell – Hear My Prayer, O Lord Nicholas Ryan Kelly – Loam Jeff Enns – Moonset R. Murray Schafer – Epitaph for Moonlight Nicholas Ryan Kelly – Earthrise Leonard Enns – This Thirsty Land* Frank Ticheli – There Will Be Stars Special guests […]
Enola Holmes 2
{5/5} “‘Wait here, keep guard. If anyone comes, tell them you’re a lord or something.’ ‘I am a lord.’ ‘Well then, they’ll likely believe you.’” Enola Holmes 2, released in 2022 Enola has opened her own detective agency but most potential clients can’t get past the fact that she’s a girl. Just when she thinks […]
Ari Eldjárn: Pardon My Icelandic
{5/5} “The average Dane is more organized than the Icelandic prime minister ever will be.” Ari Eldjárn: Pardon My Icelandic, aired in 2020 Ari Eldjárn is an Icelandic comedian who brings his talents to the English-speaking world in this special. He talks about Nordic crime shows that became popular in the UK. He compares Nordic […]
Castle in the Sky
{4/5} “The tree. We protected it, so it protects us.” Castle in the Sky, released in 1986 Pazu catches a girl who falls from the sky, Sheeta. Pirates are after her, for some reason. Sheeta has a crystal that lets her float — that might be the reason. Laputa is a legendary castle that floats […]
Ponyo
{4.5/5} “You’re not busy. You’re five.” Ponyo, released in 2008 Sosuke rescues a goldfish he names Ponyo. Ponyo heals his cut, so he thinks she’s magical. She is — she can grow arms and legs if she wants. A man who walks out of the ocean and has some control over it steals her back. […]