Mount Hood

MCU overview

Still of Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” | Photo from @movietitan on Instagram

Jan. 14 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

I was never really interested in Marvel growing up. I was a fan of DC comics for as long as I can remember. I loved Wonder Woman, Superman and, albeit a bit less so, Batman. The DC Extended Universe — often shortened to DCEU — includes movies directed by Zack Snyder and other directors from 2013 to 2023. This is, of course, the same set of years that the Marvel Cinematic Universe — commonly known as the MCU — hit its peak, but the DCEU never had the same level of success.

When “Black Panther” was released in 2018, I was an eighth grader. My middle school did a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports event as a reward for students who had a high level of attendance and other positive behaviors. We had the choice between “Black Panther” and “Sherlock Gnomes” to go see in theaters, so I decided on the former. It was my introduction to the universe, and I’ve seen almost every Marvel movie since then.

My partner loves the MCU, so he convinced me to do a complete timeline watch once he found out I’ve never seen most of the early Marvel movies. The only reason I saw any MCU movies that came out after “Black Panther” was because, for whatever reason, every guy I dated loved taking me to see them in theaters once they found out I didn’t know much about Marvel.

This first watch-through comes in preparation for “Avengers: Doomsday” to hit theaters late December this year. I knew most of the basics and how things ended up, but really seeing how things happened, understanding callbacks and seeing the foreshadowing has been an experience I wish I had sooner. Starting with “Captain America: The First Avenger” and going in order of when they happened rather than when they were released has proven the best way to watch.

I’m finding I enjoy the MCU much more than I ever enjoyed the DCEU. I think a large part of it has to do with just how deep the universe goes. Heroes are given their origin movies and see actual character development instead of just grunting and looking sweaty for two hours.

But let’s have some fun. I’m going to break down just what has made this watch-through fun and enjoyable for me, which I hope will convince others to finally take that first step to watch.

 

A strong cast — The MCU has an absolutely stacked cast. Most are household names now because of their roles; however, some actors were well known before they became superheroes. Part of my fun during the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies has been saying, “Gamora, your Neytiri is showing.” This, of course, comes from the fact that Gamora and Neytiri are both played by Zoe Saldaña. Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper play the ever-iconic Groot and Rocket Raccoon, respectively, and I don’t think Marvel’s casting directors could have chosen anyone better.

Benedict Cumberbatch is another actor who was well known before he entered the MCU, starring in roles such as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC’s “Sherlock” and Smaug in “The Hobbit” trilogy. The man’s voice is like butter, which is why he was the perfect choice for Dr. Stephen Strange.

Of course, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark will forever be iconic. They are the beating heart of the MCU. The starting points. Downey, in the 2008 “Iron Man” movie, kick-started the whole franchise, and Evans is, quite literally, the first Avenger. Without them, the franchise wouldn’t be what it is today.

 

Well-rounded, fleshed out characters — As I said earlier, the characters in the MCU get wonderfully written origin movies instead of only simplistic action plotlines. The movies can be dark, but not overly gritty with blue-toned overlays to try and make it look “serious” — I’m looking at “Man of Steel” here — and characters aren’t turned into shells of themselves. They’re snarky and can crack jokes. They’re allowed to mess up and fall flat on their faces to start their arc. They’re not perfect, no matter how much they pretend to be. Everyone is just deeply human in their journeys.

I am very biased towards Bucky Barnes. He’s my favorite character. He was, weirdly enough, my favorite character before I got into the MCU. Tall, dark, handsome and brooding? Yeah. That checked all my boxes when I was in middle school. As an adult, that hasn’t changed. I still fall into fangirl mode and shriek his name whenever he’s on screen. Pray for me when I get to “Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”

But part of Barnes’ appeal is his character arc. Captured by HYDRA and brainwashed for 70 years before he eventually breaks free and gets to live a semi-normal life, Barnes is a character whose struggle is deeply human. How many of us have had to overcome a traumatic experience in our lives and try to find peace with it? How many veterans have struggled with PTSD and might see themselves in his story? There’s a character for everyone to relate to in the MCU.

 

The indomitable human spirit — This one is kinda corny, I know, but the MCU is full of movies that are, in some way, about the indomitable will we have as humans. There are, of course, some exceptions. The “Thor” movies. Peter Quill’s storyline in “Guardians of the Galaxy” only counts towards this because he’s half-human. But, for the most part, Marvel movies are about human beings defying odds that are supposed to kill them.

Tony Stark has a death-sentence in his chest with the arc-reactor core. Steve Rogers became one of the greatest heroes in the world, even after he was told no time and time again. Natasha Romanoff and Bucky Barnes have arcs that are such deep allegories for sexual assault and human trafficking that they feel like they could be real.

This goes with how relatable the characters can be. Their stories are deeply human, which makes them deeply human characters.

In our lives, we often overcome things we weren’t supposed to. We show kindness even in the face of deep adversity. And that is what we see in the MCU. These movies remind us what it means to be human.

 

And if those reasons can’t convince anyone to watch the MCU? Well, superheroes and explosions should be a good enough reason.

With the exception of “Venom: The Last Dance” and “Spiderman: No Way Home,” all Marvel movies and shows are streaming on Disney+.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 

Wild and Scenic

A nighttime shot of the Whiteside Theater in Corvallis, where the Wild and Scenic Film Festival was held. | Photo courtesy of Wes Flow

Nov. 19 2025 |  Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

On Nov. 13, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival celebrated its 10th year in Corvallis and was hosted by the Corvallis Environmental Center. The Corvallis Environmental Center, a non-profit founded in 1994, focuses on creating a healthy, sustainable community through educating students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade on environmental wellness, leadership development and food security. 

Featuring 10 films on topics from conservation to outdoor sports, the festival aimed to inspire the community through a love of nature. This year, the festival’s message centered on hope, aiming to draw attention to the ways people are making a difference in the world by working to bring change in their communities. 

This year, the films were screened at Whiteside Theatre in Corvallis, a 30-minute drive from Western and six minutes from Oregon State University. The festival also offered on-demand tickets, where viewers could watch each film from the comfort of their home. These on-demand screenings were available on the Corvallis Environmental Center’s website Nov. 13 through 19. 

The center provided these films to the Corvallis School District free of charge for teachers to view the films in their classrooms with their students. 

“We want to share these films with everyone who cares for this planet we call home. We believe that is everyone,” said Corvallis Environmental Center Outreach Coordinator Karen DeWolfe.

“Films are a powerful way of sharing stories from other communities. It is powerful to see other people effectively making a change,” she added. “Film also helps show us how beautiful our world is, and I think this can inspire us to take additional steps to care for our planet.”

My favorite was the second film, “Friends of Frogpool Lane,” which was produced by Freshwaters Illustrated in partnership with Amphibian Friends, an organization in eastern Pennsylvania that the short film also follows. It was founded in 2010 by Kim White and her husband after she saw an article about amphibian migrations on a busy road near their newly-purchased property. From there, White discovered a vernal pool on her property, a seasonal wetland that typically appears in the spring and grows through the rainy season. They are the ideal habitat for frogs and salamanders to mate and spawn in, since the pools cannot sustain fish life. Vernal pools are highly endangered habitats, with as many as 50% of vernal pools in the Eastern United States being lost or impacted. 

Every year for the last 15 years, on rainy nights in February and March, Amphibian Friends sets out with the help of 25 volunteers to assist the migration of thousands of salamanders and wood frogs. 

In 2023, the Whites’ vernal pool was permanently protected through a conservation agreement with the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. The film ends with the message “Help amphibians migrate by driving slow on rainy spring nights and protecting migration corridors.”

Wild and Scenic’s flagship festival is held annually in Nevada City, California and Grass Valley, California, before hitting the road for the On Tour program. There are currently around 110 stops and events in this program, with more than 38,000 people being reached annually. Each stop is supported by local environmental organizations, which then donate the proceeds to local social programs. 

This year, the proceeds from the festival went to the Corvallis Environmental Center’s Food for Families program, various scholarships for the center’s youth programs and growing fruits and vegetables at Straker Arts Garden for Education. 

“Food for Families is centered on our one-acre education garden, SAGE,” DeWolfe said. “We grow ~5,000 lbs of fresh, sustainable produce annually to supply local food for people most in need in our community.”

Food for Families delivers in-season fruits and vegetables from the Straker Arts Garden for Education to emergency food agencies in Corvallis, including the South Corvallis Food Bank, Stone Soup Kitchen and the Oregon State University Emergency Food Pantry. They are able to do this with the help of over 300 volunteers, interns and staff at the Center.

This is Wild and Scenic’s 23rd year, with the next edition — as the festival calls itself on its website — slated for Feb. 19 through 23. The event is expected to occur again next year. Specifics have yet to be released, but students can keep an eye out to contribute to the cause.

“The Film Festival has helped us make connections with amazing local filmmakers, like Chelsea Jolly and Dave Herasimtschuk,” DeWolfe said. “It brings our community together to celebrate the beauty of our planet and the people we share it with. And it helps us come together for a night of feeling hopeful.” 

“I believe and I hope it helps all of us realize we can be the change we want to see in the world,” she added. 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Avatar


Still of Oona Chaplin as Varang in “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” | Photo from @entertainmentweekly on Instagram

Jan 7. 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

James Cameron created perhaps one of the greatest fictional worlds in cinematic history when he introduced moviegoers to Pandora in his 2009 film “Avatar.” While the director is best known for his 1997 historical romance “Titanic,” his true pet project is the “Avatar” universe.

In a 2022 interview for the “Avatar: The Way of Water” press tour, Cameron revealed the idea came to him in a dream when he was 19. 

“I woke up after dreaming of this kind of bioluminescent forest with these trees that look kind of like fiber-optic lamps and this river that was glowing (with) bioluminescent particles and kind of purple moss on the ground that lit up when you walked on it,” Cameron said in the interview. “It was all in the dream. I woke up super excited, and I actually drew it. So I actually have a drawing. It saved us from about 10 lawsuits. Any successful film, there’s always some freak with tinfoil under their wig that thinks you’ve beamed the idea out of their head. And it turned out there were 10 or 11 of them. And so I pointed at this drawing I did when I was 19.”

The franchise’s titular film, “Avatar,” broke records when it first appeared in box offices. It was the highest-grossing film ever — until “Avengers: Endgame” usurped it in 2019 — and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. In 2010, following the success of his movie, Cameron announced that two more movies were set to follow, with the first of these sequels initially slated for a 2014 release. However, Cameron did not feel underwater filming technology was advanced enough for the direction he wanted to take the sequel, so it was delayed until December 2022.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” became as big a success as its older sister. It was the highest grossing movie of 2022, earning $2.02 billion globally, and is currently the third-highest-grossing movie of all time. With “Avatar,” “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Titanic” sitting in the first, third and fourth spots, respectively — “Avengers: Endgame” still holds second — James Cameron sits second in the list of highest-grossing directors, only $1.3 billion behind Steven Spielberg.

December 2025 saw the release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which picked up immediately where “Avatar: The Way of Water” left off. 

The film follows Jake Sully and his family as they defend their lush world from the Resources Development Agency and its privatized military SecOps. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña and Stephen Lang reprise their roles as Sully, Neytiri and Colonel Miles Quaritch, with most of the cast from “Avatar: The Way of Water” returning. The film also introduces Varang — played by Oona Chaplin, best known for her role as Talisa Maegyr in “A Game of Thrones” — the Tsa’hik of the Mangkwan Clan, and Peylak — played by David Thewlis, best known for his role as Remus Lupin in the “Harry Potter” franchise — the leader of the Na’vi Wind Traders.

Water, fire, wind? This is starting to sound a lot like “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” In fact, a lot of times, when someone mentions “Avatar,” there’s always the clarification: “the one that controls the elements or the blue cat people?” What started as a joke about sharing a name has now shaped into two franchises being near-mirror images of each other.

The Metkayina Clan, which was introduced in “Avatar: The Way of Water,” bears an eerie resemblance to the Water Tribe in “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” They’re isolationists, deeply spiritual and, of course, associated with the ocean. The only difference, however, is that the Metkayina Clan does not control the element they are associated with. The Mangkwan Clan, which is associated with fire — actually controlling it in a way in “Avatar: Fire and Ash” — and which turns on their own kind? Well, that’s almost twin to the Fire Nation. Even the Wind Traders are similar to the Air Nomads: never staying in one place and wearing orange, monk-style robes. Both franchises are also based on various indigenous cultures.

But it’s not as bad as it seems. Both franchises rely heavily on similar tropes and premises.

For one, color-coding elements. Fire is red, which is seen in the Fire Nation’s clothing and the Mangkwan Clan’s war paint, and aggressive, which is shared by both groups’ desire to conquer their world. Water is blue and is associated with spirituality — the Metkayina are the most spiritual of the Na’vi clans, just like the Water Tribe. Air has flow and cannot be contained, which is seen in the Air Nomads and the Wind Traders, who each never stay in one place. Even the Omaticaya, the forest-dwelling Clan to which Sully and Neytiri belong, is similar to the Earth Kingdom in the sense that both groups are grounded and deeply connected to their element. 

In short, fire is red and aggressive, water is blue and flowing, air is free-willed and cannot be tied down and earth is grounded and holds a deep connection to the surrounding world. These are all associations that the elements have naturally. After all, every zodiac sign has an element it best fits with.

And being based on indigenous cultures? Well, natives are just like that. We’re cool.

On a more serious note, indigenous peoples share many commonalities with one another. We all have fought against oppressors and colonizers in our histories. We are all deeply connected with the world around us. Our stories are compelling, even today.

“Avatar” is, of course, not without its critics. A lot of people believe the films fit into the white-savior trope, where a white person assimilates into a native population and ends up saving them. Others feel like it is the noble savage trope, where the indigenous peoples are portrayed as morally superior and uncorruptible. Still others see it as a romanticized view of colonization.

As a native woman, I don’t see these movies as any of those, but some indigenous peoples do see them like that. It is all based on perspective. I think they are a love letter to the indigenous peoples who have been on this world since time immemorial and survived despite war and genocide.

“Avatar” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” are currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, where “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will also be released once it leaves theaters.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

‘NEW HORIZONS’ UPDATE


Graphics by Addison Watts

Jan 7. 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Those who love spending their time playing chill video games are likely familiar with the popular game franchise Animal Crossing, and are waiting in anticipation for the large update to “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” coming Jan. 15. 

New Horizons was originally released in 2020 exclusively on Nintendo platforms such as the Nintendo Switch. The game itself is fairly open in what the player can do, but does have some goal oriented tasks and requires tasks for progression, especially at the beginning. Players begin the game by customizing their character and selecting an island type to live on. The island types differ based on where cliffs and rivers are located, and players can use this to base what kind of design they would like while being aware that they can landscape — move around — these two things later on in the game. Once they select their island type, the player will pick a location for their tent and then start on their island. In the beginning, the player won’t be able to cross any rivers or climb cliffs until they get the resources to build a vaulting pole and ladder. Later on, they can spend bells — money — to build bridges and stairs for easy transportation around their island. 

Throughout the game, players can collect resources to build various things like decorations and buildings. Animal Crossing is centered around designing and decorating your island, but there are also other small tasks players can work on. They can collect fossils for their museum and work on filling all of the exhibits. Once they achieve a fishing rod and net, they can also collect sea creatures and bugs which can either be donated to the museum or sold for bells. 

Players can also interact with villagers living on their island, and, eventually, can move around their villagers’ houses to certain locations. Many Animal Crossing players work to get aesthetic villagers to fit the vibe of their island even though they have little control over this. A villager can randomly tell the player that they want to leave and the player can either accept or decline — the only control players have over what villagers they want on their island. 

As time progresses, players can also work on achieving a five-star island rating. This rating is based on the attractiveness and cleanliness of their island, and can be found when talking to Isabelle at the city hall. Players can improve their rating by pulling weeds, picking up stray items and decorating their island. 

Another creative aspect that goes into the game is the option to decorate inside the player’s house as well as change their outfit. Players can buy furniture and clothing from stores on their island to customize their look, and can buy house extensions such as new rooms and more floors from Tom Nook. To expand their house, players must ensure their current loan to Tom Nook is already paid off, and similarly, to expand from their beginning tent to a house they must earn enough to pay off their loan.

The upcoming update is sure to expand on all of these aspects as well as bring back fan requests from previous Animal Crossing games such as “Animal Crossing: New Leaf.” One aspect of the update is a new Resort Hotel building that visitors to the island can stay at. Players can customize the guest rooms based on a theme in their resort hotel as well as buy new outfits for visitors. Villagers that visit your island can be found staying at the hotel, walking around enjoying the scenery, inside the museum or shopping at Nook’s. Players can also buy amiibo cards that they can scan to get certain villagers to visit their island, an aspect of New Leaf that many players wanted to bring back. 

Players can also take on requests from Tom Nook to craft island goods that will then be delivered. Each request that players fulfill can then be traded in for hotel tickets. Decorating rooms can also earn hotel tickets, and tickets can be exchanged in the souvenir shop for hotel novelties and other exclusive items. 

If players have an online membership, they can also visit Slumber Island to create a whole new island in addition to the one they already have with friends. They can do all of the same things on this island such as terraform, build and decorate. Players can do this with up to three additional islands, and can use these to create vacation islands away from their main one.

A basic expansion players can also expect is the ability to play online with up to 12 other players. Currently, the max is eight players. Players can also expect more storage space, with space increasing from 5,000 items to 9,000.

Players can also utilize Resetti’s cleanup service in the new update. Rather than completely creating a new island when they want a fresh start, this provides the option to select a specific area on their island and have Resetti clear it out. They can have Resetti clear out flowers, decorations or everything.

The new update will also include various crossovers. Players can buy items that are Nintendo-specific, like a Nintendo Switch or a Game Boy, for their island, and can also buy LEGO items, including LEGO furniture and clothing. Legend of Zelda amiibo cards can be scanned by players as villagers and will unlock furniture and clothing items based on Legend of Zelda. Newly added characters from Zelda, including Tulin and Mineru, can also become villagers on your island. These same things apply with the Splatoon series, introducing Cece or Viché visitors. 

All in all, both avid Animal Crossing players and new players can expect many fun additions in the new update that will make playing even more enjoyable.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

 Performative masculinity’s rise

The telltale signs of how to spot a performative male. | Photo from @dalgazette on Instagram

Dec. 3 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Matcha. Labubus. “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath. Thrifting. On their own, these might not have any weight, but when combined? They create the performative male, an archetype of masculinity that has been on the rise since earlier this year.

The performative male has risen in the wake of the toxic masculinity that is associated with Andrew Tate and anti-feminist ideology, showing a sharp contrast in masculinity in online spaces. 

The term “performative male” itself is used to describe cisgender, heterosexual men who intentionally adopt traits and habits that are typically associated with women or the online “soft boy” persona. Imagine a man who wears thrifted sweaters, a Labubu on his belt and wired headphones while drinking matcha and reading feminist literature — all meant to signal to women that he is sensitive and emotionally aware.

These traits aren’t a bad thing at all. I, personally, love it when my boyfriend is sensitive and emotionally aware. A majority of people who are attracted to men love when they are sensitive to our feelings. It tells us they care about us and aren’t afraid to show their own feelings. 

The problem arises, however, when men simply adopt these traits and habits to gain the romantic affections of the women around them. They want to signal that they are a safe space for women, that they are different from other men and most importantly, that they are a “good guy.” Now this is in no way berating men who actually choose these traits and habits because they enjoy them — they aren’t the reason why the archetype is called the “performative male.”

It’s when all of these combined attributes feel hollow and empty that the archetype becomes performative. When a man shows no genuine interest in feminist literature or astrology beyond how it makes him appeal to women, then it is an empty attempt. A performative male has been compared to social media activism: actions only done to seem like a “good person.”

As I said before, this trend has arisen in the wake of toxic masculinity and the male loneliness epidemic. Recent studies suggest that a possible cause is the polarizing views between Generation Z men and women. Young women have become increasingly liberal and against patriarchal values, while, in contrast, only 43% of young men identify themselves as feminists, while also becoming more patriarchal in their views.

“This shift has happened because of toxic masculinity. There’s been a shift from the alpha bro to a more chill, nice guy. This is a trend for men to be more soft and more fashion-forward,” TikTok user @ellabellaaa_ said.

Performative male contests have been popping up all around the world — from Toronto to San Francisco and even Jakarta — with the most performative of them all winning. At these contests, participants compete for laughs and women’s attention by reciting poetry, showing off their thrifted fashion or handing out feminine hygiene products to show they’re “one of the good guys.”

But as young men begin to explore gender outside of what is considered traditional masculinity, this response is showing them one thing: that being sensitive, soft and emotionally available is humorous and should be openly mocked. 

However, I hope that men continue to adopt these traits not out of malicious intent, but because they genuinely want to. Society is continually evolving, and we may move towards a time when men can adopt traits that are not traditionally masculine with less scrutiny.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Stupid sexy Flanders

The promotional poster for “The Simpsons” x “Fortnite” collab. | Photo from @fortnite on Instagram

Nov. 19 2025 |  Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

“The Simpsons” have couch-gagged their way into “Fortnite,” completely taking over the game’s maps, shop and battle pass. 

Released Nov. 1, the season was teased beforehand with Kang and Kodos — the slobbering, green, one-eyed aliens most commonly seen in “Treehouse of Horror” episodes — following the Battle Bus as players launched into the game. When the season officially launched, major locations switched from their usual themes to well-known ones from the series. These include Burns Manor, Cletus’ Corn Hole, Corruption Corners, Donut District, Evergreen Terrace, Kamp Krusty, Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Springfield Slurpworks and Springfield Town Square. A majority of these locations feature heavily throughout the 37 seasons of “The Simpsons,” though Kamp Krusty was only featured in the Season 4 opener, “Kamp Krusty,” and in Season 28, Episode 15, “Kamp Krustier.” Springfield Slurpworks is similar, featuring first in Season 35, Episode 12, “Lisa Gets an F1” as Springfield Tasselworks — a now closed-down factory that once made nipple tassels. Corruption Corners is a bleedover from the “Fortnitemares” Halloween event. 

Along with these locations, three bosses will also spawn throughout the map: Ned Flanders, Krusty the Clown and Witch Marge. Ironically enough, the Ned Flanders boss has claimed the most player kills so far, with a staggering 33,000. The Battle Bus driver has also been renamed to Otto, who drives the bus for Springfield Elementary in the series. 

The battle pass features iconic moments from “The Simpsons,” as well. Among the tiers, players will find Marge Simpson, Blinky Fishstick, Ned Flanders and Homer Simpson. Witch Marge, Hazardous Blinky Fishstick and Stupid Sexy Flanders also feature on the battle pass as cosmetics. Witch Marge comes from Season 9, Episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror VII,” while Stupid Sexy Flanders is from Season 11, Episode 10, “Little Big Mom.”

Among the extra levels of the battle pass is “Evil Homer,” which comes from Season 4, Episode 20, “Whacking Day,” and includes an emote of Homer shaking donut maracas and singing “I am Evil Homer.” 

Peely, like Fishstick, was also given a Springfielder makeover and is cel-shaded in the show’s iconic style. Featuring as rewards for completing weekly quests, Springfielder Peely also has “Peelfessor Frink” cosmetics, based on the character Professor John Frink, and includes a glider, back bling and skin. 

The shop’s takeover features iconic characters Krusty the Clown, Moe Syslak, Bart Simpson and Lisa Simpson, as well as “The Simpsons” theme and “The Monorail Song,” which featured in Season 4, Episode 12, “Marge vs. the Monorail.” Emotes based on other iconic “Simpsons” moments include Flaming Slurp, based on a Flaming Moe; Saxophone Solo, which features Lisa’s iconic solo from the theme; Homer’s Hedge Retreat from Season 5, Episode 16, “Homer Loves Flanders”; and Squishee Boarding, featuring a squishee from the Kwik-E Mart. 

Sidekicks were also introduced this season, with players who bought the battle pass able to immediately claim and customize “Peels,” a little dog shaped like a banana. Sidekicks are equipable and will follow players throughout various game modes, as well as emote with them and celebrate when they get a kill. Other sidekicks include Mothman Jr., Cuddle Team Jr., Spike and Flopsticks. Plopper, from “The Simpsons Movie,” is available in the shop as a sidekick, as well. 

“The Simpsons” will stick around until the end of November, just in time for Winterfest to kick off. Fans will have the annual advent calendar, snow-covered map and other winter-themed items and skins to look forward to. Winterfest kicks off Dec. 1 when “Fortnite” updates automatically in the shop. 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 

‘Survivor’ hot takes

A photo of the Kele tribe during a challenge. | Photo from @survivorcbs on Instagram

Nov. 12 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Even fans who aren’t avid consumers of the reality TV show “Survivor” likely remember seeing a season here or there, whether it be remembering a season from the old era with dangerous twists and turns such as lions roaming around the castaways’ camp, or a season from the new era with all of the various gameplay additions, such as idols and beware advantages. I know I love watching all of the drama unfold as well as the new challenges and twists they come up with, a reason that likely contributes to why fans keep watching season after season. “Survivor” contestants from Season 49 — the current season — provided their own personal “Survivor” hot takes, and I’ll be ranking them from worst to best for both die-hard fans and the occasional viewer alike to enjoy.
18. Bring back the super idol — Kristina
When the super idol was in play, contestants who found two hidden immunity idols could combine them to create a super idol, meaning they could use the idol after the vote. Personally, I feel like this advantage gives one person way too much power. Some advantages are just unnecessary because they change the game way too drastically and unfairly.
17. The margarita curse is fake news — Alex
The “margarita curse” is essentially a theory that any contestant who wins a margarita from a reward challenge ends up getting voted out. It happened a few times, so fans and contestants started joking that it was related. I feel like this hot take isn’t really a hot take because the margarita curse isn’t real and is all theorized from a few occurrences that were most likely a coincidence.
16. Sam should have won season 47 — Jake
Sam, the runner-up, argued at the final counsel that he should win because he fought for immunity in all the challenges. Rachel ended up winning and countered that forming bonds and alliances are just as important. I believe that any aspect of “Survivor,” whether it be a contestant’s physical strength or their social game, is crucial to a win.
15. Contestants shouldn’t be forced to risk their vote, it should be a choice — Steven
I feel as if there aren’t really many cases where contestants are forced to risk their vote. Most often, they lose their vote while going on an individual journey to an island, and most contestants voluntarily do this.
14. Idols overrated, advantages underrated — Jason
I’m not sure if I or other fans would necessarily agree with this, because idols are the most powerful advantage in the game. I also believe that the new era of “Survivor” has a multitude of advantages, and they aren’t really underrated.
13. The best player does not always win — Rizo
As viewers, we can often favor one contestant over another for various reasons like their strength or their social game, and we may have the perception that one deserves to win over the other. While this may be true, I think anyone who manages to win “Survivor” didn’t win by fluke.
12. New era > old era — MC
Both have their strong points: new era comes with many more twists and turns, where contestants have to think a lot more about their strategy, while old era comes with more of the survival aspect of “Survivor.”
11. Russell is amazing — Annie
Russell is a contestant who can be seen as overly harsh and has sometimes even been described as a snake, but he made the game very interesting and managed to win Fan Favorite for arguably one of the most iconic seasons: Heroes vs Villains.
10. There’s no such thing as an honest game — Sage
This hot take really makes me think hard about what an honest game even is. Many contestants go into the finale claiming they should win because they played an honest game, but I think I agree that it’s near impossible to do this while they are actively voting people out.
9. “A lil rice would be nice” — Shannon
I do think that the game may be more interesting if each tribe was given rice rations to eat, because they would be slightly stronger for challenges.
8. Chris Underwood deserved the win — Matt
While I do believe that everyone who wins deserves the win, Chris won the final immunity challenge but gave up immunity to compete in the fire-making challenge because he believed he needed to prove he deserved to win. I think this is a very risky but iconic move that deserves some credit.
7. Stop handicapping losing tribes by taking their flint — Sophie
Like with the rice debate, I think if tribes had their flint, it may make the rest of the game — the challenges — more interesting.
6. Bring back the loved one visit — Jeremiah
I think adding this reward later on in the game would provide contestants with more motivation after to play the game harder and better.
5. Cast more people likely to get in a showmance. Love is the only way to beat logic — Savannah
Many fans remember the iconic Boston Rob and Amber showmance, and I think we would all enjoy more showmances to make the show more interesting.
4. Knowledge is power is pretty awesome — Jawan
I think having this advantage in the game can make the gameplay more challenging and thought-provoking, and may push contestants to be more careful about who they show their idol to.
3. Immunity idol = death in the game — Nate
I think this really depends on how the contestant strategizes with their idol. Many of them choose to show their alliances that they have an idol, which can cause rumors to spread around and can ultimately lead to their downfall.
2. There is no such thing as a player who should have won, it’s all about jury management — Nicole
Many fans and players argue that whoever was the best in challenges and the strongest physical player should have won, but the social game in “Survivor” is just as important. Ultimately, it’s the jury at the end deciding their fate.
1. Whoever wins deserves it — Sophi
On that note, “Survivor” is all about how each contestant uniquely plays the game. There is no right or wrong game if someone makes it to the finale. Winning a reality TV show over seventeen other contestants is not an accident.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Nintendo’s star princess

A photo of Rosalina’s original design from Super Mario Galaxy. | Photo from @nintenbingo on Instagram

Nov. 12 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers for “Super Mario Galaxy”

“Super Mario Galaxy” was a game that came out in 2007 on the Nintendo Wii. It introduced several new mechanics that were different from previous Mario games, such as the ability to stun enemies with the spin move and the introduction of 3D graphic manipulation as the game is set in various worlds with different physics. However, the biggest addition that this game brought to the forefront was the introduction of a new character, one who comes from the stars.
Introduction — Known as the “mother of the Lumas,” Rosalina debuted as a woman who possesses great cosmic power. She travels throughout space in her observatory, keeping an eye out for any threats. She has been called “an interstellar protector” by Nintendo. She is known as the adoptive mother of the Lumas, star-shaped creatures that are baby stars. They have the capability to transform into stars, comets, planets and even “Power Stars,” which are the main source of power in the world of the Mushroom Kingdom.
The plot — The game opens up with a few pages of a storybook, explaining that once every hundred years a comet passes by the Mushroom Kingdom. On this occasion, the people host an event called the “Star Festival,” meant to celebrate the comet’s return. Then, the game becomes similar to most Mario games where Bowser attacks the Mushroom Kingdom to kidnap Princess Peach. While Mario is attempting to save her, he gets knocked into space.
When he wakes up, it’s in the company of the Lumas. After a brief chase with them, they explain that their “Mama” needs his help. It is then that Rosalina makes her first appearance. She tells Mario that she is the guardian of the cosmos. She then entrusts Mario to take care of a Luma that will give him the power to travel through space to save Peach. This is what gives Mario his shake ability, which allows him to not only stun enemies, but to use “Launch Stars,” which help him travel through the cosmos throughout the game.
Mario is then taken to the Comet Observatory. Rosalina explains that they travel through the area once every hundred years, but were stopped by Bowser this time. He had attacked their home, taking the Power Stars, which give the observatory the power it needs to travel through space. Rosalina asks Mario if he would continue to collect the Power Stars from other galaxies around them. Once enough are collected and power is restored to the ship entirely, Rosalina agrees to help Mario save Princess Peach and defeat Bowser.
The ending —Another reason that Super Mario Galaxy is different from other Mario games is the ending. Most of the games end with Peach being saved, Bowser falling into lava and everyone going back home. However, when Mario manages to defeat Bowser, the universe that he was trying to create collapses on itself and creates a black hole. The Luma that was with Mario the entire game, along with all the others in the Observatory, sacrificed themselves by jumping into the black hole. An animation appears showing what’s implied to be a cyclone mixing up stardust. Mario then appears in some sort of limbo with Rosalina, where she explains how the cycle of life works for stars: “When stars die, they turn to stardust and scatter across the cosmos.” She explains that after a time, the stardust turns into a star and the cycle of life continues. Rosalina does say, though, that the cycle of life is never the same. When Mario awakens, everyone he encountered in the game who lived on different galaxies now share one planet. Rosalina’s voice is heard to say that all life carries the essence of stars, including all of them. Mario welcomes the new galaxy and a new cycle of life begins.
Origins — Rosalina’s backstory is told to the player throughout the game through a storybook. As Mario collects Power Stars, parts of the observatory unlock. One of the areas is a library, and when walking inside, Rosalina is sitting in a chair holding a storybook. She reads to a group of Lumas, and the story told is implied to be her own.
The story is about a young girl who encounters a lost Luma that crashed his spaceship near her home. The Luma says he’s waiting for his mama to come back for him on a comet, so the girl agrees to wait with him. A lot of time passes and they decide to go into space to try to find her. They eventually encounter a comet that they decide to stay on while the girl chooses to adopt the Luma as her child. They construct the Comet Observatory and have a large group of Luma children who live with them. The girl decides to check on her home planet and reminisce about her family. When the thought of her own mother comes to mind, she bursts out in tears as she tells her children that she can’t see her anymore, as she is “sleeping under the tree in the hill,” implying that she has passed away. Luma, the original star child that Rosalina encountered, tries to comfort her and, in the process, turns into a comet. The girl is shocked and the other Lumas explain to her that they all will grow up to become either stars, planets, comets and much more. They all surround the girl, hugging her and asking her not to cry anymore and from that day forward, “star bits no longer fell from the girl’s eyes.”
Utilization — Unfortunately, Rosalina hasn’t had a major role in a Mario game since her debut, with most of her appearances coming from spin-off games like “Super Smash Bros,” “Mario Kart” and “Super Mario 3D World.” However, fans still hold her dear in their hearts for several reasons. Unlike most of the Mario characters, who are tailored in a way that kids will enjoy them, Rosalina has a mature personality that is very much motherlike. Unlike Peach, who depends on Mario a lot in the games, Rosalina is an independent woman who not only takes care of herself, but takes care of all the Lumas under her care. Her backstory is compelling, even tragic, which is unique for a Nintendo character, as we don’t know a whole lot about the backstories of the characters in these games.
While Nintendo hasn’t taken advantage of how much love the fans have for this character in a while, there is good news for those who have been waiting. Not only are “Super Mario Galaxy” and its sequel available for the Nintendo Switch, but Nov. 25, her storybook will be available for physical release. It has also been announced that the next Mario movie will be based on Super Mario Galaxy. Considering how big a role she plays in the games, there is no doubt that Rosalina will make an appearance in this upcoming film. As a huge fan of Rosalina, I am definitely looking forward to seeing her in the next movie.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

‘Overwatch’s’ replacement

A game clip of Zombie Wanda Maximoff, the final boss in the limited “Rivals Zombies” event. | Photo from @marvelrivals on Instagram

When most people think about non-secular music, they typically think of Hillsong United or Elevation Worship. Which, OK, is valid. Those two groups have dominated the worship music scene for years, with numerous controversies that have made them recognizable to anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation.
But with Generation Z entering the sphere of worship music, they have begun to shift from what is considered “traditional” in the genre — mainly songs that one would hear sung in church or at a Bible study — to songs that are deeply emotional, personal and relatable.
From these artists, the best to emerge is Allison Eide.
Eide first came onto the music scene in 2020 when she released a cover of “Mary Did You Know” with her father, Peder Eide. For the next three years, she released Christmas music until her first single, “Love Who I Am,” in late 2023. The song talks about insecurities and people pleasing, but through her faith, she knows who she truly is inside.
Eide didn’t blow up overnight. Instead, she spent her time crafting her music and relating to the struggles modern Christians face: expectations on social media, struggles with mental health and the growing discord around faith.
In September 2024, however, Eide’s music reached not just her usual Christian listeners but also those from other faiths or who may not be religious when she released her song “Truth Is (Liar).”
The song speaks of the lies that are put in our heads from outside sources and how they can be flipped on their head to prove the source wrong.
That energy comes through especially in the bridge, where Eide flips criticism into empowerment: “You list ’em off, everything that I’m not / A-B-C, one, two, three, ‘monologue’ / But I list ’em off, everything that I got / Look at me, I’m free and you’re not.”
This is the song that introduced me to her music, and every song from her discography has slowly infiltrated my playlists.
Eide’s most vulnerable song, however, proves to be her newest single, “why, why, why.”
Released Nov. 7, 2025, it speaks about her father’s death after his battle with cancer, as well as recounting the time she spoke to a young girl dying of AIDS. Across the song, Eide wrestles with silence — God’s, the world’s and her own — as she faces pain, suffering and the weight of mental health struggles.
It’s a raw, tear-streaked reflection that strips away performance and pride. Eide knows what it means to question faith and still cling to it. In an October teaser, she shared a preview of the chorus with the caption: “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. it’s time we stop coming to Him like He isn’t.”
And honestly? I have yet to listen to it without being brought to tears. It’s rare to find music that makes one feel seen in faith, doubts and grief, but Eide does exactly that.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

‘Like anxiety in real time’

The official art for Eide’s newest single, “why, why, why.” | Photo from @allison_eide on Instagram

Nov. 12 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

When most people think about non-secular music, they typically think of Hillsong United or Elevation Worship. Which, OK, is valid. Those two groups have dominated the worship music scene for years, with numerous controversies that have made them recognizable to anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation.
But with Generation Z entering the sphere of worship music, they have begun to shift from what is considered “traditional” in the genre — mainly songs that one would hear sung in church or at a Bible study — to songs that are deeply emotional, personal and relatable.
From these artists, the best to emerge is Allison Eide.
Eide first came onto the music scene in 2020 when she released a cover of “Mary Did You Know” with her father, Peder Eide. For the next three years, she released Christmas music until her first single, “Love Who I Am,” in late 2023. The song talks about insecurities and people pleasing, but through her faith, she knows who she truly is inside.
Eide didn’t blow up overnight. Instead, she spent her time crafting her music and relating to the struggles modern Christians face: expectations on social media, struggles with mental health and the growing discord around faith.
In September 2024, however, Eide’s music reached not just her usual Christian listeners but also those from other faiths or who may not be religious when she released her song “Truth Is (Liar).”
The song speaks of the lies that are put in our heads from outside sources and how they can be flipped on their head to prove the source wrong.
That energy comes through especially in the bridge, where Eide flips criticism into empowerment: “You list ’em off, everything that I’m not / A-B-C, one, two, three, ‘monologue’ / But I list ’em off, everything that I got / Look at me, I’m free and you’re not.”
This is the song that introduced me to her music, and every song from her discography has slowly infiltrated my playlists.
Eide’s most vulnerable song, however, proves to be her newest single, “why, why, why.”
Released Nov. 7, 2025, it speaks about her father’s death after his battle with cancer, as well as recounting the time she spoke to a young girl dying of AIDS. Across the song, Eide wrestles with silence — God’s, the world’s and her own — as she faces pain, suffering and the weight of mental health struggles.
It’s a raw, tear-streaked reflection that strips away performance and pride. Eide knows what it means to question faith and still cling to it. In an October teaser, she shared a preview of the chorus with the caption: “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. it’s time we stop coming to Him like He isn’t.”
And honestly? I have yet to listen to it without being brought to tears. It’s rare to find music that makes one feel seen in faith, doubts and grief, but Eide does exactly that.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Crackships through the years

The fan art that kickstarted the Rodrick Heffley x Regina George fandom. | Photo from @monia_lynn on Instagram

Nov. 5, 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

The term “crackship” became popularized in the early days of Tumblr when users began to ship characters from two completely different fandoms. Typically, these crackships arose when two characters simply made sense together, but sometimes others would be the most out-of-left-field pairings anyone had ever seen. 

Crackships were especially big in the 2010s when the fanmade “Rise of the Brave, Tangled, Frozen Dragons” crossover — involving characters from “Rise of the Guardians,” “Brave,” “Tangled,” “Frozen” and “How to Train Your Dragon” — blew up on Tumblr. Suddenly, everyone was involved in crackships not only from different movies, but from completely different animation studios. 

The most popular ships among this crossover list were Jack Frost x Elsa, Jack Frost x Rapunzel, Hiccup x Merida and Hiccup x Rapunzel. I was a hardcore ‘Jelsa’ — the ship name for Jack Frost x Elsa — believer in middle school. Another popular crackship from this era that was not part of that crossover was Rapunzel x Mavis Dracula, which ignited a slew of memes about the pairing. 

Crackships are still alive and well today. Typically, they live on Tumblr, but in recent weeks, one specific ship has taken the internet by storm: Rodrick Heffley x Regina George.

Yes. That’s right. Rodrick from “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and Regina from “Mean Girls.”

The ship — now dubbed “Rodrina” — originated in early October when Instagram user @monia_lynn shared a reel of their fan art of the pairing, with the caption “I might be a genius.”

This crackship has blossomed into even more fan art, ship edits and Halloween costumes. Fans have been quick with this ship, and edits are slowly making their way onto people’s explore pages — typically paired with “Sk8r Boi” or “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne or “Dirty Little Secret” by The All-American Rejects. The post on @monia_lynn’s reel featured “Girlfriend.”

With this pairing gaining traction the way it is, other crackships are coming out of the woodwork. Jelsa is once again becoming prominent on social media spaces, while people have also begun to ship Cinderella and Sukuna from “Jujutsu Kaisen,” as well as Elphaba Thropp from “Wicked” and Colonel Miles Quartich from “Avatar.”

Honestly? I’m glad people are beginning to share their crackships again. It reminds me of the 2014 era of Tumblr, when people were fighting over whether Jack Frost belonged with Elsa or Rapunzel, the Avengers lived in Stark Tower as roommates and everyone was obsessed with rose gold and Starbucks. It’s nostalgia. Plain and simple.

Plus, seeing people be comfortable with their weirdness openly and freely brings me a certain feeling of joy. The internet is slowly moving away from the aesthetic, minimalist posts and moving back towards whimsy and accepting one’s own quirkiness. I welcome it. 

Rodrina edits and fan art are all over the internet currently, feeding fans with the “mean girl x teenage dirtbag” pairing that everyone always seems to crave. 

If this wave of whimsy and crackships sticks around, I know many people — including myself — will be happy. After all, who can resist pairings that might never canonically meet but seem to work so well?

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

George R.R. Martin’s universe expands

Promotional poster for “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” featuring Dunk and Egg. | Photo from @gameofthrones on Instagram

Oct 29 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

When the last episode of “A Game of Thrones” aired in May of 2019, nobody thought they would return to the world of Westeros. But then “House of the Dragon” began filming in April 2021, and fans were thrown back into the drama that was the Targaryen Dynasty — with Teams Green and Black fighting for control over the Iron Throne. 

Now, over six years since “A Game of Thrones” last aired, fans are set to enter the Seven Kingdoms once again, with Ser Duncan the Tall as the primary protagonist.

Set 100 years after the height of the Targaryen Dynasty and 90 years before Robert’s Rebellion, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” adapts author George R.R. Martin’s novellas “Tales of Dunk and Egg.” These novellas follow the titular knight Dunk — who is eventually renamed Ser Duncan the Tall in the first novella — and his squire, Egg, as they traverse the Seven Kingdoms. 

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” was first announced in April of 2023, though the spinoff’s cast wasn’t announced until Oct. 9, 2025 — the same day the trailer debuted at New York Comic Con. Peter Claffey — known for “Bad Things” and “Vikings: Valhalla” — is set to play Ser Duncan the Tall, while Dexter Sol Ansell — whose debut role was young Coriolanus Snow in “The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” — will play his squire Egg. 

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is set to premiere Jan. 8, 2025, with six 30-minute episodes releasing every Sunday after. 

With this spinoff series releasing in January, however, it pushes back Season 3 of “House of the Dragon,” which fans have been anticipating since Season 2’s anticlimactic end in August of 2024. Season 2, which was meant to feature the Battle of Gullet, had only eight episodes, two fewer than the previous season. Season 3 will follow the same eight-episode format.

Originally supposed to release in early 2026, Season 3 of “House of the Dragon” has now moved to an April or June premiere date — based primarily on fan speculation. The production crew has yet to announce an official release date. 

“House of the Dragon” is based on Martin’s prequel “Fire and Blood,” which tells of the Targaryen civil war sparked when Queen Alicent Hightower usurped the throne from her stepdaughter, Rhaenyra, in favor of her son Aegon.

The series has already been greenlit for its fourth and final season, though there is no set date for filming to begin. 

Whether “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” will be approved for a second season is entirely up to the viewership numbers, but a majority of the franchise’s fans are excited for this new series. After all, with the same production levels seen in “House of the Dragon,” this series could very well be one of the best to come from Martin’s universe. 

“House of the Dragon” Season 3 and “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” will be streaming on HBO Max — the home of “A Game of Thrones” and Seasons 1 and 2 of “House of the Dragon” — upon their release. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Shelf-conscious: a reading list

The cover of Malice by Heather Walter. | Photo from @caro.library on Instagram

Oct 22 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

As university students, time isn’t something that is abundantly available to us. Whether it’s assignments, clubs, sports, work or even just general tiredness, we all have things to do while at Western. However, everyone needs a break from reading that thick textbook sitting on the table. Should time be available, I recommend reading literature of one’s own preference for at least an hour a day. In case the endless amount of books available on the market are overwhelming, I’ve compiled a list below for anyone interested. 

“For Whom the Belle Tolls” by Jaysea Lynn (Adult) — Lily isn’t the type of person to not fight back. So when her cancer diagnosis and financial status lets her know she won’t be able to put up much of a fight, she resigns herself to prepare for death. Yet, when it comes, it ends up being much more fantastical than she ever could have thought it would be. The Afterlife is vast, with many different parts and creatures to it. Despite growing up terrified of it, she finds herself drawn to Hell. Noticing the amount of souls that overwhelm the demons working there, she offers to run a Hellp desk — pun intended. Years of customer service prepared her for this, but there is a positive to this job: she can talk back. Filled with puns, humor and a bit of demonic romance, Lily is determined to put the life in afterlife. 

Content warning: this book contains adult themes, suicidal thoughts, sexual content, sexual abuse, abuse, foster care abuse, domestic abuse, religious trauma and graphic descriptions.

“Malice” by Heather Walter (Adult) — The story of this book is a bit of a twist or retelling of the story Sleeping Beauty. The kingdom of Briar has a long history tied to magic. Magical beings, known as the Graces, can provide various forms of magic for those who are willing to pay for the spells. The plot of the book revolves around Alyce, the dark Grace. In the kingdom of Briar, she is seen as the outcast and the source of the curse that is going to claim Princess Aurora’s life should she not find the person who can break it in time. Yet, Aurora doesn’t treat her like the monster Alyce is believed to be. With fantasy elements, tragedy, magic and passion, Malice and its sequel Misrule tell the tale of these two women who will be forever tied to each other.
Content warning: this book contains sexual content and potentially graphic descriptions.

“The Falling Between Us” by Ash Parsons (Teen) — Stardom can be both a blessing and a curse. That’s something that Roxanne Stewart learns as she watches her boyfriend Joshua Blackbird become skyrocketed into the world of being a celebrity overnight. While the money and fame is exciting, it doesn’t take too long to realize the heavy toll that comes with being famous. Constant paparazzi, managers who push limits, crazy fans and even family members all cling to Joshua. Then, the famous star suddenly disappears in the middle of the night, his body never recovered. No one knows if it was murder, an accident or suicide, but Roxanne is determined to figure out what happened to him. 

Content warning: this book discusses themes of drugs, trauma, suicide and suicidal thoughts.

“Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott (Teens+) — Written by Anne Lamott, a New York Times bestselling author, “Bird by Bird” is a book aimed at helping readers improve their writing skills, knowledge that she learned from her father who was also a writer. Lamott’s musings range from providing helpful tips for accepting criticism of work to telling the story of the time she got super drunk and yelled at her publishing manager for not recognizing how good of a book she wrote was. The book is a mix of advice on being a better writer, lifestyle recommendations and even just confessions. While this book may be aimed more at English majors, anyone who is interested in reading a witty book that provides good information on bettering one’s writing, which is a skill all university students will need, should enjoy it. I highly recommend this book.

“Maybe One Day” by Melissa Kantor (Teens+) — Zoe and Olivia are best friends. Both skilled ballet dancers, they were sadly kicked out of their dance school. However, that ends up being the least of Olivia’s problems when her “cold” turns out to be an aggressive form of leukemia. Zoe is determined to help Olivia through the aggressive treatment, putting on a brave face when she herself is mortified. Despite the ups and downs, like Zoe starting to fall for Calvin, Olivia’s crush, Zoe is determined to move forward knowing that everything will go back to normal after Olivia survives, as the alternative is too terrifying to think of. 

Content warning: this book is depressing. A warning has been given. 

“Maus” by Art Spiegelman (Teens+) — This graphic novel depicts the strained relationship between the author, known as Artie in the comic, and his aging father Vladek, a Jewish Holocaust survivor. The story is split in two different frames, one depicting Artie and his father speaking in the present and the other showing what was happening as Vladek explains the events. With the visceral art style, Jewish people drawn as mice and Nazis as menacing cats, and the tragedy of such terrible events in history, this book does a chilling job portraying the horrors experienced by Jewish people in World War II. It does have a sequel, which I highly recommend as well because it finishes off the story completely. 

Content warning: this book discusses World War II, the Holocaust, torture, graphic violence, death, suicide and racism. 

“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe (Teens+) — “Things Fall Apart” is a classic narrative about the effects colonialism had on small remote villages in Africa. The novel follows Okonkwo, a fictional Igbo warrior of Umuofia who is well known for being one of the most powerful, honorable and masculine warriors throughout the village. As the reader continues to read about him, the effects of colonialism begin showing up in the latter half of the book. It begins to escalate quickly as Okonkwo struggles with the idea that the traditions he grew up with are slowly being lost to this new political and religious power beginning to influence his people.

Putting together this list was more difficult than I thought it would be. Books are one of my favorite things in the world. I love reading stories that completely immerse me, whether it be an informational book on writing or a graphic novel depicting one of the worst times in human history or a spicy demonic romance, I love a good read. I hope that this list at least tempts someone to read something that isn’t a textbook. 

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Viva New Vegas

Oct 22 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

In 2024, the season finale of Amazon Prime’s “Fallout” — adapted from Bethesda Softworks’ video game series “Fallout” — left fans with plenty to speculate about. The last time we saw this nuclear wasteland, Hank — father to protagonist Lucy MacLean and played by actor Kyle MacLachlan — was headed for what appeared to be New Vegas, the titular setting for the sixth installment of the franchise. 

The excitement surrounding this closing scene was immense. After all, in a recent poll by Bethesda, “Fallout: New Vegas” had an overwhelming response as participants’ favorite installment — 52.6% responded that “New Vegas” was their favorite, while “Fallout 4,” one of the more recent games in the series, came in second with 25.5% of responses. 

Since the show’s release, the last year and a half has been full of speculation and fan theories, but an Oct. 12 post on IGN’s official Instagram, @igndotcom, only reignited these discussions. 

In a reel, IGN shared stills from Season 2, which wrapped filming in May of this year. Among these stills, fans saw the Lucky 38 Casino, Dinky the T-Rex and other notable characters and locations from “New Vegas.”

I think, as a fan of the games myself, that the most important thing to note is the canonization of a specific faction ending of “Fallout: New Vegas.” In the game, the player’s character, known as “The Courier,” travels the Mojave interacting with various factions attempting to control the wasteland — most notably the New California Republic, Caesar’s Legion, Yes Man and the New Vegas Libertopia. As the game progresses, The Courier must side with one of these major factions, which decides the game’s ending at the Second Battle of the Hoover Dam. 

Since the gameplay is open world and has a variable story, the developers never confirmed which ending was the correct one; however, the show “Fallout” confirms specifically the New Vegas Libertopia ending. 

The show itself is set 15 years after the events of “Fallout: New Vegas,” and stills from the second season feature Mr. House, the enigmatic leader of the New Vegas Libertopia.

Dialogue from the game also supports the pairing of this ending with the stills. In “New Vegas,” the character Chief Hanlon, the commanding officer of the New California Republic’s ranger unit, states that “Even if we hold this dam, what then? Are we going to send the NCR’s men and women to die here for another five years? Ten? Patrol the whole length of the Colorado for hundreds of miles? Holding this dam. It’ll be the death of us.”

This dialogue, along with the facts that Caesar’s Legion is too brutal and authoritarian to retain control over the Mojave and that the Strip in New Vegas is still standing, supports the New Vegas Libertopia ending, which we should then see in the show. 

Whatever ending the show confirms, we will just have to wait until Dec. 17 to actually see what happens. After all, fan theories are just theories until the show either confirms or denies them. 

Season 1 of “Fallout” is streaming on Amazon Prime, where Season 2 will also launch this winter. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the season’s debut.

And for other fans of the “Fallout” franchise, remember, the House always wins. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

True crime

Actor Rhoyle Ivy King’s online contribution to filming Netflix’s dramatized series on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. | Photo from @rhoyleivyking on Instagram

Oct 22 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Content warning: this article discusses murder and violence

 

Crime has always been a fascinating topic for many. With fictional television shows like “Criminal Minds” and “Law & Order,” such violent conversation topics have proven to make for an equally entertaining and profitable form of media and content — but what takes it a step further is the true crime industry.

The entertainment industry is no stranger to documentaries. “Dateline” has been airing since 1992, with its predecessor “48 Hours” beginning in 1988. True crime documentaries have had an uptick in recent years, milking notable names for content through big platforms like Netflix. Some examples of these include “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,” “Tiger King,” “Monster” about Jeffrey Dahmer being arguably the beginning controversy for true crime dramatized recreations in television, “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and others. Through Hulu, “Hunting JonBenét’s Killer: The Untold Story” explores one of the world’s most perplexing and haunting cases.

Many such platform-produced shows seem to have split goals, torn between celebrating a life lost too soon and forming a lucrative piece of content that will dominate the streaming sphere and social media timelines. “Monster” from Netflix was criticized by the masses following its immensely popular release in 2022 due to its insensitive portrayal of the victims of infamous killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The show took deeper angles into Dahmer’s life, offering a nearly sympathetic angle at times according to some. The main point brought up against the show is how none of the victims’ families consented to the release, and expressed extreme discomfort and disappointment. Some have campaigned that the show redirected toward the victims in the second half, signifying its decency and awareness of the sensitivity required to navigate such a story. Personally, I never delved into “Monster” — despite being a true crime fan, which we’ll get into — because I heard of its disrespectful narrative and didn’t feel I was missing out.

Gabby Petito’s story was handled with more care, probably due to its recency and the abuse she suffered. The story was an outrage on social media following Petito’s disappearance in 2021. Eventually, her body was found near the Grand Teton National Park, and her cause of death was ruled a homicide, confirmed to be by her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie. The case sparked such intense news coverage that it’s no surprise Netflix swooped in, going A-Z with the series and how it was solved. However, the listed description remains somewhat callous, stating, “What happened in the final days of Gabby Petito’s life? In this gripping true-crime series, her loved ones reveal the untold story of her tragic murder” — which is not the most conscientious approach.

The streaming giant Peacock took true crime to another level by publishing alleged murderer Casey Anthony’s documentary — an extremely controversial move that has divided watchers. Casey Anthony’s daughter, Caylee, was nearly four years old in 2008 when her remains were found near the Anthony family residence after she was reported missing by her grandmother Cindy Anthony.

The state of Florida sought the death penalty against Casey Anthony, believing her to be the culprit in Caylee’s homicide. In 2011, a jury found her not guilty of murder, but rather four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to the police. Fast forward to 2022, Casey released her documentary, “Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies,” flipping the script in an exclusive three-part series with Peacock.

Why Peacock would publicize Casey’s story in her defense is beyond me, especially considering the public criticism she’s encountered year after year ever since her daughter’s death. The true crime community has nailed Casey for nearly a decade for lying about her daughter, being caught partying after her daughter was reported missing and then blaming her family for what happened to Caylee, acquitting herself of all personal responsibility. Then again, to publish an alleged murderer’s tall tale would garner views on views — so there’s Peacock’s motive, or so I presume.

There’s this long-running fascination between people and murder. In my household, my mom used to play “NCIS” on all three televisions across the house so she wouldn’t miss a single minute, no matter where she was. My dad owned all the seasons of “Dexter” on DVD and fell asleep to them routinely. It’s not much of a surprise that I’ve found my way to true crime, although in a different medium: true crime podcasts.

According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, people are drawn to exploring true crime because of curiosity. The motives of a murderer are beyond understandable, but simultaneously being able to solve, or witness the solving, of a tragic case provides some sort of rush. Newspapers initially sensationalized crime before passing the torch to visual content, like Netflix documentaries or YouTube podcasts.

Others may turn to true crime to witness justice’s golden hammer come down on those who deserve it, playing into what viewers want to see. Across the board, it’s entertainment, escapism and storytelling, a great trap to get watchers all the way through. Scientifically, it’s been compared to haunted houses and roller coasters — facing a fictional danger in some form or another.

But there are undoubtedly present ethical dilemmas in the true crime world. Controversial, money-grabbing attempts at documentaries and re-enactments stir up a long-running conversation about morality that has no solution. Does it make someone a bad person to find “Monster” entertaining, but still empathize with the victims and their families? Is the public forum of modern entertainment off limits for sensitive real-life topics? Where do we draw the line? Who decides where that line even is?

There is a very real conversation to be had about our society’s decreasing sensitivity to such violent acts and topics, and another about whether we’re forcing individuals to relive their trauma through media productions.

Today, there is no answer; no person to distinguish what’s right and wrong. The culprits we can assuredly blame include corporate greed — looking at streaming services, and most notably to me, Peacock — and cash-grabbing techniques to acquire views over anything else.

So, I don’t tend to watch a lot of produced documentaries — I do indulge in true crime podcasts. A term I hear a lot is “active true crime consumer,” which signifies an understanding that the content being viewed is sensitive and has a real-life impact. YouTuber and podcaster Kendall Rae was where I first heard the term, and I’ve always enjoyed her personal approach, honoring victims and discussing the path to justice.

“Murder With My Husband” is another podcast that I listen to rather routinely. It features married couple Payton and Garrett Moreland as she recites a true-crime script, following the thrilling twists and turns of a tragic tale, while respecting and honoring the life or lives that were taken. An interesting aspect of the podcast is Garrett Moreland’s consistent hatred for the true crime genre, and his shocked reactions as he, alongside us, discovers the truth of the stories. Unnecessary fun fact: he’s opening a bagel shop and I’m very intrigued by it.

YouTuber Wendigoon centers on more fantasy or dark horror, but occasionally looks into true crime, and when he does, it’s always good. Another YouTuber, BOZE vs. the WORLD, has a series on female killers — it’s a little too produced for my liking, but I’m a big fan of her other content and so I occasionally indulge.

Kendall Rae also has a podcast with her husband called “Mile Higher,” doing the same as her personal channel by exploring true crime cases and occasionally other topics.

The point is: if true crime is on TV, be aware of its impact. Engage by being an active true crime consumer and contribute faithfully. Think critically and with empathy, but it’s not necessary to feel shame — or shame others — for indulging in true crime.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

Baby, that’s show biz

The cover for Taylor Swift’s newest studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” | Photo from @taylorswift on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

If there’s one thing singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is known for, it’s the Easter eggs surrounding her work. The lead-up to the release of her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” was no different. 

On Aug. 11, 2025, the Instagram account @taylornation — run by Swift’s management team — posted a series of photos captioned “Thinking about when she said ‘see you next era….’” with the fire heart emoji. Each photo in the carousel featured an orange outfit Swift wore during the sets of her Eras Tour. That same day, a timer appeared on Swift’s official website, counting down to 12:12 a.m. Eastern time. 

When the timer ended, a sneak peek of Swift on the Aug. 13 episode of the “New Heights” podcast — hosted by her partner, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce — announced that she would be releasing a new album titled “The Life of a Showgirl.” In this sneak peek, however, Swift had blurred the cover to keep suspense for the podcast’s release. 

When the “New Heights” episode aired, it broke the record for most concurrent viewers on YouTube, with 1.3 million viewers tuning into the livestream. Swift’s Spotify also created a playlist titled “And, baby, that’s show business for you,” with songs from “reputation,” “Red” and “1989” highlighting the sound the album would take. 

Alternate covers were posted to @taylornation the same day, and highlighted the showgirl aesthetic that the album was meant to take, complete with feathers, oversized jewels, fishnet stockings and kitten heels. The 12-song track list was announced the following day, Aug. 14. 

When the album was released Oct. 3, it immediately broke records. In just the first 11 hours of its release, “The Life of a Showgirl” was streamed on Spotify by 1.2 million users, becoming the most-streamed album in a single day in 2025. Track one, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is the album’s single and currently sits as the most-streamed song. 

Each song carries its own unique sound, which was created with the help of producers Max Martin and Shellback — who have previously collaborated with Swift on albums “Red,” “1989” and “reputation.” The songs that the duo produced from these albums were included on the “And, baby, that’s show business” playlist on Swift’s Spotify. 

Now that the album has made its dazzling debut, it’s time to take a closer look at the songs that make “The Life of a Showgirl” one of Swift’s most ambitious eras yet.

“The Fate of Ophelia” — The album’s single is the first song that clearly alludes to her relationship with Travis Kelce. Using imagery relating to Ophelia from William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the synth beat evokes a dreamlike feel while Swift sings of being saved from the fate of Ophelia. In Shakespeare’s play, Ophelia famously went mad after the death of her father, Polonius, and being rejected by Hamlet, whom she loved deeply. The imagery in the song suggests that Kelce saved Swift from meeting the same fate.

“Elizabeth Taylor” — This isn’t the first time Swift has referenced actress Elizabeth Taylor in her work. In the music video for her 2014 hit “Wildest Dreams,” Swift dresses as the Hollywood icon and falls in love with her co-star on set, just like Elizabeth Taylor and her ex-husband Richard Burton did on set for the 1963 film “Cleopatra.” The song talks about the downsides of fame, with lyrics that could apply to Swift or Elizabeth Taylor.

“Opalite” — Most Swifties know that Swift’s favorite gemstone is an opal, which means the fact that Kelce’s birthstone is an opal is even sweeter. “(An opalite) is a man-made opal and happiness can also be man-made,” Swift said during an interview with Capital FM Breakfast. “That’s what the song is about. The juxtaposition of those two.” Swift speaks of this “man-made happiness” in previous relationships for both her and Kelce, but suggests that now that they are together, “the sky is opalite.”

“Father Figure” — Fans are convinced that “Father Figure” is about Scooter Braun, Swift’s former manager. After Braun sold the rights to Swift’s masters without her permission, a years-long battle to reclaim them ensued. The song tells the story from the perspective of the father figure, and suggests betrayal and a lack of loyalty. 

“Eldest Daughter” — Swift has referenced marriage multiple times in previous albums, with track five following the trend. The line “when I said I don’t believe in marriage, that was a lie,” seemingly alludes to Kelce and their recent engagement. She also criticizes the apathy of internet culture, and “Eldest Daughter” is the most vulnerable track on the album.

“Ruin the Friendship” — While most assumed that track six would address Swift’s apparent feud with actress Blake Lively, it actually speaks of a high school friend who passed. Her friend Abigail, who is referenced in “Fifteen” from Swift’s 2008 album “Fearless,” does receive a mention.

“Actually Romantic” — While the title suggests romance, the lyrics are actually far from romantic. Many interpret this track as a response to singer Charli XCX’s track “Sympathy is a Knife,” as well as addressing the brief and unconfirmed fling Swift had with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy. Charli XCX is married to George Daniel, who is currently the drummer for The 1975. 

“Wi$h Li$t” — Track eight might have dollar signs in the name; however, the song rejects material culture and luxury goods. Instead, Swift speaks of what she really wants: Kelce, “a couple of kids” and to just settle down.

“Wood” — Another song about Kelce, this track is for sure the sexiest on “The Life of a Showgirl.” The steamy lyrics reference Swift’s intimate relationship with Kelce, going so far as to allude to his manhood. 

“CANCELLED!” — While most thought “Ruin the Friendship” would be about Blake Lively, it is in fact track 10 that addresses their relationship. The track defends multiple members of Swift’s friend group who have been under fire at some point — without actually naming them. Some lyrics have allusions to Lively, while others seem to defend Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

“Honey” — The fifth and final song on the album about Kelce, “Honey” talks about how pet names were always used passive-aggressively until their relationship began. The song is sugary and sweet, giving more bubblegum pop vibes.

“The Life of a Showgirl” — Featuring Sabrina Carpenter, the album’s titular song talks about the ups and downs of life as a celebrity. This is the first time Carpenter and Swift have collaborated on a song, even though Carpenter opened for the Eras Tour. “The Life of a Showgirl” focuses heavily on meeting one’s idols and being warned about following in their footsteps, but still doing it anyways.

“The Life of a Showgirl” is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. 
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Us and generative AI

An AI-generated photo of glass pancakes for “ASMR.” | Photo from @theaisatisfying on Instagram

Oct. 15, 2025 |  Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has become more and more prevalent as technology advances. What was once a science fiction storyline is now our reality; AI chatbots, videos and photos are all too common now.

Most of Generation Z and millennials have watched AI grow with them. Siri first launched with the iPhone 4S in 2011, while Alexa followed three years later with the introduction of the Amazon Echo. These AI assistants have grown with us from childhood to adulthood on our phones, tablets and computers. 

When it comes to generative AI, most are now approaching the subject with the utmost caution and hesitancy. After all, it has been proven time and again that AI systems often steal art created by real people to “train” their models. 

I mean, it was only April when Studio Ghibli founder and animator Hayao Miyazaki begged fans of his movies not to use the technology to recreate their photos in his movies’ style. 

Miyazaki described AI technologies as “utterly disgusting” and “an insult to life itself” before stating he would “never wish to incorporate this technology into (his) work at all.” Unfortunately, this didn’t stop users from “Ghiblifying” their photos on OpenAI’s platform ChatGPT, with thousands of accounts and users sharing these images on social media — even @WhiteHouse on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared “Ghiblified” images. 

The exploitation of artists isn’t the only issue posed by AI. Data centers across the world use billions of gallons of water to cool the servers. 2022 saw major tech companies use 580 billion gallons of water for their AI operations, while in 2024, a Google center in Iowa consumed 1 billion gallons alone. When a user interacts with any AI system, be it Google Gemini, ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, it uses one-tenth of a gallon or 12.8 fluid ounces of water — almost a full cup. 

While most adults can actively choose whether or not to consume AI-generated content or to interact with the models, it’s much more difficult to teach children how to distinguish between what is and isn’t AI-generated. 

I don’t think I ever fully understood how AI was being aimed at children until I began student teaching. My class was working on an “I Am” poem where they described who they were before choosing images that represented them. 

The end result? So many students found AI-generated photos that they liked for their project. 

For one, it’s not their fault. The images they used were very clearly marketed to children — magical cats, animals playing sports, even some that related to the wildly popular Netflix movie “KPop Demon Hunters.”

At our weekly assembly time, it became much more evident how AI was being marketed towards children. For a reminder on how to behave in line in the hall, a parody of “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” was shown — once again, the popularity of the movie is capitalized upon by AI, complete with AI-generated images, animation and singing. 

This video has already amassed 463,000 views in just one month of being posted to YouTube, with educators and students alike sharing and watching to learn about the basics of being in line. 

It doesn’t stop at “KPop Demon Hunters,” however. A good majority of YouTube Shorts meant for children feature AI.

When scrolling through YouTube Shorts, I found that a majority of the videos that were created using generative AI had the hashtags “YouTube Kids” and “kids animation.” These videos typically feature anthropomorphic cats and have one of three subjects: cheating, revenge or pregnancy. Sometimes all three are featured in one video. 

Pairing this normalization of AI in children’s spaces with generated ASMR — glass fruit spreading, gemstone cutting and slime videos — being highly popular on apps like TikTok and Instagram creates a can of worms that nobody is ready to open. 

However, we’re not here to talk about the consequences of AI. We’re here to talk about what we can actively do to slow the usage and consumption of AI. 

Use a critical eye — One of the biggest pieces of advice I could give is to look at suspicious content with a critical eye. Count the number of fingers on hands and look at the way that the eyes look. Even as AI improves, it cannot perfect the way our hands and eyes look, proving that those are what truly make us human. If those aren’t a dead giveaway, watch the movements. They are often too smooth or too robotic. Text is another dead giveaway — AI models, no matter how sophisticated, can never get letters or logos quite right. 

Don’t give the account the views they want — Most accounts that post AI-generated photos or videos want engagement, which is the most obvious thing I think I have ever said. However, it’s the truth. These accounts want people to watch their videos. The more views and engagement they get, the more they get to say, “Look, the people want this. We should make more of this.” It encourages the models’ creators as well because they see the engagement that these videos receive and work to make their models more widespread and normalized. My best advice when one sees these videos is to swipe away or click “not interested.” This will put less AI-generated content on one’s feed, thus lessening the views these accounts receive. 

Monitor what children are consuming — With how common AI-generated media is in children’s spheres, it’s best to pay attention to what children are consuming, as it is with all content they interact with. Have a conversation with children about AI-generated content in ways that are appropriate. Kids are smart and they’ll understand what’s going on. I know I’ve had wonderful conversations with my students about AI and its consequences — granted, they are fourth and fifth graders, but still, talking with children in an age-appropriate way about the dangers of AI is better than not educating them at all. 

Teach the older generations to recognize AI-generated content — Generation X and baby boomers are two populations that are also susceptible to AI-generated content. Facebook is rife with AI-generated photos and videos, and the generations that weren’t raised on this kind of technology have a harder time telling reality from AI. Along with educating younger generations about AI and its dangers, it’s also important to help the older generations — our parents and grandparents — understand how to recognize when something isn’t real. Show them how to identify an AI-generated video. Talk to them about the consequences. 

It doesn’t seem like AI generation models are going away. In recent research, Forbes has found that AI servers and prevalence have multiplied 14 times since 2000. While some AI is beneficial — Siri and Alexa, especially — the wave of generative AI has become increasingly detrimental to both the environment and the social media landscape. 

As the generation currently leading the workplace and social media sphere in the digital age as influencers, educators and artists, it’s increasingly important that we slow the wave of generative AI. We can do this by educating ourselves and other generations and not giving the AI models what they want: our attention, our art and our money.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Is it Worth the Watch?: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” Review

sonypictures.com

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

If you’re anything like me, ‘90s movies played a major role in your childhood entertainment. The 1995 classic “Jumanji” was no exception. Upon the announcement of a sequel, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical. But as long as you’re not looking for a thought-provoking work of art, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is worth the watch.

The film follows four teenagers who who find themselves sucked into the game of Jumanji — but unlike the original board game, Jumanji now takes the form of a video game. Falling deep in a mysterious jungle, they must finish the game in order to leave. There’s just one difference – the four teens are in the form of their video game characters, portrayed by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Jack Black.

The humor and talent of the actors is really what makes this movie enjoyable. With Kevin Hart’s fiesty and loud personality and Jack Black’s portrayal of a snobby popular girl, you almost forget about the lack of intriguing dialogue and presence of cheesy one-liners.

The movie would definitely prove disappointing if you’re feeling nostalgic and longing for the world of Jumanji. Apart from one scene with the actual board game and the classic, suspenseful thumping, the sequel just doesn’t measure up to the original. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” focused on comedy and the balance between appealing to adults and children alike. It lacked character development and was often cliché. But thankfully, the comedic genius of the actors overshadowed the lack of any real emotional connection with the characters.

If you’re looking to dive into the world of Jumanji, you’re better off with the 1995 original and the 1981 illustration book by Chris Van Allsburg. But I would suggest this movie to anyone looking for a fresh, amusing and humorous adventure.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Life-Changing Lessons from the World of Harry Potter

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

I, alongside many others, spent my childhood looking through the lenses of the main characters in the novels I read. Having pored over the “Harry Potter” series since third grade, I got to experience a large portion of my developmental years from the perspective of the Chosen One, Harry Potter. 

“Harry Potter” is a distinct pop culture personality, who openly defies the government, fights prejudice and is fiercely loyal to his friends. J.K. Rowling also creates a wonderfully dimensional character profile for everyone in the book — rather than making the characters one-dimensionally morally sound or evil, she creates multifaceted characters that make mistakes, have moral gray areas, apologize and evolve as people. 

“Harry Potter” makes a relatable variety of mistakes throughout the series, and while being an astute and stubborn personality, also admits when he’s wrong and works to make things right. 

Coming from an unsavory background as the humble punching bag of the Dursley family, Harry Potter had the beginnings befitting of a supervillain. Facing daily roadblocks and abuse with no connections or friends, Harry became self-reliant and resentful of his life. 

He eventually gained status as a wizard and escaped his life with the Dursleys to attend Hogwarts, a similar path to Voldemort’s. However, Harry chose to defend those less fortunate and befriend characters like Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who were not the most popular or influential characters but were genuine friends. 

He rejected the Sorting Hat’s offer to place him in Slytherin despite being offered power and influence. Throughout the series, he makes conscious decisions to defend and protect people against prejudice and hatred and recognizes his faults concerning his impulsiveness and how his actions affect others. 

Harry is a prime example of having a choice to be a good person or to pursue power and influence without regarding others, and he is a great role model for young readers in terms of being authentic to oneself and fighting for what one believes in. 

J.K. Rowling also tackles some tough subjects for young readers such as bullying, grief, unfair circumstances, jealousy between friends, family dynamics and the uncomfortable feeling of growing up. While most readers cannot relate to having to face a faceless, bald and red-eyed supervillain with murderous tendencies, there are many other subjects that coming-of-age readers can relate to or struggle with. What “Harry Potter” teaches readers is, in essence, to create strong dependable friendships, use power and influence to do good things and reject social prejudice and administrative or governmental systems that work against the people. Most importantly, the series reminds readers to stay true to themselves and what they believe in. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

The Revival of Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

History was made on June 28, 2005, when Rick Riordan first published “The Lightning Thief.” In the last year, the author of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” has released two new books belonging to the original beloved book series. Over the last 18 years, the series has grown to be 17 books long in addition to two trilogies that take place in the same universe.

To date, the “Percy Jackson” series has been adapted into two movies and a television series that is scheduled to air on Disney+ on Dec. 20. The series stars actors Walker Scobell as Jackson, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood. Trailers for the show depict the trio embarking on epic adventures, accurately mirroring the first book in the series.

Fans have ultimately been more receptive to the casting of the show than the original two movies, though the characters don’t exactly match their book descriptions. Lovers of the book series were disappointed by previous adaptations of the book series to see plot points erased and the characters inappropriately cast in the movies. 

As Riordan continued to expand his universe, he added more diversity to his book by including POC, LGBTQ+ and disabled characters. “Percy Jackson” fans are excited to see this diversity has carried over into the series as well.

Since the original “Percy Jackson” pentalogy was released in the 2000s, Rick Riordan has continued to write bestselling novels. “The Heroes of Olympus” continued the “Percy Jackson” story with a new cast of characters in the 2010s, and “The Trials of Apollo” took the point of view of one of the Olympians the previous series discussed. “Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard” and “The Kane Chronicles” followed Norse and Egyptian mythology, and were also adored by loyal Riordan fans, who dubbed their favorite author Uncle Rick.

Though Rick Riordan has claimed he is finished writing books in the “Percy Jackson” series, he released two new additions in 2023 — “The Chalice of the Gods” and “The Sun and the Star”. “The Chalice of the Gods” follows Percy as he navigates his senior year of high school. “The Sun and the Star,” co-written with Mark Oshiro, is the treacherous tale of demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace as they venture into the underworld.

“Percy Jackson” has continued to thrive due to its healthy mix of nostalgia, a connected fanbase and incredible writing throughout the years. Fans are expecting a bright future for both the books and the show. 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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