Summer Watchlist (And Listen...list?)
Welcome to the News Desk! As the semester winds down, we're starting to look forward to the summer and catching up on all the media we've been adding to our "list" that doesn't really exist. As a way to introduce you all to many of the people in the Daily Eastern News newsroom, I've asked them all to tell me about what they're watching and listening to lately. If you still need some suggestions for great movies, shows and music, check some of these out.
This week's podcast features sports editor Adam Tumino ahead of a weekend full of events the sports editors are excited to cover.
What the DEN Staff Thinks You Should Watch & Listen To
Ryan Meyer, reporter & columnist: "Death Spells" by Holy Fawn
"I like it because it mixes some heaviness with really nice melodies," Meyer said. He usually uses his weekly column to review music. "I’m also really looking forward to 'Skinty Fia,' the third record from Fontaines D.C., which is out 4-22."
Holy Fawn is a band out of Arizona which has been described as genres like "shoegaze" and "post-metal." "Death Spells" is available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as Bandcamp.
Madelyn Kidd, news editor: "Lucifer"
"I like that he [Lucifer] isn't evil, he just wants everyone to have free will and he's mad at his dad," Kidd said.
"Lucifer" follows its titular main character as he balances the responsibility of being a police consultant with the supernatural challenges provided by a list of characters pulled straight from the Bible. Ongoing romantic tension with Detective Chloe Becker adds another layer to the character, and the scenes where Lucifer goes to therapy are hilarious. The show swings between lighthearted camp and dramatic, world-ending and borderline ridiculous storylines. You can stream the entire series on Netflix.
Kidd also recommends any album by Taylor Swift as well as the recent "Unofficial Bridgerton Musical," which went from TikTok virality to a Grammy win.
Corryn Brock, editor-in-chief: "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" from Lilo and Stitch
"I only listen to things that scratch my brain real nice," Brock said, without elaborating further on what that means. "I like it no matter what mood I'm in."
"Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" is one of Disney's catchiest songs and of course it's from "Lilo and Stitch." Brock specifically recommended it because it's on her most recent music playlist on Spotify, which you can listen to here. It also features tunes like "Homie Hopper" by ppcocaine, "Supertragic" by Feral and "My Money Don't Jiggle Jiggle, It Folds" by MADAX. (Watch out for that last one on TikTok- it's been stuck in my head for a few days now.)
Autumn Schulz, assistant sports editor: "The Devil All the Time"
"I would recommend because it gives audience members a chance to experience Robert Pattinson with a Southern accent," Shulz said.
"The Devil All the Time" came out in 2020 and has an absolutely loaded cast, so it's surprising that it isn't more well known. Along with Pattinson, stars include Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Harry Melling, Sebastian Stan, Mia Wasikowska, Haley Bennet and more. Most descriptions of the movie focus on "a young man devoted to protecting his loved ones" but in reality the film gives almost equal screen time to a variety of different plots set in two small towns in the South in the '50s and '60s. All of the plots seem to feature just the craziest people and all of them lead to violence. Overall, it's definitely a unique movie with some very heavy themes. It's streaming on Netflix.
Adam Tumino, sports editor: "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty"
"It's basically based on true events, but the series is almost completely fictional," Tumino said. "That doesn't mean it isn't wildly entertaining, although probably only for basketball fans."
"Winning Time" tells the story of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, following them both on and off the court. The series has come under fire recently for fictionalizing events but it has a high audience rating and appears to have been well-received as an over-the-top, exciting show. It's streaming on HBO Max, which has been recognized over time for having pretty great TV shows.
Ashanti Thomas, photo editor: "Once Twice Melody" by Beach House
"Beach House is a band that makes surreal dream pop music which is my favorite genre that they execute so well," Thomas said.
"Once Twice Melody" is Beach House's eighth album. A review on Pitchfork described it as "a rush of pure vibes, ephemeral and enveloping," along with a lot of other words that all seem to fit into that "surreal" category. The consensus appears to be that over those eight albums, the band has developed their style for the better and created some amazing music. The album is available on streaming services like Spotify.
Thomas also recommended "Bates Motel," a prequel of sorts to the classic film "Psycho." I say "of sorts" because the series is placed in modern day, but the plot follows events which would have occurred before the film. The series turned out to be very popular as it kept audiences on the edges of their seats, despite knowing what would happen to Norman and Norma by the end. It's streaming on Peacock and Amazon Prime.
Rob Le Cates, assistant photo editor: "The Umbrella Academy" and "Stranger Things"
"Gerard Way, the lead vocalist for My Chemical Romance, wrote Umbrella Academy and didn’t let any details go away," Le Cates said. "Although it’s a little slow at times, I thoroughly enjoyed my time watching it."
"The Umbrella Academy" at times parodies comic book stories but mostly leans into the genre with a YA twist. A family of seven adopted children each have unique superpowers and have trained to fight crime, but they still have to learn about themselves, where their powers came from and why their adoptive father brought them all together.
"It mixes two things I like and don’t like- “horror” and sci-fi," Le Cates said. "Even though it isn’t that scary, it definitely keeps you on your toes when watching."
"Stranger Things" follows a group of kids as they go from playing "Dungeons & Dragons" to fighting creatures right out of the Monster Manual as they unravel secrets about their tiny fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.
Both these series are streaming on Netflix and both have a new season coming out within the next several months.
Luke Taylor, multimedia news editor: "Our Flag Means Death"
I would quote myself but that seems pretentious. I have been an avid Taika Waititi fan since around 2016 when I first watched "What We Do In the Shadows," a vampire comedy which is a true stroke of genius in concept and has since been adapted into a TV show. Waititi has struck gold again with this pirate comedy.
"Our Flag Means Death" takes real-life pirates Blackbeard and Steve Bonnet and completely fictionalizes their lives. Steve is a dainty man who wants his fearsome crew to be honest about their feelings and mind their manners. Blackbeard is a true terror with a heart of gold. Those two are the focal points of the story, but the supporting cast of pirates is equally amazing, from Oluwande's common-sense attitude to Mr. Buttons' wild superstition to Lucius' love of drama. The show even features one of the first nonbinary characters I've seen, and they're amazing. (I can't offer more details without spoiling anything!) This show is available on HBO Max.
Honorable Mention: "Moon Knight"
I'm including this series because both Tumino and I almost used it as our recommendations. I'm a long-time Marvel fan (probably since I was 10, which is getting embarrassing) and Tumino has only seen a couple movies from the franchise, but we're both having fun with this show.
"Moon Knight" isn't really tied in to the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (at least so far) so it can be enjoyed even without that context. Oscar Isaac plays the main character who has just learned that he has Dissociative Identity Disorder... and is also a superhero. (DID used to be known as "multiple personality disorder" and has often been mischaracterized in media where characters have "second personalities" which are evil. "Moon Knight," so far, seems to be a better portrayal.) The show is funny and absolutely wild with Egyptian mythology, fight scenes and drama. Fans of "The Kane Chronicles," that book series that's like "Percy Jackson" but about Egypt, will probably love this show. It's on Disney+.
Catch up with the News!
The Board of Trustees will be voting today on whether to change the name of Douglas Hall to Powell-Norton Hall, potentially ending a decade-long discourse on the topic. Be sure to tune in to the News' coverage- we'll be live-streaming the vote.
The hiring process for a new director of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union is underway and four candidates have visited campus.
Holi celebrations have returned to campus after a COVID-induced hiatus.
Corryn Brock recently had an email interview directly with members of the Ku Klux Klan. Rather than writing a neutral news article about them, she opted to put together this column about what she learned from the interaction.
Listen to the podcast!
