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Reflections

How ‘Bojack Horseman’ Achieved The Impossible

BoJack Horseman, whose final season aired in January 2020, is now known for its legacy as one of the best animated shows of all time (and to me, is one of the best TV shows period). While some may argue whether or not it really is “the best”, one thing is certain: BoJack Horseman is a show that explores the human condition brilliantly. Namely because it does so in a way that brings the hardest truths about humanity to the forefront while injecting a bitingly self-aware sense of humour into it all. It’s a show that never goes down the easy, “tied up in a neat little bow” route, as it is determined to show audiences every nuanced aspect of its tragicomedic nature. Today, I’ll be reflecting on how BoJack Horseman wrapped up its epically thought-provoking show in its final season.

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Books

“If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin: Mini-Review

The hype of African-American author James Baldwin has been rejuvenated in recent years, particularly as his 1974 novel If Beale Street Could Talk was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2019. Dealing with the young love between Tish and Fonny that must learn to survive in spite of the racist politics that keeps them apart, the novel feels very relevant to the current Black Lives Matter politics in the United States. Set in Harlem, NY in the early 1970s, Tish and Fonny have grown up together and have developed an intimate relationship between them. However, before they…

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Movies

‘Triple Frontier’ Reflection

At the beginning of March, Netflix released Triple Frontier, a film that has been in works since 2011, and has a star-studded cast including Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garret Hedlund and Pedro Pascal. In my regular weekend haze of swiping through the lists of recommended movies on Netflix I was intrigued by the trailer that showed off an exciting mix between a heist and action movie. So, obviously it was my choice for my next movie night. Before starting, I was bracing myself for yet another patriotic, pro-military Hollywood production, but I was happily surprised otherwise. The film…

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Reflections

Why I Don’t Use A Rating System Anymore

Something I see frequently in the world of book bloggers and media bloggers is the use of a rating system, ranging from stars, teacups and even dragons. When starting off this blog last year I thought it was such a great idea! It was a concise form of giving people a snapshot of how you felt about the work in question (which in our case could be book, film, TV show, or album). However, while this remains true, in recent months I have felt a resistance to rating my books. One reason for which is simply because I do not…

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Reflections

Is Originality Dead?

Remakes, Franchises and Sequels: Are they worth it? We live in the era of franchise films, sequels, and remakes upon remakes (here’s looking at you, Spider-Man). While some of these sequels and remakes can be awesome, much of the time it leaves me wondering: is originality not a goal anymore? Here’s where that concept gets tricky, though. We live in a time where virtually no idea is legitimately “original” anymore. There’s so much material out there – books, films, television, and art. We are technically always using past models and structures to help us create fresh material. If you think…

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Reflections

The Family Complex: “This Is Us”

If you know anything about the NBC show This Is Us, you’ll know that it’s an acclaimed tearjerker. I’m slightly embarrassed that even I, who rarely cries during a movie or show, cry constantly when I watch this show. Somehow, it surpasses the level of corniness often associated with emotional dramas and actually touches something real, coming from a genuine place no matter how far-fetched the premise might be. Because ultimately, yes, it is about a specific family (hence the title) – exceedingly unique, and yet, surprisingly relatable. The fact of the matter is that all families are flawed, and…

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