Shameless: A Hidden Gem of a Series

Image by Warner Bros.

Shameless (U.S.) follows the story of the eldest child, Fiona Gallagher, sacrificing her life to raise her five siblings. Their mother left them long ago, and their father, Frank Gallagher, is an alcoholic who spends most of his time at bars. This leaves 14-year-old Fiona, now 21 years old, with most of the bills and responsibilities until her younger siblings can contribute more. Shameless shows how far siblings will go for each other.  

Image by Oluwasogo Abraham

The Shameless series is complete after 11 seasons, and it was one hell of a ride. After re-watching it many times, I'm jealous of people that get to experience the craziness of the Gallaghers for the first time. This show is funny, dramatic, sad, frustrating and pretty much everything else possible. Be warned, though, Shameless is NOT rated P.G. (not even close.) There is sex and nudity in most episodes, and you will see it all. Don't let that be a deal-breaker, though, because the plot is well worth it. Maybe it's even an incentive.  

I would say it's a show about family above all else, but more accurately, it's about siblings. Every other family member cannot be trusted, and these siblings are quite the pair. From oldest to youngest, there's Fiona, Lip (Philip), Ian, Debbie, Carl and Liam, with Liam being only a year old. The Gallagher children live in a rough area, and Fiona works multiple jobs to keep them going. You get to watch them grow up, with them being 10 years older by the last season.  

Shameless (U.S.) is the remake of the U.K. version. Shockingly, the U.K. version is even wilder. Who knew that was possible? I haven't watched the original, but I'll give it a chance if the remake was that good. Although I'm warning you, the original is even less censored. A significant benefit of watching Shameless is feeling more normal. Seeing the insane things the Gallaghers must face every day just to get by makes you feel more in control of your life. 

Image by WordPress

"Do you think I'm a bad mother?" 

"Did you leave either kid on the porch last night while you were gone on a drug run?" 

"No," 

"Then compared to what I grew up with, you're an excellent mother." 

Image by Warner Bros.

The side characters are unforgettable. Kevin and Veronica are the next-door neighbours and my favourite characters. Veronica and Fiona are best friends, and it's a beautiful friendship to see. There's also Sheila, a crazy yet delightful person. She looks like an innocent middle-aged woman, but there's much more than meets the eye.  

The series also touches on many important subjects, such as: 

1. Alcoholism and substance abuse

2. Mental illness

3. Domestic abuse

4. LGBTQ+ rights

5. Poverty

6. Abortion

7. Racism

Image by Getty Images

In 2018, actor William H. Macy, who plays Frank Gallagher, won an award for his outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series. Once you watch the show, you'll understand why. His performance makes it hard to believe that he's a normal person and has acted in movies like Jurassic Park.  

If you're looking for your next binge-worthy series, look no further. Shameless (U.S.) is the way to go, and if you finish this one, there's always the more unhinged and uncensored U.K. version to binge next. 

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Melissa Mahlig

Hi, my name is Melissa! I’m a 20-year-old student in the Professional Writing Program, and my love of writing manifested from an obsession with fanfiction. I love Wattpad, spicy food, anime and sleep. Weird/fun fact about me: I have a strange infatuation with Caesars (extra spicy, please!). Who needs therapy when you have iced coffee and books?

Are The Twilight Movies Really As Bad As People Say?

Spoiler alert: The answer is NO.

credits: hdwallpaper

Ah, The Twilight Saga, or should I call it my tween obsession. The five movies in the saga are based on the novel Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. These movies have been quite a conversation starter for a decade now, and almost everyone claims they “hate” these movies, and they are so “cringe”.

First of all, that’s rude. Second, you may be right. Even someone as obsessed with the movies as me can agree they are pretty cringe-worthy. However, what do you expect from a vampire love story? Especially one that was marketed towards the tween/teens of the 2010s.

Movie Titles:

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn part 1 & 2

The films star Kristen Stewart who plays Isabelle Swan, Robert Pattinson plays Edward Cullen, and finally Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. The series has gained over $3.4 billion worldwide. The first movie, Twilight, was released on November 21, 2008. The second movie, New Moon, followed close behind on November 20, 2009, breaking box office records as the biggest midnight screening and opening day in history, grossing an estimated $72.7 million

Facts aside, I may be very biased since I loved the books, but I really don’t think the Twilight films deserve the hate they continuously get.

You better hold tight, spider monkey. We’re about to branch into a few reasons why this widely hated film series is so great.

(For those who are Twi-Hards such as myself, you would get that reference)

credits: tenor gif

One of the reasons people seem to hate on the movies is the portrayal of the “vampire”. Meyer decided to make the Cullen clan, as well as the rest of the vampires in the story, have their skin sparkle in the sunlight versus turn to ash/dust. I remember my step-dad making fun of the sparkling bodies relentlessly – like, we get it, they look sparkly and a little stupid, but calm down.

Everyone who writes a story involving vampires, or anything supernatural of that sort, should have the right to create them in their own image and use their own creativity to the full extent.

In all honesty, I think it’s cool to see another variation of the vampire storyline that is vastly different than the usual “sunlight = bad” concept. And, no offence, but just because you’re in your forties (ok boomer) and have watched old *iconic* vampire movies doesn’t give you the right to crap on a new genre of vampires. This movie wasn’t marketed for you - it was meant to be appealing to the teenage audience that already fell in love with the books to begin with.

I also once read somewhere that people were so terribly upset over the fact the werewolves in this story could turn between human and wolf form at will. Now, why is that a big deal? Why are you mad over that? Makes me want to roll my eyes into the back of my skull.

credits: giphy

Meanwhile, the action scenes in the films are actually pretty sick and very enjoyable. Especially in Eclipse and 100% in Breaking Dawn Part 2 – I distinctly remember seeing this in theatres, and when certain things were happening in the fight scenes, the audience were all gasping and yelling together out of shock. You know it’s a good movie when the entire theatre is going crazy.

Another amazing thing about this film franchise is the soundtrack. The songs are so beautiful and fit so nicely with the tone of the movie. The scene where Bella is severely depressed in New Moon plays the song Possibility by Lykke Li, the scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1 where Bella and Edward are going through a rough patch plays the beautiful (yet depressing) Cold by Aqualung and Lucy Schwartz, the scene in Eclipse where Bella and Edward get engaged and share an intimate moment plays My Love by Sia. And that’s just naming a few scenes.

You can’t deny the simple fact that Twilight has one of THE best soundtracks, ever. You cannot, and will not, change my mind.

I sincerely hope that after reading this your mind has changed even just a tad, and you won’t just blindly hate Twilight anymore. For its release time, you have to admit the movies were perfect for what they intended to be: a cringe fest of a love story between human and vampire.

Maybe one day these movies could be your own personal brand of heroin. No?

credits: pinterest

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Madilyn Bailey

I’m Madilyn, a full time student at Algonquin College. I have an addiction to coffee scented candles, enjoy watching anime, as well as making my family fat from all the baking I do.

BBC Three’s Normal People Series: Does It Live up to Sally Rooney’s Best-Selling Novel?

Normal People (2020) Element Pictures

Content Warning: Mentions of suicide and sexual assault

Some Spoilers Ahead

Last year BBC Three and Hulu released a drama series adaption of Irish author Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel Normal People. I remember being excited when I first heard the news, but also skeptical. I adored the novel and so I hoped that the series would live up to this realistic story of young adulthood. Since the series hadn’t been available on any of my frequented streaming platforms, I nearly forgot about it until recently when it became available on Prime Video, so I had to give it a watch.

The Story

The 12-episode series was directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Frank [2014], Room [2015]) and Hettie Macdonald (“Blink” Doctor Who [2007], Beautiful Thing [1996]). It follows Rooney’s story of Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal) who are two individuals with different backgrounds living in a small town in Ireland. Marianne lives in a big house with her cold mother (Aislin McGuckin) and troubled brother (Frank Blake). Connell lives in a small house with his mother Lorraine: a young mother with a warm understanding about her. Lorraine cleans the Sheridan’s house for work which is how Marianne and Connell cross paths outside of school.

Throughout the story, we follow these two individuals through their last year of high school and throughout university as their relationship twists and turns. We watch them live through these most vulnerable years of having one foot in childhood and the other in adulthood: new friendships and romantic relationships; moving in and out of your parents’ home; depression; sex; university essays; anxiety; alcohol; therapy.

FIRST Edition cover FAber & FAber

Sally Rooney’s story is so raw and beautiful. It is a wonderful portrayal of complicated young relationships with others and with oneself. The story is heart-warming and breaking; it is messy and magical.

Normal People (2020) Element Pictures

I believe that this beautifully messy story was well adapted into the series. Abrahamson and Macdonald had a very realistic directing style, which I personally love. Leaving spaces for silence, breathing, thinking and outside sounds creates an experience for the viewer to feel closer to what is taking place on the screen. It makes characters, interactions and moments feel more human. The cinematography was simple and mostly gloomy which was perfectly effective. Notable visually breathtaking scenes took place on the coast of Ireland, the countryside of Trieste, Italy and the snowy streets of Sweden. 

 The casting for this series was spot on, in my opinion. The actors, especially the two leading roles, looked so similar to the faces I created in my head while reading the novel. This can also be said for Marianne’s family and university friends. While watching the series, I had many déjà vu moments, which speaks highly to Rooney’s descriptive writing and the directors’ interpretations of this writing. You know that an on-screen adaption of a novel is good if you feel as though you have not only heard it but have seen it all before.

What Was Left Out

I understand that with any on-screen adaption, some things will have to be left out. Something that I was disappointed about was a sexual assault scene that was glossed over in the series.

In the story, Connell’s character deals with a female teacher being overly friendly with him in high school. Marianne even points out that she noticed them flirting and Connell is obviously uncomfortable with the situation. After Connell graduates, he runs into this teacher on a night out. He is extremely intoxicated and cannot defend himself from her sexual advances. In the series the woman kisses and gropes him outside of a bar; he is then able to get away. What differs in the novel is that while in high school Marianne offers to make an anonymous report about the teacher’s inappropriate behaviour on Connell’s behalf. After graduation, on that night out, Connell ends up at the teacher’s home with not much awareness of what was happening. The woman tries to have sex with him despite his protests and, while they don’t end up having sex, Connell is left uncomfortable and disturbed. In a later scene, he opens up to Marianne about what happened that night.

Normal People (2020) Element Pictures

In my opinion, this was an important storyline that should have been used more in the series. Male sexual assault happens all the time, but we rarely see it portrayed in the media. Having a realistic portrayal of a scenario such as Connell’s in a television series would have been beneficial in my eyes to fight this stigma and shame around male victims of SA. It was an important story to be told.

Final Thoughts

I do believe that BBC Three’s adaption mostly lived up the Sally Rooney’s Normal People. I think that an opportunity was missed to show a realistic storyline on men’s sexual assault but besides this, the series portrayed honest scenes of complicated relationships, sex and mental health. The series was beautifully made and moving, and I would highly recommend it to all along with the novel.

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Grace Elizabeth

Grace is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College who has a love for film and television.

Love Actually: Overrated or the Perfect Christmas Movie?

Courtesy of Universal Pictures and Vox.com

What do the movies Die Hard and Love Actually have in common? Well, they both star the late great Alan Rickman, and they are both Christmas movies. However, unlike Die Hard, this movie will leave you with a warm feeling after watching it (unless, of course, Die Hard does that sort of thing for you). The film was released in 2003 and was written and directed by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill). Starring an ensemble cast consisting of, among others, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, and Colin Firth, this wonderfully delightful comedy will tug at your heartstrings and become your new holiday favourite, just as it has become mine. 

Courtesy of Universal Pictures and IMDB

This holiday movie takes place over the five weeks leading up to Christmas and consists of 10 stories that are somehow connected in various ways, telling different tales of love. These multiple tales of love consist of the different types of love and the impact the holiday season has on them. While it is a Christmas movie, it should be noted that it is not suitable for children as it indulges in adult themes.

The film begins with a narration by Hugh Grant (who portrays the Prime Minister of the U.K. in the film). He talks about the times where he feels gloomy about the state of the world and explains what he thinks of to cheer himself up. This beautiful anecdote is told over a montage of people arriving at Heathrow Airport. Viewers are then introduced to the hilarious Billy Mack (Bill Nighy), a legendary rock and roll musician who is attempting to create a Christmas version of the famous song Love is all Around by The Troggs.

From that point on, the movie introduces various characters that are each dealing with the themes of love and the holidays in their own unique stories. Throughout the film, viewers are shown how some of the characters from one story might have a connection with characters from another. The various characters in the movie are wonderfully portrayed by the numerous performers who each manage to bring their character to life. Some characters you will love, some you might end up hating. But in the end, you will laugh, cry, and cheer for the various characters and the stories they are participating in.

The following video is a clip to show just how much fun can be had by watching this wonderful film.

What makes this the perfect Christmas movie is that its various stories can fill the needs of several viewers at once with these beautiful and different stories. But, of course, what makes this ideal movie even more entertaining, is a fun cameo with the appearance of none other than Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson as a salesman who loves to go the extra mile for his clients. This movie will also give you the intriguing revelation that at the birth of Jesus, there was not one, but at least two lobsters who showed up. So, if you’re looking for a good Christmas movie to enjoy this holiday season, either by yourself, your loved ones or even with a few friends, then I highly recommend this delightful holiday treat to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night.

If you’ve already seen the movie, and want to know what happened to some of the characters, here is a short film called Red Nose Day Actually. The short film was once again written and directed by Richard Curtis and shows the return of some of the cast. It was released as part of the Red Nose Day 2017 fundraiser.

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Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald is a second-year Professional Writing student. He enjoys food (both cooking and eating), watching movies and television, reading, spending time with his friends and family and gets easily distrac… ooh, red ball…ted.

Quotes about Philippe

Mother: “He’s my favourite son.”
Complete stranger: “Who?”
Annie the cat: just stares blankly

How Elf Became a Modern Christmas Classic

Hint: It’s all thanks to Rankin/Bass.

source: New line cinema

Every year, the same Christmas movies make their rotations on cable television channels in addition to the dozens of new Hallmark movies made every year; but one always stands out as a classic that my family and I watch over and over again.

My parents, the SNL buffs that they are, rented Elf from out local Blockbuster to watch for family movie night. It was Will Ferrell’s first big film after leaving SNL and they figured it would be appropriate for their 6-year-old daughter to watch. Little did they know I’d grow up to watch it every December at school and always find it lurking on cable after Home Alone and before Love, Actually.

Elf was released on November 7th, 2003, although the script was written a decade prior by David Berenbaum.

It tells the story of Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) who made his way to the North Pole as a baby when he accidently crawled into Santa’s sack. The elves take him in as one of them. He is adopted by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), who later tells Buddy where he came from - New York City.

Buddy sets off from the North Pole to New York City in hopes to find his father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). There he meets his first love Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) who helps him navigate human life and to ultimately save Christmas.

It was picked up by director Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian, Marvel’s Happy Hogan), who in a 2013 Rolling Stone interview, shared how he came to pick up a Christmas movie: “I remember reading it, and it clicked: if I made the world that he was from as though he grew up as an elf in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, one of those Rankin/Bass Christmas specials I grew up with, then everything fell into place tonally.”

source: rankin/bass animated entertainment

Favreau was really interested in drawing inspiration from Rankin/Bass’s 1964 animated movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This is another film that makes its television rotation every year and rightfully so.

The claymation inspired by Robert L. May’s 1939 story of the same name featured Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman, who narrates the story of Rudolph. Rankin/Bass used stop-motion animation to create one of the most heart-warming Christmas specials in television history.

This was my favourite Christmas special growing up and it still is today. I always love hearing Burl Ives’s voice around the holidays and the aesthetically pleasing imagery is engulfing.

It was important to Favreau for this film to look like something out of a Rankin/Bass studio to recreate that classic, Christmas feeling.

From there, production began and decisions were made in how to make this early 2000’s Christmas comedy resemble a nostalgic childhood animated special.

The first notable comparison is in the character appearances. Buddy wears a similar ensemble to Elf Foreman in the claymation – a pointy hat with a yellow ribbon, a green, fur-lined coat, yellow tights, and curly-pointed toe shoes. In fact, all the elves in Elf dress like the elves in Rudolph. Others wear blue and pink like Hermey the elf who wants to become a dentist. At the end, when Jovie and Buddy live at the North Pole, she wears a fully pink outfit like the female elves in the Rankin/Bass special.

There are also notable character comparisons besides the characters. In building the North Pole scenes for Elf, set designers took more inspiration from Rudolph. When the elves are inside the workshop building toys, they are in a similar, grey-wooded building that the elves in the Rankin/Bass work in.

For the snow covered North Pole, a real set was created for actors to film on. It was snowy and white, covered in Christmas trees like in the claymation.

These little details made Elf such a memorable film for those who grew up watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but production didn’t stop there.

Favreau also wanted to incorporate elements of stop-motion and old-school techniques: “We didn’t have a tremendous amount of dough. Part of the pitch, to make it a Rankin/Bass world and not a big CGI extravaganza – part of it is my aesthetic. I like the techniques and technologies used when I was growing up. It feels timeless.”

Stop-motion was used in the opening sequence as a storybook flips pages to reveal the cast and production crew. The penguin ‘Artic Puffin’ makes an appearance here and later along with the other puppets, polar bear, the walrus, and Mr. Narwhal who talk to body and wish him good-bye when he sets off for his journey to New York.

A part of the gag of Elf is that Will Ferrell is huge next to the elves, but believe it or not, no CGI was used to create this illusion. Instead, Favreau reveals that forced perspective was used: “The forced perspective is where you build two sets, one smaller than the other. One set is raised and closer and smaller, and one is bigger and further away. And if you line up those two sets and measure them, you can have one person on one set appear to be much larger than a person on the other set.”

source: new line cinema

Avoiding CGI and opting in for classic film and animation techniques worked in this film’s favour - it made Elf a timeless piece. The stop-motion, large-scaled sets, and costume design played a special homage to Rankin/Bass that also makes this film nostalgic for those who grew up with the Rankin/Bass Rudolph.

Now, only 14 years later, Elf is on everyone’s television screen this Christmas. It is available to stream on Crave, but keep an eye out if you have cable; it will most likely be on a different channel everyday leading up to Christmas.

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Sarah Travis

Sarah is a second-year Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. When she’s not in zoom classes, she’s either making coffee for the green siren, or at a thrift store.

Why We Don’t Need The D'Amelio Show

credits: disney plus informer

The D’Amelio Show is a reality TV show, similar to Keeping Up with The Kardashians, where it follows sisters Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, and their parents Marc and Heidi, during their sudden rise to fame. It started after Charli became the “queen” of TikTok with her dance moves, gaining her 150 million followers; she became a sensation seemingly overnight. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for some cringe-worthy reality TV – I will admit to watching quite a few seasons of the Kardashians – but this show just seems… unneeded.

A big reason behind why I don’t think this show is a great idea is the fact these girls are so young: Charli being only 17, and Dixie 20. I can understand them having a very popular YouTube channel or something, but a whole damn reality show recording their every movement? Doesn’t seem to be the right move, especially considering Dixie’s mental health state.

In one of the aired episodes, it showcases Dixie having a full breakdown over the hate comments from trolls online. I sympathize, truthfully, because no one deserves to be hated for being human and looking human. That part was definitely hard to watch, as I’m sure we all have been there when it comes to dealing with anxiety and overthinking, which makes the scene even more difficult.

Now I can (kind of) understand how it would be good for some people to see how open she is with her mental health struggles, but it just doesn’t feel right to watch such a young girl sob in front of the camera.

Charli has also said how much she hates being watched, people knowing what she’s doing all the time, and she was very upset over having such a public breakup, which she then proceeds to talk about on her show. With that in mind, care to explain why they agreed to have a production team literally follow them 24/7? I’m very confused.

“A constant terror: people watching your every move. That’s a lot of pressure on me” - Charli D’Amelio

Another thing that really bothers me is the trailer. While I was watching it, there were so many comments that really didn’t make sense. Their parents, Marc and Heidi, kept saying things like “They’re normal kids, we want them to stay that way,” as well as asking, “will she have time to be a kid?” during what I’m assuming to be a meeting regarding Charli’s hectic schedule. Not to sound rude, but you sign your kid up for a TV show, so many events, photoshoots, campaigns, etc., and then you’re surprised she doesn’t have time to be a normal 17-year-old?

They even moved them all the way from, and I quote, their happy life in Connecticut, to move to the hustle and bustle of LA. It’s just incredibly hypocritical that the parents keep saying they want their kids to stay normal, but then move them from their normalcy and stick them in the influencer populated toxicity that is Los Angeles.

You see, the funny thing is I haven’t even watched any of the episodes due to my inability to care enough to watch these girls get exploited. They may be agreeing to this, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s the best idea. And with their rating on the IMDB scale being a whooping 2.6/10, I don’t think a lot of people disagree with me.

Oh, and they got renewed for a second season. Yay!

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Madilyn Bailey

I’m Madilyn, a full time student at Algonquin College. I have an addiction to coffee scented candles, enjoy watching anime, as well as making my family fat from all the baking I do.

Naruto: Is It Worth Watching 720 Episodes?

Image by Masashi Kishimoto

I'm not here to tell you if you should or shouldn't watch Naruto because I would, without a doubt, say yes. I'm simply going to tell you what you need to know to make that choice for yourself! Now, what is Naruto? It is an anime (Japanese animation) created by Masashi Kishimoto. It follows an orphaned child named Naruto (shocker) and his journey from being feared and socially excluded (I wonder why…) to one of the greatest shinobi (ninja) ever. His ultimate goal is to become Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja. The show has 720 episodes split between the original Naruto (when he was around twelve years old) and Naruto Shippuden (when he was sixteen).  

Image by Masashi Kishimoto

Characters  

• Naruto Uzumaki, the blond, has a bubbly personality. He's immature, and although he may be a prankster, he's incredibly loveable. No matter his troubles, he always has a smile on his face (unless it comes to his rivalry with Sasuke, as you see in their group photo).

• Sasuke Uchiha is the last living member of the Uchiha clan after their assassination… or is he? He is the show's "hottie," and girls obsess over him.

• Sakura Haruno obsesses over Sasuke (which he hates) and is pretty useless for over 50% of the show (whoops, my bias is showing). She heavily relies on others to protect her, which gets annoying, but she (very) slowly grows.

• Kakashi Hatake is the copycat ninja. A mask is always covering his nose and mouth, and he typically covers his left eye, so only his right eye is visible most of the time. He's able to master any fighting skills just by watching them. He also becomes Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke's teacher very early on (so don't worry, it's not much of a spoiler). There are many more characters, but you'll have to watch the anime if you want to see them.

Image by YourFates

Lessons  

There are lots of lessons in Naruto, but a few include:  

1. Redemption is always possible  

2. It's okay if your potential takes time to manifest  

3. You can never dream too big  

“If you don't like your destiny, don't accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it the way you want it to be!” -Naruto Uzumaki

They marketed the anime for 12-17 years old, so having children exposed to these teachings is beneficial. Although anyone at any age can benefit from these lessons—I certainly have. 

Fillers

Image by SIMKL

This was my only problem with Naruto. Out of 720 episodes, 255 episodes (or 41% of the show) are filler. BUT if this is an issue, multiple sites tell you which episodes are filler, and you can easily skip past them. If you don't know what a filler episode is, it's an episode with nothing related to the main storyline. Usually, writers use filler when the anime has caught up to the manga (Japanese comic books). So, a filler is then used to give the manga time to catch up. I have skipped most filler episodes but have watched some because they can further develop side characters (for example, Kakashi's backstory).   

Now, 720 episodes may seem excessive, but that is how Kishimoto fits the entire journey of Naruto Uzumaki into the series. If you want to laugh, cry, and invest in watching characters grow up, then give Naruto a shot! 

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Melissa Mahlig

Hi, my name is Melissa! I’m a 20-year-old student in the Professional Writing Program, and my love of writing manifested from an obsession with fanfiction. I love Wattpad, spicy food, anime and sleep. Weird/fun fact about me: I have a strange infatuation with Caesars (extra spicy, please!). Who needs therapy when you have iced coffee and books?

Extended and shared universes: Opening a realm of possibilities, one story at a time

The MCU, the DCEU, The NCIS franchise, The Law & Order franchise, Star Trek. These are but a few examples of film and television worlds that have managed to create a large expansion of exciting stories for viewers to enjoy. This has allowed characters from different series or films to crossover into another series or film to further explore their shared universes.

Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Currently, the biggest shared universe is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Beginning in 2008 with the blockbuster Ironman, this franchise has expanded significantly by having released an impressive 26 films to date, with at least 12 more in various stages production. This franchise has also created numerous television series, with several more also in various stages of early to late production. The stories that have been shown have not only allowed for numerous characters to be introduced, but to also create storylines that continue in various productions.

Another popular franchise (but hasn’t managed to fully live to up its competitor’s level), is the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). While it hasn’t fully lived up to the same reputation as the MCU, it has still produced notable hits such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Shazam. But while it has had some wins, it has also included some loses that have caused to the studio to make various changes throughout the years regarding certain characters.

Courtesy of NBC

Another franchise that is all too familiar to crime show buffs, is the all too familiar Law & Order. The first series, also named Law & Order, originally aired on September 13th, 1990. The series went on to span numerous spinoffs including the long-lasting Law & Order: SVU as well as the newest entry into the franchise, Law & Order: Organized Crime. Most recently, fans of the original series were given a huge surprise when it was revealed that the original series, which ended on May 24th, 2010, would be returning for a 21st season. Aside from these direct series, characters from some these shows have made crossovers on other franchises, including One Chicago (consisting of Chicago Med, Chicago PD, and Chicago Fire), as well as the series F.B.I. which itself has had a few spinoffs. While all of these various series are more based in actual reality, they manage to still create a world that shows that events that happen in one city can easily have some kind of an effect elsewhere.

Finally, another successful franchise is Star Trek. Originally airing in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry, the series portrayed various individuals who were exploring space, went on numerous adventures and faced various foes. The original series produced six films that were sequels, and another 3 films that were a reboot of it. Meanwhile, the original series also produced numerous other sequel series that have introduced new characters and alien species, new adventures, and of course new foes. While following the following series mostly took place in a more future time (one series, Enterprise was actually a prequel to the entire series), the shows only had minor crossovers here and there to only further show that they were connected. More recently a new entry in the franchise, Star Trek: Discovery, which has very recently started its fourth season, was revealed to have a direct connection to the original series. which has not only allowed for the series to give more stories but has also allowed them to re-use memorable characters from the past and give them new life.

The amazing thing about these numerous franchises is that they allow the storytellers to further expand upon numerous ideas, but also allow the people who enjoy these stories to see different stories from perspectives. It also allows these different characters to interact outside of their normal stories and participate in even larger adventures.

Here are a few other exciting franchises and series that have made crossovers with other series that have created extended universes:

• JAG, NCIS, NCIS: LA, Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaii. NCIS: LA has had some crossovers with Scorpion and Hawaii-Five O, which in turn, has had crossover with MacGyver and Magnum P.I.

• The various CSI series

• The Arrowverse (Also known as the CWverse)

• Star Wars

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Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald is a second-year Professional Writing student. He enjoys food (both cooking and eating), watching movies and television, reading, spending time with his friends and family and gets easily distrac… ooh, red ball…ted.

Quotes about Philippe

Mother: “He’s my favourite son.”
Complete stranger: “Who?”
Annie the cat: just stares blankly

Sounds of The Big Screen

My Love of Movie Soundtracks and Their Importance in Films

Palo Alto (2013), Tribeca Film

During my early teen years, a career option that I considered was to be a music supervisor. I remember googling, “Who make the soundtracks for films?” and that is just what came up.

Music Supervisor: the head of the music department on a film or television show.

A bit unconventional, especially considering I have no musical talent. I believe this interest came from the strong emotional attachments I would have with movie soundtracks. When the perfect song would play at a scene in a movie, whether I knew it or had heard it for the first time and it just worked, I would get so excited. Music has a crucial role in my film and television watching experience, as I believe it does for mostly everyone. Imagine if your job was to compile a collection of music from different artists to help convey the perfect emotions in a film? Sounded like a dream to me. It is like making Spotify playlists for specific moods but on a much grander scale.

Soundtrack vs. Film Score

Now a film soundtrack is not to be confused with a film score. Both are crucial, but a film score is the original music created by a film composer. It’s the instrumental and orchestral music that plays throughout a film. I could equally enjoy listening to a film score of a movie I love. Some of the most notable film scores come from popular film franchises: Lord of The Rings, composed by Howard Shore; Harry Potter by John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper and Alexandre Desplat; even Twilight by composer Carter Burwell.

Palo Alto (2013)

One of the first soundtracks that piqued my interest was Palo Alto (2013), a film by Gia Coppola based on the book of short stories written by James Franco. It is a visually appealing artistic film centred around teens living in Palo Alto, California. This film has the dreamiest soundtrack and film score.

The film’s music is by Devonté Hynes and Robert Schwartzman. This was my first introduction to Devonté Hynes' work (a.k.a. Blood Orange on his personal music projects) who is an artist that I have grown to love over the years. My favourite songs from the Palo Alto soundtrack are "Champagne Coast", "Graveyard" and "It’s You". Hynes has created many more musical scores for both television (We Are Who We Are [2020]) and film (Queen and Slim [2019], Passing [2021]).

Even now, when I hear the Palo Alto score and soundtrack, they just hit deeper than the songs that I listen to every day. I think that's what I love so much about the music chosen or created for films. It impacts the listeners' emotions on an even higher scale than stand-alone music already does. Now, I’m not sure whether this is because when we listen to these songs we are reminded of the emotions from the film. Or perhaps musical scores and soundtracks are made to convey a stronger emotional response whether accompanied by a film or not. In these pieces of music, I don’t believe that lyrics are as important. It is all about feeling, mood and sound to accompany the visuals and on the screen.

Tribeca film

The Great Gatsby (2013) Warner Bros. Pictures

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Another of my favourite film soundtracks would be from Baz Luhrmann’s film The Great Gatsby (2013). Although this film is based in the 1920s, telling the classic story originally written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the soundtrack includes an array of modern music from hip hop to indie. The variety of musicians includes JAY-Z, Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Fergie, Kanye West, Florence and the Machine, The xx, Frank Ocean and Sia. This was an album that I could listen to again and again after seeing the film. The incorporation of modern-day music helped emphasize the party scenes during the Roaring Twenties, especially for the then modern-day viewers.

All in all, music has an important place in television and film and the collaboration of these two mediums create the most amazing works of art.

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Grace Elizabeth

Grace is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College who has a love for film and television.

What Makes Lady Bird so Special

Greta Gerwig’s Directorial Debut Raises the Bar for all Coming-of-Age Films to Come

Source: a24

In an era of popular young adult media, consumable for teens but also adults, a fair share of cheesy, unrealistic coming-of-age films have hit our screens. As an avid consumer of all things teen when it comes to my media selection, most movies over the years have slipped behind the curtain – except for one.

Greta Gerwig made her directoral debut in 2017 with the release what I consider to be one of the best coming-of-age films of all time, Lady Bird.

This semi-autobiographical piece follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) throughout her final year at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic high school, where she embarks on daunting, yet simplistic coming-of-age journey.

Lady Bird doesn’t think about consequences. She is quick to make a move on Danny (Lucas Hedges) when she falls for him during his theatre audition, resulting in a budding relationship. When that ends, she’s quick to capture Kyle’s (Timothee Chalamet) attention after forming a friendship with his friend, popular mean girl, Jenna (Odeya Rush).

Lady Bird is good at getting what she wants, especially when it comes to romance and friendship. But her spontaneity comes back to bite her. After Danny says he loves her, she catches him kissing a boy and breaks her heart. When she moves onto Kyle, she realizes he’s not at great as she thought he was after he lies to her about being a virgin and ditches her on prom night.

What she desires most in the film is to leave Sacramento, California, longing to “go where culture is like New York. Or at least Connecticut or New Hampshire where writers live in the woods,” as she tells her mother.

She decides to apply to colleges on the East Coast behind her mother, Marion’s (Laurie Metcalf) back in attempt to prevent an argument.

source: a24

Her relationship with her mother forms most of Lady Bird’s hatred for Sacramento. As the family struggles financially, the mother daughter duo have a strained relationship.

Marion is tired of worrying about finances. She puts her stress out on her daughter, getting into arguments about what Lady Bird does and how she presents herself. She wants Lady Bird to do better than she did.

source: a24

She takes the time to take Lady Bird dress shopping and makes the alterations herself. She comes home in the morning to get the family ready for the day and cook breakfast. She works extra shifts to pay Lady Bird’s tuition so she doesn’t have to go to the public school where her brother saw someone knifed.

As Lady Bird graduates, she receives an acceptance letter from a university in New York City. She paints over Danny and Kyle’s names she wrote on her walls and finally gets her driver’s license. Her time in Sacramento comes to a close, setting off on her next adventure.

Lady Bird dwells on this move for the span of the film, thinking about how free she will be; however she never thought about the consequences of moving.

She finds herself one Sunday morning in the hospital after being rushed by ambulance for alcohol poisoning after her first party. She leaves and walks though the city’s streets, finding herself at a Church. It all starts to come back.

Lady Bird doesn’t think about consequences. She surely didn’t think she would miss home so soon. The choir’s song inspires her to call her mother.

Her voicemail on her parents’ phone say “Mom, did you feel emotional the first time that you drove in Sacramento? I did. All those bends I've known my whole life, and stores, and the whole thing. But I wanted to tell you I love you. Thank you.”

And that is the end.

This was Lady' Bird’s consequence of moving to New York; making the realization no matter how much she hated it and how far away she is now, Sacramento is home.

The film teaches the lesson on focuses on the present instead of dwelling on the future, which is often lacking in other coming-of-age films, where characters move off to college and never look back. Gerwig gives us closure to Lady Bird’s story, that she isn’t this big, strong adult that has made it on her own.

She’s still a kid even though she’s across the country from her family. She’s still learning and growing, and still needs her mother and the love from her family.

This refreshing ending shows teenage viewers that they still won’t know everything when they move away from home. Home will always be with you in the lessons you learned there and how you continue to grow no matter how far you travel away.

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Sarah Travis

Sarah is a second-year Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. When she’s not in zoom classes, she’s either making coffee for the green siren, or at a thrift store.

The Librarians: protecting the world, one magical artifact at a time

Courtesy of TNT and IMDB

Have you ever wondered who takes care of all the magical artifacts in the world? Well, look no further. The Librarians are here to protect the world. The Librarians is a television sequel to the film trilogy- The Librarian. The movies starred Noah Wyle (ER, Falling Skies) as Flynn Carsen, a man with 22 academic decrees, who is hired by The Library, a secret organization dedicated to protecting the world from magical artifacts by finding them and cataloging them within the walls of The Library. Joining him on his adventures were Jane Curtin (SNL, 3rd Rock From the Sun) and Bob Newhart (Newhart, ELF). After three very entertaining films involving the Spear of Destiny, King Solomon’s Mines and even vampires, a series was made to follow up on the adventures of The Library.

A polymath, a scientist, a world class thief, and a soldier- what do these four individuals all have in common? Well, they all work for the Library. The show starred Christian Kane (Angel, Leverage) as polymath Jacob Stone, Lindy Booth (Relic Hunter) as scientist Cassandra Cillian, and John Harlan Kim as world class thief, Ezekiel Jones, as the eponymous Librarians. Joining them on their adventures is Rebecca Romijn (X-Men, Ugly Betty) as their Guardian, Colonel Eve Baird, a soldier chosen to be the brawn to their brains. The cast was rounded out with John Laroquette (Night court, The John Laroquette Show) who portrayed Jenkins, the hesitant caretaker of the four, as well as The Library. Our heroes spent each episode solving an exciting mystery that left viewers on the edge of their seats. Fighting cults, monsters and and even gods is just another day for these incredible heroes.

Like the movies, the show mixed adventure with various myths, mysteries and several laughs. Every week, the characters would be made aware of a new case, usually involving a powerful magical artifact. Like the movies, the series used all kinds of myths and legends that have been part of our history. Myths and legends such as Excalibur, the Minotaur and the maze, dragons, fairies, ancient gods and even Santa Clause were incorporated to create beautifully written episodes that allowed viewers to be transported into this amazing world.

I personally enjoyed this show as it created a perfect combination of humour and fantasy. I loved how the characters’ personalities were in tune with both their roles in the series, as well as the storylines. Various villains throughout the series run created formidable antagonists that kept The Librarians and their Guardian on their toes and of course, gave them a run for their money.

Not only was the series a success, but it also produced three novels that tied into the series. Sadly, the show ended with the end of the fourth season. With all shows returning and getting sequels and prequels, here’s hoping that someday, this amazing show is given new life either with new movies or a new series so that we can all enjoy more adventures with The Library and its staff.

“A Librarian is more than a person. A Librarian is a shining beacon,

reminding us of the best humanity has to offer.”

Jenkins, Episode: And some dude named Jeff

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Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald is a second-year Professional Writing student. He enjoys food (both cooking and eating), watching movies and television, reading, spending time with his friends and family and gets easily distrac… ooh, red ball…ted.

Quotes about Philippe

Mother: “He’s my favourite son.”
Complete stranger: “Who?”
Annie the cat: just stares blankly

Romantic Comedy Cliché: He's Just Not That Into You

Credits: fanart.tv

This movie, seemingly a Valentine’s Day twin, has some very well written romantic plots… all minus one. He’s Just Not That Into You follows interconnecting story arcs as they go through the struggles of dating in their 30’s. Storylines such as not wanting to get married, having an affair, never getting a call back, and loving someone while they’re only using you for your affection.

There’s only one storyline that really rubs me the wrong way. And that’s the storyline of Alex and Gigi (pictured above).

Their “love story” doesn’t make an ounce of sense; if you really watch the movie and pay attention to their characters from the beginning, you would automatically think “they don’t belong together”. I’ve watched this movie too many times to count - call it my guilty pleasure - and the fact that Alex’s character completely changes gets my blood boiling.

Now, for some context, here’s the official storyline of the “love birds”: Alex and Gigi.

Gigi is the movie’s main character: the movie follows her through her endless suffering of waiting for the guy to call back. She goes on date after date, only to never hear from the guy again. In the beginning, it can be seen as relatable, so they get brownie points for this. Then, during one of her “stalking nights,” where she casually goes to the bar her last date said he likes going to, she runs into bartender Alex who promptly tells her the hurtful truth…

HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU!

Cue shocked noises.

With this revelation, Gigi slightly changes up her game plan. Alex remains a friend in her life, telling her MORE THAN ONCE, and I quote, “if a guy wants to date you, he’ll date you. There’s no mixed messages”.

Alex is someone who is looking for a more casual thing, open to the idea of a relationship but isn’t heavily pursuing one. He’s a great friend to Gigi; giving her advice and not sugar-coating the truth. The only feeling he’s shared regarding Gigi is FRIENDSHIP.

credits: tumblr

Later on in the movie, Gigi decides that Alex is sending her mixed messages! He’s totally in love with her, I mean you can’t ignore the signs… in reality, she’s taking his friendly advances and turning it into a whole “he loves me” mess. Alex then hosts a party and asks Gigi to come, which she misinterprets as an invitation to co-host. She goes around the party implying this, which is embarrassing to the audience as you see how obsessed she’s getting. Once the party is done and everyone is gone, Gigi throws herself at Alex and is professing her love.

Alex, who is rightfully confused, gets up and is seen to be very annoyed. He’s annoyed at the fact she is now ruining their friendship while blatantly ignoring what he’s been saying all throughout the movie… if a guy wants to be with you, he’ll be with you. Gigi goes on some long rant, claiming he’ll never be happy, and runs out of the apartment.

Now, normally this would be the end of the situation. But for some reason, the writers thought it would be a great idea to turn Alex into the male version of Gigi. He keeps calling her, is overthinking about her, then shows up to her apartment professing his love and saying she is the one! After that, the movie is basically over.

How come the writers thought it was totally okay to change the character’s mindset? They turned him into a completely different person. It would be different if he showed a little bit of interest in Gigi, but he didn’t! He was nothing but a friend to her. This also shines a bad light on different gendered friendships; the fact a guy and a girl can’t just be friends without one of them catching feelings.

Overall, this movie has some great plot points, and I do find myself enjoying every other storyline. It does well in the Rom-Com genre but really fails at Alex and Gigi’s story. It doesn’t make sense - will never make sense to me - and it should’ve been cut from the movie altogether.

I guess I’m just not that into the movie, huh?

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Madilyn Bailey

I’m Madilyn, a full time student at Algonquin College. I have an addiction to coffee scented candles, enjoy watching anime, as well as making my family fat from all the baking I do.

The Simpsons Can Predict the Future

Source: Phyllis Thomas

The Simpsons is the less funny version of Family Guy (just kidding...maybe), and it's about the hilarious, everyday life of a dysfunctional family. It has been running since 1989, and there are currently 33 seasons with no end in sight. Some episodes were entertaining but ended up much more than that—they ended up coming true. Now, The Simpsons have built a reputation for predicting the future, and it's hard to argue with. You may think it is a coincidence, and I would too if it were one, two, or even three circumstances. But no, there are over 15 times when the show predicted things correctly, and I'm here to explain a few.   

Season 10, Episode 5: Disney Taking Over Fox  

source: ivanv

In 1998, an episode called "When You Dish Upon A Star" showed 20th Century Fox as "a Division of Walt Disney Co." Over 20 years later, in 2019, Disney reached a deal with 21st Century Fox to gain its film and television assets. It cost Disney over 70 billion dollars, but hey, at least The Simpsons were right.  

Season 11, Episode 17: President Donald Trump   

source: Jay Verma

In 2000, the episode "Bart to the Future" showed how Donald Trump became President and caused a budget crisis. 17 years later, the prediction became a reality and Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. The Simpsons also nailed the prediction about debt. Trump left the country in an additional $7.8 trillion in debt before his term ended in 2021.   

Season 29, Episode 1: The Game of Thrones Finale (Beware: SPOILERS!)  

source: Jay Verma

The Simpsons made another successful prediction in the series Game of Thrones. The episode "The Serfsons" shows a dragon that lays waste to a village of innocent people. This scene bears a striking resemblance to season eight, episode 5 of Game of Thrones when Daenerys Targaryen and her dragon incinerate the people of King's Landing. Somehow, The Simpsons predicted one of the most incredible plot twists in the series.   

Season 9, Episode 1: 9/11 Attack  

source: Sky One

Now The Simpsons didn't outright predict the attack of September 11, but there were some strange "coincidences." In the 1997 episode "The City of New York vs Homer Simpson," a moment suggests the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. One frame shows a brochure that says New York at $9 a day, and behind the nine are the twin towers... making it look like '9/11'. What makes matters even stranger is that it was the only episode of the series to make jokes about the World Trade Centre.    

Now that you've heard of a few coincidences... are they really coincidences? I could've brushed past The Simpsons guessing an episode of a show correctly. Even Disney buying Fox wasn't much of a surprise (Disney has a lot of power and basically owns everything now, it's not that shocking). But to predict one of the biggest tragedies in existence? I will pay extra attention to future episodes because you never know which episodes might come true next.  

source: mimosa (tenor)

Melissa Mahlig

Hi, my name is Melissa! I’m a 20-year-old student in the Professional Writing Program, and my love of writing manifested from an obsession with fanfiction. I love Wattpad, spicy food, anime and sleep. Weird/fun fact about me: I have a strange infatuation with Caesars (extra spicy, please!). Who needs therapy when you have iced coffee and books?

The Comforting Escape of Gilmore Girls

Entering the Warm World of Stars Hallow

When I moved away from home to attend Carleton University in 2016, I found myself in a constant blur of lectures, homework, and socializing. My mind was always racing with worries about grades and homesickness.

I missed my mom, with whom I’ve always shared a close relationship. I often found (and still find today) myself constantly calling her to hear her voice. My first year living away from her was difficult, and my longing for her company was a new feeling.

I didn’t find an outlet to escape these thoughts until my friends suggested I watch Gilmore Girls.

Source: vogue.com

Gilmore Girls premiered on October 5th, 2000 and aired for seven seasons. It follows Lorelai Gilmore, a young, single mother and her daughter, Rory, born when Lorelai was 16. After Rory’s birth, Lorelai moves out of her parent’s mansion in Hartford, Connecticut, to a garden shed in the fictional town of Stars Hallow.  

Enjoying its second wind in the streaming world, Gilmore Girls has welcomed new fans to the world of Stars Hallow. To accompany its streaming success, Netflix produced A Year in the Life, a reboot picking up nine years after the series finale, to check in on what the titular ladies have been up to.

source: life and style

The show is simple, reflecting on real-life scenarios with a hint of family drama. It runs on quick dialogue and a relatable storyline, which have played factors in the show’s success.

The characters of Rory and Lorelai, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, undergo series of life events. They are relatable, making it the perfect, slow-paced show to watch.

Looking at Lorelai, she is a motherly figure who is far from perfect but does everything in her capability to be the greatest mother she can be. She goes back to college and navigates her way through her career and her romantic life.

As a young adult, I harbour some sort of a relationship with Lorelai myself, although I am not a mother. She is likeable not just for her spunky fashion and quick humour, but for her vulnerability as a character. Lorelai consistently fails but is always back on her feet.

Rory is shy and soft-spoken, unlike her mother; however, she is incredibly smart and gained her mother’s wit. As Rory develops from a high school sophomore to an Ivy-league student, she undergoes many firsts throughout the series that I and countless other viewers relate to.

When she experienced her first romance, I instantly related. I felt those butterflies she had when she had her first kiss, and I felt the heartbreak when she got dumped.

As someone known for being quiet and would rather stay in and read than go to a party, I continue to feel a deep connection with Rory.

source: imdb

The dynamic mother-daughter duo makes me feel closer to my mother. Seeing Lorelai and Rory experience a similar mother-daughter relationship that I share with my mom brings me a warm sense of comfort.

It is refreshing to have a teenage female protagonist who doesn’t hate their mother, a common trope in many shows and movies featuring teenage girls. As close as they are, Rory and Lorelai both make mistakes and experience bumps along the way, which make this dynamic even more realistic.

I felt like Lorelai and Rory were real people in my life, and I was getting a glimpse not only into their lives but my own. The show is raw and emotional but funny and happy at the same time.

It creates a sense of warmth, welcoming its viewers to sit down with a cup of coffee on a chilly night, and become engulfed in the lives of the Gilmore Girls.  

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Sarah Travis

Sarah is a second-year Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. When she’s not in zoom classes, she’s either making coffee for the green siren, or at a thrift store.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Gone too soon

courtesy of Fox

On September 17th, 2013, Fox premiered a program that highlighted the comedic adventures of a group of detectives set at the fictional 99th precinct located in Brooklyn, New York City. The series stars the always funny Andy Samberg as Detective Jake Peralta, who, as his yogurt-loving Sergeant Terry Jeffords (played by the loveable Terry Crews) puts it: "He likes putting away bad guys, and he loves solving puzzles. The only puzzle he hasn't solved is how to grow up." The series continued for eight seasons, with the final two episodes airing on September 16th, 2021.

The writers managed to create a cop show fun by injecting humour into serious issues. The show talks about important topics such as racism, homophobia, and sexism. One of the essential issues that became a recurring theme was the issue of homophobia and racism. This storyline was represented by the captain of the Nine-Nine, Captain Raymond Holt. The character, perfectly portrayed by Andre Braugher, is a gay black man who sadly had to deal with both homophobia and racism during his time coming up through the ranks of the NYPD. But while some of these more serious topics are presented while adding humour without crossing a line, other problems such as murders, thefts, mobsters, and assaults, allow for some comedic moments that will have you laughing over and over again.

A group of detectives rounds out the main cast: the tough Rosa Diaz, the inept Charles Boyle, Amy Santiago, who has a type-A personality, ending with Norm Scully and Michael Hitchcock, two lazy detectives who would rather do the paperwork than solve crimes. The cast is also joined by Captain Holt's administrative assistant, the sarcastic and self-centred Gina Linetti. In addition, several memorable minor characters were introduced throughout the series run that only added to the wonderfully funny memories that this show produced. A couple of examples of these characters are loveable criminal Doug Judy, aka, the Pontiac Bandit (portrayed by The Office's Craig Robinson), and the hilariously psychotic Adrian Pimento, who is portrayed by Jason Mantzoukas (who I believe can do no wrong playing this type of character).

One of the best stories that happened to become a series tradition was the Halloween Heist. Originally started as a competition between Detective Peralta and Captain Holt, the activity became one of the best recurring gags involving incredibly elaborate plans that basically become borderline overkill for such a small reward on their end. But for those of us watching? The prize was much bigger. Every season, the heist would become more elaborate, while the backstabbing even funnier. This fun tradition is one reason why I continued to watch this show.

While I understand all good things must come to an end, it is unfortunate that this hilariously delightful and entertaining comedy has decided to end. But while we must bid adieu, as someone who watches a possibly unhealthy amount of television and has seen many good shows end, I can honestly say that the show managed to do what few shows managed to do- have a good ending. So, if you haven't seen the show yet, and need an excellent laugh, I highly recommend it. And if you have seen it, why not watch it again?

Nine-Nine!

Courtesy of NBC

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Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald

Philippe MacDonald is a second-year Professional Writing student. He enjoys food (both cooking and eating), watching movies and television, reading, spending time with his friends and family and gets easily distrac… ooh, red ball…ted.

Quotes about Philippe

Mother: “He’s my favourite son.”
Complete stranger: “Who?”
Annie the cat: just stares blankly

4 Horror Short Films to Watch this Spooky Season

source: Youtube

October is here, the ideal month to eat too much candy and watch some scary movies. If you’ve already scrolled through your Netflix list or have already seen the classics, here is a list of short films to feed your spooky hunger, some in as little as 4 minutes.

1. Lonely Laura and Her Sister Niamh

This fifteen minute short is a sweet twist of horror and comedy. Something not too frightening to ease you into your scary movie marathon. It portrays a unique sister dynamic played by Yasmin Paige and Gráinne O’Mahony, unique in the sense that one of them is a serial killer.

Writer and Director: Florence Hyde

Producer: Jacob Sacks-Jones

2. Home Education

This dark story follows a young girl named Rachel (Kate Reed) who lives quite a secluded life with her mother Carol (Jemma Churchill). Rachel is homeschooled by her mother, who teachers her about her strange views on life… and death. This short film is dark and strange, reminding me of Ari Aster’s directing style. So if you’re a fan of Hereditary (2018) or Midsommar (2019) I would definitely recommend giving this one a watch.

Writer and Director: Andrea Niada

Producer: Chiara Cardoso

3. The Follower

This short film is a new take on a story already told. The Follower is based on the short story “Where are you going, where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates. This new modern spin on the classic short story integrates the dangers of social media when a girl (Logan Polish) is visited by one of her many followers (Jack Kilmer) while she is home alone. Just like the original story, this film is a twisted thriller and the perception of reality feels warped. This short film in particular has a great visual aspect with well-done cinematography.

Writer and Director: Stevie Szerlip

Producer: Sarah Winshall

4. 2AM

I would not recommend watching this one at 2 am. This short film was made nearly ten years ago now, and with 13 million views on YouTube, it may be one you have already seen. This short was made based on The Smiling Man, a scary story that was circling on Reddit tears ago. This 4 minute short shows a fear that many of us may have: encountering something strangely disturbing while walking alone at night.

Director: Michael Evans

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Grace Elizabeth

Grace is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College who has a love for television and film.

Supernatural Should Have Kept Its Original Ending

Supernatural spoilers below

source: wallpaperflare

An alternative reality full of monsters and demons sounds scary, right? Well, in the world of Supernatural, it is a reality. Luckily, there are also "hunters" in this world, and the Winchesters come from a line of them, including Dean Winchester. The show begins with Dean finding his brother, Sam, who at the time is happily living with his girlfriend, Jessica. Sam isn't happy when his brother shows up unannounced, as he does not want to leave this life with Jessica. He's irritated when Dean's reason for coming is to find their father. He continuously refuses; unfortunately, Jessica gets caught in the crossfire (literally), and Sam no longer has a reason to say no. 

Dean is concerned that something has happened to their father, John Winchester, so they head out to find him while killing a few demons on the way. Season one continues with fearful episodes, causing audiences to cover their eyes and occasionally scream from jump scares. These were the good old days of the show when the episodes were meaningful. The seasons continued this way until season six came out, and from there, they become repetitive, with lots of fillers and losing their meaning.    

source: jstarrc/jsc tumblr

Eric Kripke, the creator of Supernatural, intended for the show to end at season five, and it should have. I admit that the following seasons are full of humour and amusing to watch. The next seasons also create more time to bond with the characters like Dean and Sam and watch them grow from boys to men. You also get to see how strong the bond between brothers is and the lengths they'll go to save one another, but over and over again. Castiel is first introduced as a mindless robot-like angel with only a mind for his God's rules, ends up changing significantly. He ends up acting like an average human... and even becomes one. Castiel is my favourite character because of how cute, innocent and loveable he becomes. Yes, all of that wouldn't have happened if the show ended at season five, but it wasn't worth continuing for another 10 years. I never even made it to season 15, as I gave up after season 10 because of how repetitive it is. However, I know how the series ends, and I'm not a fan.   

Source: lucia diaz

Stopping after season five would have been an excellent way to end the series. Sure, as far as Dean knew, Sam was in hell, but the audience seeing Sam from the streetlight leaves so much to the imagination. Fans could have created their own ending from that. Dean has always gone above and beyond, taking care of everyone, so he deserves a happy ending, not Sam. But Sam’s alive at the end of the season, for those that like his character. This is a win-win situation, unlike the actual ending of the series. The last episode of season five also shows Dean having his apple pie life, a wife, a kid and a white picket fence. That would have been a perfect ending for the Winchester brothers, but they decided to carry on with their wayward son, and there is peace now that they are done.

Melissa Mahlig

Hi, my name is Melissa! I’m a 20-year-old student in the Professional Writing Program, and my love of writing manifested from an obsession with fanfiction. I love Wattpad, spicy food, anime and sleep. Weird/fun fact about me: I have a strange infatuation with Caesars (extra spicy, please!). Who needs therapy when you have iced coffee and books?

How Sex Education’s Adam Groff Became a Fan Favourite

Incoming spoiler alerts for the newest season of Sex Education

Two and a half years ago when Sex Education first premiered on Netflix, no one knew that a show about sexually curious British teens would display some of the best character development on the network. Come September 2021 upon the release of the show’s third season. Viewers have fallen in love for these dimensional and emotional characters, especially none other than Adam Groff (Connor Swindells).

Source: The Tab

Adam was not always the lovable character he became in season three. He was a bully in his introduction and taking interest in tormenting Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa), one of the few openly queer students at Moordale Secondary School. Diving deeper into season one, writers create a motive behind Adam’s inability to control his anger: his father. Adam’s father, Mr. Groff is the Head Teacher at Moordale, and lacks the ability to show love to his son, resulting in Adam’s behavioural problems.

Adam takes steps towards his redemption when he finally admits his feelings for Eric. They start seeing each other in secret. Adam reveals a calmer side to himself, but still isn’t ready to come out at school. Eric calls things off because of the shame Adam holds over himself. Continently around this time, Adam’s mom offers a piece of advice at the end of season two: if you love someone, tell them.

Adam decides to tell Eric and the whole school about his feelings. He interrupts the school musical and tells Eric in front of everyone to show he no longer has shame. This is a milestone in Adam’s redemption story, considering his inability to communicate his feelings and habit of lashing out in season one.

Season three opens with a glimpse into Adam and Eric’s newfound love. The whole school knows about their relationship, but not Adam’s parents. This bothers Eric as audiences get a deeper glimpse into their relationship as they fall in love, begin having sex, and learn about one another. The chemistry is undeniable but there is one lingering element; Adam identity relies on Eric. When coming out to his peers, Eric was and continues to be his support.

On Adam’s trip to Nigeria, he kisses another boy at a gay club. He tells the truth after Adam rejects Eric’s suggestion to go to a gay club. Adam is crushed when Eric ends their relationship because he feels Adam is holding him back. Next is another milestone in Adam’s journey; he confides in his new friend, Rahim and asks for advice for writing poetry. Rahim advises he write a poem from the heart, and Adam does exactly (photo of poem below). This is a full circle from the boy in season one who struggled to communicate, to now writing poetry, a difficult medium of expression.

source: mashable

In addition to taking up poetry and a new friendship with Rahim, Adam enters a dog competition with Madame, his mother’s dog who shows Adam unconditional love, unlike Eric and Mr. Groff. Eric fails to place and tells his mom that his father would be disappointed, despite how proud she is of him. He takes this moment to do what Eric wanted him to do: he tells his mom that Eric was his boyfriend and that they broke up.

Adam has grown from an angry boy with the inability to communicate, to an emotional young man, with feelings and outlets to put them Adam is the perfect example of how good writing can make any dull, unlikable character into a dimensional, and loved character

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Sarah Travis

Sarah is a second-year Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. When she’s not in zoom classes, she’s either making coffee for the green siren, or at a thrift store.

5 Anime’s I’d Recommend to Beginners

Want to start watching anime, but don’t know where to start?

When you start watching anime, sometimes your hardcore anime loving friends can overwhelm you with the number of great shows they’re recommending. Some saying “start with the OG ones!”, when those OG anime’s in question being ones like One Piece (currently ongoing with over 950 episodes), Naruto (also ongoing, filled to the brim with filler), the Dragon Ball series (too many to name, too little care), etc.

As a newcomer these numbers can seem daunting, and you don’t necessarily want to start off with a long show that will take up all your time, especially if you aren’t sure anime is your thing. You want something short and sweet to taste test first.

So, sit back, relax, and look over my top 5 anime’s for beginners:

1) Any Studio Ghibli Movie

credits: wallpapercave

The Studio Ghibli movies, although aren’t a show, are great anime movies that anyone can enjoy. I can safely say they are some of my favorite movies. They’re all very unique, so you won’t find yourself getting bored while watching any of these.

Now, if you’re looking for romance, I recommend Howl’s Moving Castle. Finding independence? Kiki’s Delivery Service. Wholesomeness? My Neighbour Totoro. The list goes on, people.

2) Maid Sama

Maid Sama is one of my favorite “slice of life” anime’s. It is a love story between Ayuzawa Misaki and Usui Takumi. Their love isn’t one that gets right to the point; it’s slow burning. Misaki is the student body president by-day and a part-time waitress at a maid cafe by night.

She runs the school with an iron fist. She is never seen as weak, fragile, or too feminine. That is, until, Usui sees her working at the cafe. He knows her secret, but keeps it to himself rather than tell the whole school because, and I quote, he is “enjoying his little secret”.

Credits: amazonprime

3) Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer is a show about, you guessed it, demon slaying.

In actuality, this show is about a brother, Tanjiro, protecting his recently turned-into-demon sister, Nezuko, after a tragic family accident. Tanjiro is doing whatever it takes to become a high-class Demon Slayer in order to avenge his family, and somehow cure his sister.

This show is very heart warming; seeing the love between brother and sister, and how they would do anything to keep each other safe. As well as the 26-episode series, there was a movie that came out recently.

Series + movie = worth the watch.

credits: wallpapercave

4) Jujutsu Kaisen

credits: wallpapercave

In this show, Itadori Yūji eats a cursed finger and becomes cursed himself. The finger belonged to famous cursed spirit Sukuna, and therefore Itadori becomes his vessel. He enters a shaman’s school to learn more about cursed spirits, how to exorcise them, and what to do about being the King of Curses vessel.

This show is jampacked with action, exciting new themes, and some have strong fascination for one of the main characters, Gojō Satoru (if you know, you know). It’s an excellent show to start if you’re looking for some cursed adventure.

credits: wallpapers den

5) Attack on Titan

credits: wallpapercave

Last, but certainly not least, we have Attack on Titan. A show where I can’t say too much without spoiling. This show is a bit longer, with four finished seasons, but it’s one of the best show’s I’ve seen.

The show is about a civilization where giant humanoid Titans have brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Eren, the main character, goes through a traumatic experience and then purses a life of working in the Survey Corps; the ones who go out and protect people against the titans.

That’s all I can say about this show, honestly. With the plot twists and the way it keeps you on your toes, this show is an absolute 10/10, and I recommend it to anyone I know.

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Madilyn Bailey

I’m Madilyn, a full time student at Algonquin College. I have an addiction to coffee scented candles, enjoy watching anime, as well as making my family fat from all the baking I do.

Screen Queens

Lights, camera, and action! Welcome to Screen Queens (+Philippe), the blog that covers all things television and film. We are a group of Professional Writing students at Algonquin College who like to watch. Join us as we discuss horrible endings to romantic comedies, emotional anime moments, highly anticipated TV show returns and the latest films to appear on the big screen.