A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Alright Adaptation

dylyn-petersonBY DYLYN PETERSON
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Thirteen years after the polarizing film rendition, the Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events debuted to markedly mixed reactions. None of the elements comfortably rest as either good or bad. In a similar way, it improves upon and is inferior to both its source material (a childrens’ book series of the same name by Lemony Snicket) and the 2004 film. I suppose it is unambiguously better than the movie in that it adapts the first four books instead of the first three, but that’s neither here nor there. Continue reading “A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Alright Adaptation”

Luke Cage: Not Quite Bulletproof

dylyn-petersonBY DYLYN PETERSON
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Luke Cage is the best Marvel show, on Netflix or otherwise. It’s got enough of the classic elements to satisfy comics fans, quality writing and production to bring in and hold new viewers, and, most notably, the best soundtrack a superhero, well, anything, has had since the Tim Burton Batman movies (although, I suppose, an argument can be made for Guardians of the Galaxy, but Luke Cage has superior original music). This isn’t to say that the show is flawless, though. It is just much better than its flaws.

The premise of the show is that the titular Luke Cage, formerly Carl Lucas, was wrongfully convicted of a felony a few years back and, thanks to illegal scientific experimentation, escaped from prison with superstrength and (nigh-)unbreakable skin. After the events we see in Jessica Jones, he finds himself in conflict with Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, a nightclub owner/criminal mastermind half as scary as Daredevil’s Kingpin, but twice as lovable. Both of them are antagonized by Misty Knight, a police officer who dips perhaps too often into the visual language of Sherlock. Continue reading “Luke Cage: Not Quite Bulletproof”

On Representation in Media

Kaylyn HaslundBY KAYLYN HASLUND
For the UAS Whalesong

Television, movies, and all other forms of mass media hold a tremendous amount of inspiration for people, as well as a template for some to see themselves in. This template is typically only for a specific type of person. It’s not often that all people of all backgrounds are given equal opportunity within these realms. While complaints are loud and clear, often they are shouted down by media producers. To see people of color and those of LGBTQ+ backgrounds is a scarcity that we should be making strides to fill out.

Sometimes, when minorities are cast, it is as stereotypical role, or never fully addressed until long after the show or book has stopped being produced. This is a sad reality that is slowly being amended by people taking media into their own hands. Slowly but surely, with certain projects, people are taking stories and making accurate representations for those who struggle. Continue reading “On Representation in Media”

One Hit Wonder

Kaylyn HaslundBY KAYLYN HASLUND
For the UAS Whalesong

Who’s ever heard of a bald hero in a yellow jumpsuit who can take anyone out with a single punch? An anime called “One-Punch Man,” naturally. Anime is a popular form of animated media created in Japan, characterized by being any form of animated media created in Japan. One Punch Man is an anime that only just began airing recently, in October of this year, and is beginning to get as big as “Attack on Titan.” Originally, I had no interest in watching the series. I was too confused by image sets on Tumblr to get a clear idea on the story, other than it was very popular. Admittedly, that isn’t a very good excuse. But, with a ‘gentle’ push, I was made to watch the first episode, and instantly fell in love. Continue reading “One Hit Wonder”

Off on a Hero’s Journey

BY ALEXA CHERRY

Do you like Monty Python? Maybe you don’t know who he is. In that case, do you like self-aware parodies? Famous actor cameos? Medieval fantasy? The creative inversion of tired, cliché character tropes? Singing? If you said “yes” to a single one of these, allow me to highly recommend to you Galavant.

Continue reading “Off on a Hero’s Journey”