Jeriann Tripodi, Staff

Header image: NBC News

DMX dies at age 50 (1970-2021)

On April 9, rapper DMX passed away at the age of 50 after being hospitalized in the intensive care unit for a week after suffering a heart attack. DMX, whose birth name is Earl Simmons, rose to fame in the 1990s. Throughout his career, the rapper had 15 hits on the “Billboard Hot 100.” DMX was most popularly known for the hip-hop/rap song “Party Up (Up in Here).” 

Prince Philip dies at age 99 (1921-2021) 

On April 9, Prince Philip passed away at the age of 99 at his Windsor Castle. No cause of death was provided, but according to GlobalNews, the Duke of Edinburgh had suffered from several medical ailments in recent years. The patriarch of the royal family, and husband of Queen Elizabeth II, was the longest-serving consort in British history. 

Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song are parents

On April 5, actor Macaulay Culkin (“Home Alone,” “My Girl,”) and his girlfriend, actress Brenda Song (“Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “The Social Network”) quietly welcomed their first child together. According to TMZ, the couple welcomed a boy named Dakota Song Culkin. A close source shared that the baby was named after Culkin’s sister, who passed away in 2008. 

Man arrested for trespassing onto Kendall Jenner’s property

A 27-year-old man named Shaquan King was arrested by Los Angeles police after trespassing onto model and reality star Kendall Jenner’s property. Making it past her security, King knocked on Jenner’s window and then swam in her pool. He was arrested and Jenner was granted a temporary restraining order against him. After King was released from prison, he immediately went to Kendall’s sister Kylie Jenner’s house and was arrested again. Kylie also got a temporary restraining order against King, and Kendall has since moved to another location. 

Ariana Grande will be a judge on the next season of “The Voice” 

Pop singer Ariana Grande will be joining NBC’s singing competition “The Voice” as a coach for its 21st season. Replacing Nick Jonas, Grande announced the news through Instagram by posting a photo of herself on set. Alongside the photo, Grande captioned that she is “beyond thrilled” to be joining Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton on the panel. 

Post Malone appears in “Wrath of Man” trailer 

The trailer has been released for the upcoming mystery and thriller-action film, “Wrath of Man.” The remake of the 2004 French film, “Cash Truck,” tells the story of a man, known as “H,” who is newly hired as the security guard for an armored money truck. One day, a heist takes place and H unleashes his extreme precise skills. As a result, his surprised co-workers become suspicious about who he really is and where he came from. Although Jason Statham is playing the starring role, rapper Post Malone appears in the trailer as one of the unnamed robbers who is shot by Statham’s character. “Wrath of Man” is rated R and is scheduled to be released to theaters on May 7. 

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of April 10, 2021

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” by Lil Nas X. This is the first week the hip-hop and electro-pop song is on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “SoulFly” by Rod Wave. The rap album is at the top spot during the first week of its release. 

A mostly spoiler-free rundown of the Oscar nominee

Nolen Kelly, Staff

Header image: New York Times

Riz Ahmed was announced as one of the candidates for the coveted “Best Actor in a Leading Role” category for his performance as Ruben in “Sound of Metal,” making him the first Muslim actor to nab the achievement and I could not be more excited. I have been a fan of Ahmed for a while and I knew it was only a matter of time before he found that one role as his breakout performance. He had a not-so-memorable appearance as Bodhi Rook in the “Star Wars” spinoff movie “Rogue One,” but had a solid supporting role as Rick in the Jake Gyllenhaal thriller, “Nightcrawler” (2014). After seeing a promotional image of Ahmed as Ruben for this film it grabbed my attention as he put on a few pounds of muscle then copy and pasted Justin Timberlake’s bleached blonde ramen hair from his NSYNC days. “Sound of Metal” is about a drummer for an experimental metal band who starts going deaf and must deal with the repercussions.

I kind of expected this to be a spiritual sequel to “Whiplash” (2014) but really the only through line between the two is that they share a character dedicated to drumming. As I previously stated in the description of the movie, Ruben begins going deaf and his struggle through the movie is to either regain his hearing, continuing to drum with his ailment, or give up drumming forever. Along for the ride is his longtime girlfriend, Lou, who is the vocalist for their band. She is part of his motivation and acts as his voice of reason throughout the film. 

Before I get into everything else, I thought Lou was very underappreciated in this movie. “Sound of Metal” is absolutely the ‘Riz Ahmed Show,’ but Olivia Cooke’s performance as Lou was pretty heartbreaking; she had to figure out not only what was best for Ruben, but  also had to figure out what it meant for their band and for them as a couple. Although Ruben is the main character, I do not think this story would have happened, or happened the way it did, without Lou. 

I enjoyed this movie a lot. This was a very simple story and it conveyed all of the right emotions at the right times. There was not any point throughout that I was not fully engaged with the story and the characters because I just wanted to know “What’s next?” It is not an intricate or complicated story by any means, but it is just so unabashedly human and sympathetic that it is easy to lose yourself in the story. I will not spoil the end of the movie because I think it is best to just watch and enjoy it without knowing. But, by the end of the movie, I felt like I was on the same page with Ruben. After everything we saw him go through to get to where he is it feels like he made the right decision at the end of the film. One aspect I really loved about this movie is that I started off just watching it casually, but by the end I became so engrossed I felt like I was a part of Ruben’s journey. 

This movie is driven by its performances and all of them are very strong. I have talked about him a lot already, but Ahmed as Ruben is so great. He is not stoic. He is not calm. He is not okay. Ruben has this rare character trait where he has a reasonable reaction to all of the panic and uncertainty that happens to him. Not many characters that I know of from other shows or movies react to their story in a way that exemplifies what a human would feel in that situation and instead try to figure out how to move on. When Ruben realizes he really is deaf he has a scene in his RV with Lou that feels like I really am watching someone struggle. 

“I can’t hear you. I can’t ******* hear you. I’m ******* deaf.” Ruben says to Lou as he loses his grasp on what keeps him stable. As I am writing this review I realize now that Ruben approaches his new deafness through the five stages of grief similarly to the way someone deals with loss. He denies it, becomes angry, bargains with his people, becomes sad and finally just accepts himself in his own way. The movie is not saying being deaf is like dying, but in Ruben’s position as a drummer and someone who has needed and relied on their hearing, deafness was death. 

There is not too much else I can really talk about without giving the plot away. I think this movie is something that should be watched and enjoyed without knowing too much else plot-wise. Again, it is not at all a complicated story, it just feels better to see the story through. It is a very character-driven film and all of the characters are so engaging, you just want the best for everyone in any situation. This movie is a fantastic examination of what sound and the lack of sound can do for people and is now available on Amazon Prime. I left this movie having an appreciation for sounds, silence and communication through sign language and hopefully everyone else will too. “Sound of Metal” is very much worth the watch and I would say this movie was a solid “Excellent” on my scale. 

Jeriann Tripodi, Staff

Header image: Republic Records

Hailey Bieber opens up about marrying Justin Bieber at young age

In a recent interview with Elle, Hailey Bieber shared the reality of what it was like for her to marry pop singer Justin Bieber at age 21. She shared that the first year of their marriage was difficult because she received harassment from his fans to the point where she had to turn off her public comments on Instagram. The supermodel also shared that although the pair, who were friends for years before dating, received criticism for marrying young, they both were experienced for their ages and knew what they wanted in life. 

Kylie Jenner receives backlash for asking fans to donate to makeup artist’s GoFundMe 

Media personality and socialite Kylie Jenner has received criticism after asking her followers to donate to her former makeup artist, Samuel Rauda, who needs money for medical expenses after being seriously injured in a car accident. Jenner, who has donated $5,000.00 to the cause herself, is receiving angry comments. These comments express how she should cover the entire cost herself since she is one of the world’s youngest billionaires. 

Crew member dies on the set of “The Conners”

A man named Terrel Richmond died after suffering a sudden medical emergency while working as a technical crew member on the set of the ABC sitcom “The Conners.” Werner Entertainment issued a statement that expressed their condolences for the “much loved member of ‘The Conners’ and ‘Roseanne’ families,” who has been a crewmember for more than 25 years. The incident occurred as the “Roseanne” spinoff was finishing production on its third season. “The Conners” team paid tribute to their longtime friend.  

Official trailer is released for “Four Good Days”

The first official trailer for the drama “Four Good Days” has been recently released. Starring Mila Kunis and Glenn Close, this emotional and eye-opening film follows the journey of 31-year-old Molly as she fights to overcome her drug addiction after many failed attempts. During the process, she reconnects with her mother who is determined to help her win the fight. “Four Good Days” is rated R and will be released to theaters on April 30.

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of March 20, 2021

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “What’s Next” by Drake. This is the first week the rap/hip-hop song is on the charts. “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo, which was previously the number one song for eight weeks straight, dropped to the fifth spot. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “Dangerous: The Double Album” by Morgan Wallen. The country album is at the top spot for the tenth week straight.

Jakob Eiseman, Editor

Header image: Amazon Prime

“The Father” — VOD

Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, “The Father” tells the story of an elderly man named Anthony, played by Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of the Lambs,” “Westworld,”) who refuses to accept the condition of his dementia. Despite the best efforts of his daughter Anne, played by Olivia Colman (“The Favourite,” “The Lobster,”) Anthony refuses to admit that he needs care and insists on living on his own in his apartment. Hopkins and Colman are both nominated for Academy Awards for their roles in “The Father.” Because of the subject matter of dementia, aging and mental illness, the film uses techniques to keep the viewers guessing at what is real and what is in Anthony’s mind. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the film features a rather small cast, but, as it was adapted from a stage play, this does not majorly affect the plot. The film is written and directed by Florian Zeller, a French playwright, known for his play versions of “The Father” and “The Mother” as well as similarly named plays “The Son” and “The Lie.” The film was released for a small period in a limited capacity in late 2020 so as to qualify for the Academy Awards, but is being released to the public for a $20 rental on Friday, March 26.

“Invincible” — Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime received glowing reviews on its most recent venture into the superhero genre with “The Boys,” a live action series spoofing the “Justice League” that involved adult themes like abuse, torture, racism and political corruption. Now, Amazon is releasing their second superhero project, an animated series titled “Invincible” that is closely following the comic book series of the same name created by “Walking Dead” comic creator Robert Kirkman. “Invincible” follows a similar story to “Superman” and other classic comic book heroes except that it is rated R, features gore, intense violence and nudity. Mark Grayson, voiced by Steven Yeun (“The Walking Dead,” “Minari,”) son to the world’s greatest superhero Omni-Man, voiced by J. K. Simmons (“Whiplash,” “Spider-Man,”) gains his father’s superpowers at the age of 17 and begins fighting crime as a superhero alter-ego, Invincible. The “Invincible” comics are known for their subversion, dark plot details and grotesque fight scenes with copious amounts of blood that show what it would really look like to get punched by a superhero. The series, both comic and animated, follow the same story, meaning that within this first season, a radical plot twist will set up the events of the rest of the series. The first three episodes of “Invincible” will drop on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, March 26 with subsequent episodes releasing each week after.

Monster Hunter Rise — Nintendo Switch

Monster Hunter Rise, the next entry in the 16-year-old “Monster Hunter” action franchise, which recently produced its first feature length film of the same name, will release this Friday, March 26 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. Although there are rumors of a PC version releasing in 2022, this marks the return of “Monster Hunter” to handheld systems after 2017’s immensely popular Monster Hunter World which has sold over 21,000,000 copies to date on console and PC. Until Monster Hunter World, the series was always significantly more popular on handheld devices such as the PlayStation Portable or the Nintendo 3DS. Of course, a handheld release comes with toned down visuals and graphics, but Monster Hunter Rise offers a faster-paced style of combat and traversing the vast open lands than previous titles. It also presents a wide assortment of new creatures for players to hunt down alongside fan favorites like the fire-breathing dragon: the Rathalos. Monster Hunter Rise will release with a price tag of $59.99 and a special “Monster Hunter” themed Nintendo Switch console bundle for $369.99.

Jeriann Tripodi, Staff

Header Image: Harper’s Bazaar

A-Rod and J-LO address breakup rumors

It was recently reported by Page Six that former Yankees player Alex Rodriguez and pop singer Jennifer Lopez have called off their two-year engagement after rumors circulated that the former third baseman had an affair with “Southern Charm” star Madison LeCroy. Lopez and Rodriguez later made a joint statement, obtained by People Magazine, that although they have thought about calling it quits, they are still trying to work things out. However, neither addressed the cheating rumors. 

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are no longer on speaking terms

Rapper Kanye West and reality star and socialite Kim Kardashian are no longer speaking to each other despite co-parenting their four children following their divorce. However, Page Six claims that the former couple already cut off communication before their divorce. West, 43, has changed his number and told Kardashian, 40, that she may only reach him through his security. Despite this, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star still trusts her former husband around their children and wants them to have a relationship with their father. West has requested to visit the children only while Kardashian is not home.

“The Bachelor” airs shocking finale

On March 15, “The Bachelor” finale aired and Bachelor Matt James surprised viewers when he decided he did not want to get engaged after the final two ladies met his mother and brother. James then decided to pursue a dating relationship with contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. Afterwards, the “After the Final Rose” episode caught up with the couple and discovered that they broke up after images surfaced of Kirkconnell attending an antebellum-themed party back in 2018. Former football player Emmanuel Acho led the discussion as he filled in for host Chris Harrison who stepped down after receiving backlash for defending Kirkconnell’s past actions. The episode addressed the racial controversy, and Kirkconnell expressed her sorrow. The “ATFR” episode concluded with the announcement of two Bachelorettes. Both women were fan favorite contestants from Matt James’s season. 

Lady Gaga filming movie in Italy 

Pop singer and actress Lady Gaga is currently in Italy shooting the biographical crime film, “House of Gucci.” Starring alongside actor Adam Driver, Gaga will be playing the notorious Patrizia Reggiani, who arranged to have her ex-husband, fashion mogul Maurizio Gucci, murdered in 1995. Fulfilling her role, Gaga was spotted on set wearing a short brunette wig and gold jewelry. Directed by Ridley Scott, actors Al Pacino and Jared Leto will also be a part of the cast. “House of Gucci” will be released this upcoming November. 

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of March 17, 2021

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo. This is the eighth week the pop song is number one on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “Dangerous: The Double Album” by Morgan Wallen. The country album is at the top spot for the ninth week straight.

tripodij2@lasalle.edu

Jakob Eiseman, Editor

Header Image: Marvel Studios

“Last Call” — VOD

Coming from director Paolo Pilladi (“Invisible Mountains,” “The Winemaker’s Son,”) “Last Call” is a comedy about a real estate developer who returns to his hometown of Upper Darby. While there, he is supposed to be collecting signatures for a casino development in the suburb of Delco he grew up in — sent by a gentrifying businessman he works with. He meets up with all of his childhood friends, crushes and family along the way, and in the end, has to make the decision whether or not to level the local bar / hangout spot in order to build the casino. The main character Mick is played by Jeremy Piven (“Serendipity,” “Entourage”) and his co-star is Taryn Manning (“Orange is the New Black,” “A Lot Like Love”). The film is filled with Philly jokes and inside humor, as well as a feel-good story with lovable characters.

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” — Disney+

After the critical and popular success of Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” which debuted its series finale on Disney+ two weeks ago, the studio is releasing its next miniseries on the streaming service on Friday, March 19. “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” will follow two fan-favorite side characters from the “Captain America” series of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Fans of the series may remember that at the end of 2019’s “Avengers Endgame,” Steve Rogers aka Captain America, played by Chris Evans (“Gifted,” “Snowpiercer,”) gives his iconic shield to Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie (“The Hurt Locker,” “Million Dollar Baby”). This miniseries will deal with Wilson, accompanied by Rogers’s childhood friend Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan (“The Martian,” “I, Tonya,”)  as they deal with the loss of their close friend and one of Earth’s mightiest heroes. As Wilson and Barnes are already established characters in the MCU,  it’s unlikely the series will introduce them again and will rely on fans to have watched previous films in the universe.

Bethesda Suite — Xbox Game Pass, PC, Android

Last fall, Microsoft announced that it would be acquiring ZeniMax Media, the parent company of the major video game developer and publisher Bethesda Softworks for $7.5 billion. Deals like that take quite some time to go through, and just last week the contracts were officially signed. To celebrate, Microsoft brought 20 of Bethesda’s “greatest hits” to their Xbox Game Pass subscription service which is available on Xbox consoles, Microsoft PCs and Android mobile devices. The games which are now on Xbox Game Pass are the first-person immersive simulators Dishonored, Dishonored 2 and Prey (2017); the fast paced first-person shooters DOOM (1993), DOOM 2, DOOM 64, DOOM 3, DOOM Eternal, Rage 2, Wolfenstein the New Order, Wolfenstein the Old Blood and Wolfenstein Youngblood; the open world role-playing games Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls Online; and finally, the third-person horror game The Evil Within. Some of these titles get graphical enhancements on the Xbox Series X, and a majority of them are available on Console, PC and mobile devices.

eisemanj1@lasalle.edu

Jakob Eiseman, Editor

Header Image: Pitchfork

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences held their 63rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, March 14 featuring musical performances from Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, HAIM, DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s new R&B group. The event was hosted by Trevor Noah (“The Daily Show”) and, as always, pleased and upset fans with their picks for award winners. Below is a list of all of the major awards from the night:

Record of the Year

WINNER: Billie Eilish — “Everything I Wanted”

Nominees:

• Beyoncé — “Black Parade”
• Black Pumas — “Colors”
• DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch — “Rockstar”
• Doja Cat — “Say So”
• Dua Lipa — “Don’t Start Now”
• Post Malone — “Circles”
• Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé — “Savage”

Album of the Year

WINNER: Taylor Swift — Folklore

Nominees:

• Jhené Aiko — Chilombo
• Black Pumas — Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)
• Coldplay — Everyday Life
• Jacob Collier — Djesse Vol. 3
• Haim — Women in Music Pt. III
• Dua Lipa — Future Nostalgia
• Post Malone — Hollywood’s Bleeding

Song of the Year

WINNER: H.E.R. — “I Can’t Breathe”

Nominees:

• Beyoncé — “Black Parade”
• Roddy Ricch — “The Box”
• Taylor Swift — “Cardigan”
• Post Malone — “Circles”
• Dua Lipa — “Don’t Start Now”
• Billie Eilish — “Everything I Wanted”
• JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels — “If the World Was Ending”

Best New Artist

WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion

Nominees:

• Ingrid Andress
• Phoebe Bridgers
• Chika
• Noah Cyrus
• D Smoke
• Doja Cat
• Kaytranada

Best Pop Solo Performance

WINNER: Harry Styles — “Watermelon Sugar”

Nominees:

• Justin Bieber — “Yummy”
• Doja Cat — “Say So”
• Billie Eilish — “Everything I Wanted”
• Dua Lipa — “Don’t Start Now”
• Taylor Swift — “Cardigan”

Best Rock Album

WINNER: The Strokes — The New Abnormal

Nominees:

• Fontaines D.C. — A Hero’s Death
• Michael Kiwanuka — Kiwanuka
• Grace Potter — Daylight
• Sturgill Simpson — Sound and Fury

Best Alternative Music Album

WINNER: Fiona Apple — Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Nominees:

• Beck — Hyperspace
• Phoebe Bridgers — Punisher
• Brittany Howard — Jaime
• Tame Impala — The Slow Rush

Best R&B Album

WINNER: John Legend — Bigger Love

Nominees:

• Ant Clemons — Happy 2 Be Here
• Giveon — Take Time
• Luke James — To Feel Love/d
• Gregory Porter — All Rise

Best Rap Album

WINNER: Nas — King’s Disease

Nominees:

• D SMOKE — Black Habits
• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist — Alfredo
• Jay Electronica — A Written Testimony
• Royce 5’9” — The Allegory

Best Country Album

WINNER: Miranda Lambert — Wildcard

Nominees:

• Ingrid Andress — Lady Like
• Brandy Clark — Your Life Is a Record
• Little Big Town — Nightfall
• Ashley McBryde — Never Will

Best Folk Album

WINNER: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings — All the Good Times

Nominees:

• Bonny Light Horseman — Bonny Light Horseman
• Leonard Cohen — Thanks for the Dance
• Laura Marling — Song for Our Daughter
• The Secret Sisters – Saturn Return

Best Reggae Album

WINNER: Toots & the Maytals — Got to Be Tough

Nominees:

• Buju Banton — Upside Down 2020
• Skip Marley — Higher Place
• Maxi Priest — It All Comes Back to Love
• The Wailers — One World

Best Comedy Album

WINNER: Tiffany Haddish — Black Mitzvah

Nominees:

• Patton Oswalt — I Love Everything
• Jim Gaffigan — The Pale Tourist
• Bill Burr — Paper Tiger
• Jerry Seinfeld — 23 Hours to Kill

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

WINNER: Hildur Guðnadóttir — Joker

Nominees:

• Max Richter — “Ad Astra”
• Kamasi Washington — “Becoming”
• Thomas Newman — “1917”
• John Williams — “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Best Music Video

WINNER: Beyoncé — “Brown Skin Girl”

Nominees:

• Future Featuring Drake — “Life Is Good”
• Anderson .Paak — “Lockdown”
• Harry Styles — “Adore You”
• Woodkid — “Goliath”

eisemanj1@lasalle.edu

Nolen Kelly, Staff

Header Image: Marvel Studios

Editor’s Note: This review does not contain spoilers for the story of “WandaVision,” but does comment on some of its themes and content styles that may hint toward plot points for some readers.

I’ll start off this review by saying that “WandaVision” is already a success because it got me to rewatch “Malcolm in the Middle,” which is an amazing show. But, onto the main review: Marvel Studios has taken a quick breather from releasing two movies a day during these unfortunate COVID times to focus on a few miniseries centered on some characters that have already been introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) through films like “Avengers,” “Captain America” and “Ant-Man.” The first show on their list, “WandaVision” picks up a little while after the events of 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” focusing on Elizabeth Olson as the titular Wanda Maximoff, a Marvel Comics character known as the Scarlet Witch, and Paul Bettany as a sentient android named Vision. What follows is a story told through unique visuals, clever referential writing and very few of Marvel’s typical tropes that make this an interesting debut to the small screen.

I was excited for this show since it was announced in April 2019, but I also tempered my expectations as it would be Marvel Studios’ first television series. I enjoyed Maximoff and Vision in their previous appearances of the MCU and the creators teased that each episode of “WandaVision” would focus on different decades of TV shows, starting in the 60s and moving to modern day. At first, they had my interest — then they got my attention. Each episode’s style is based off of a different decade of television and spoof “I Love Lucy,” “Bewitched,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Growing Pains,” “Full House,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Modern Family.”  From the get-go they nailed the aesthetic of every single decade. They included laugh tracks, emotional music when the problem is being resolved, theme songs that pay homage to the original show while including their own unique style and most episodes even feature some fun commercials. The costumes, camera work, thematic elements and episodic style of each show is pretty impressive, but the actual plot of “WandaVision” in between is something else. 

I have been wanting Marvel to get weird and psychedelic for a while, which is why I enjoyed the “Doctor Strange” film so much. The magical aspect of the MCU is crazy and hopefully we see more of it going forward into future projects. I knew this show would be a good ticket into the weird witchery the MCU had to offer and oh man, it is weird. Maximoff is a witch and an entire show about a witch is guaranteed to get creative. Without giving too much away, the show breaks its own reality a few times and leads to some spooky and compelling moments that make you wonder what anything means. Olson’s performance as Maximoff was great and she fit comfortably into each roll she filled. She goes through several rapidly shifting emotions throughout the series, and you can’t help but feel for her along the way. Bettany as Vision was also super fun to watch because he was finally given more space to stretch his comedic chops and breathe more as a character and a sentient being. Now with that all said I, of course, have some problems. 

First off, I feel like I should appreciate it when Marvel does the whole “obscure details that come back in a big way” trope that they do, but it’s just annoying at this point. It is not of huge importance to the overall plot, but it is just a Marvel thing that bothers me when they do it. My biggest issues with the show are the momentum, an individual character and some dialogue. I would say the first five episodes do a really good job of building suspense and showing a world that unravels piece by piece each week. By the sixth episode, the show feels like it has presented everything to the viewer. There is no more mystery — and typically I would be okay with that since the world is in front of me, but not when the rest of the story is plateaued from there on out. It feels anticlimactic. There are other notable moments in the remaining four episodes, but they just don’t pack the punch I feel like they should. Just to be clear, I do not think the later episodes are inherently bad, but they just lack anything substantially interesting compared to what the series began with. The writing just gets a little weak and depends mostly on the aesthetic of the show to carry the story rather than pushing their own story creatively.

My next huge issue with the show is the dialogue. Again, I will not go too far into detail as to why, but there are a lot of jokes and forced dialogue that do not work. There are two or three characters that speak mostly in clichés and it gets pretty stale pretty fast. And speaking of pretty stale pretty fast, there is a character in the show who is from another MCU franchise who I did not like at all. I can’t say who they are because it gives a bit away, but they are presented in a very important position and almost everything about this character falls flat for me, even their eventual reveal as a comic book hero. Their chemistry with the world and other characters, their purpose, the direction and future implications are just so bland and annoying that I think the show would have progressed way more smoothly if they maintained their same arc for the first three episodes and then built them in a completely different way. If you’ve seen the show, you know who I’m talking about. 

Aside from some bland direction and a small dip in pacing, I thought this was a pretty solid start for Marvel’s venture into limited series television. There were a few scenes that made me actually jump out of my seat with excitement, and a few others during which I continually checked my phone to see what else was going on. It is definitely worth the watch for all of the Marvel freaks and geeks out there and for those who appreciate TV history like me. To rank the show from “Awful” to “Perfection” I’d say it was “Good.”

kellyf4@lasalle.edu

Jeriann Tripodi, Staff

Header Image: Entertainment Weekly

Lady Gaga’s dogs get stolen and dog walker is shot

On Feb. 24, two of Lady Gaga’s dogs were stolen at gunpoint. At around 9 p.m., Gaga’s dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was walking her three French Bulldogs when a car pulled over. Two men exited the vehicle and demanded Fischer hand over the dogs. When the victim struggled with the suspects, he was shot. The suspects then fled with two of the dogs. The Oscar and Grammy winning singer, who was in Rome during the robbery, offered a $500,000 reward for the dogs to be returned. Since then, a woman found the dogs, Koji and Gustav, tied to a pole and turned them in to Los Angeles Police Department. Meanwhile, Fischer is recovering at a hospital. 

Billie Eilish gets restraining order against alleged stalker

Pop singer Billie Eilish has been granted a temporary restraining order against her alleged stalker, John Matthews Hearle. In legal documents, Eilish stated that the 23-year-old, who also goes by the alias “Adam Lucifer,” has been camping outside her home and watches her each time she leaves and enters. In addition, Hearle has made gestures that suggested he would harm the 19-year-old star, and has sent her letters containing death threats. 

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin quietly welcome their sixth child 

Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin have shared to social media that they have welcomed a newborn together. Fans were surprised because the pair welcomed a son five months prior; however, a source close to the couple shared that the newborn girl, Lucia Baldwin, was welcomed via a surrogate mother. In an Instagram post of the child, Hilaria Baldwin captioned: “Just like your brothers and sisters, you are a dream come true.” After Alec Baldwin fired back at a troll, the Baldwins have disabled their comments. 

“The Bachelor” airs “Women Tell All” episode

The most memorable women from this season’s “The Bachelor” returned to recap and relive the craziest moments. In an audience-free studio, the female contestants got to face Bachelor Matt James for the final time to receive closure as to why they were eliminated. However, they also shared some laughs together. In addition, the ladies confronted the villains of the season. A disclaimer was aired at the beginning of the episode to inform viewers that the episode was taped before host Chris Harrison’s racial controversy took place. 

Norman Lear honored at 78th Golden Globes 

At the 78th Golden Globes, Hollywood legend Norman Lear was awarded with the Carol Burnett Award honoring his excellent career in television. The television producer and writer, who is the third person to receive the accolade, proudly shared his gratitude towards comedic actress Carol Burnett. Lear also shared that laughter and his family have helped him reach 98 without ever feeling “alone.” 

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of March 10, 2021

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo. This is the seventh week the pop song is number one on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “Dangerous: The Double Album” by Morgan Wallen. The country album is at the top spot for the eighth week straight.

tripodij2@lasalle.edu

Jakob Eiseman, Editor

Header Image: Netflix

“Come True” — VOD

“Come True” is a horror movie coming from the creator of “Holidays” and “Our House,” Anthony Scott Burns. It is a sci-fi take on a traditional horror story of a troubled teenager running away from home and getting mixed up in something freaky. The main character, Sarah, played by Julia Sarah Stone who is known for her role in the Netflix crime drama “The Killing,” volunteers to participate in a university sleep study for reimbursement. After being strapped into monitors and futuristic technology, Sarah’s dreams become nightmares where the scary parts of the movie show themselves. The series uses imagery related to sleep paralysis and claustrophobic horror. “Come True” will release on video-on-demand services on Friday, March 12.

“Last Chance U: Basketball” — Netflix

A follow-up from 2016’s Netflix docuseries “Last Chance U,” “Last Chance U: Basketball” follows the East Los Angeles University (ELAU) Huskies basketball team in their attempt to win the season championship. “Last Chance U” was critically acclaimed and praised for its presentation of a sports story through a human lens, featuring each of the players and their stories as well as the main sports story. “Last Chance U: Basketball” is looking to carry on the series with another team that is determined to perform, partnered with a coach with a dedication to his players. The docuseries is directed by Greg Whitely who is known for “Last Chance U” as well as a cheerleading documentary “Cheer.” The first five seasons of the show followed football teams, first the East Mississippi Community College team, the Independence Community College of Kansas team and the Laney College of Oakland, California team. Now, the sixth season will showcase ELAU, but feature many of the same filming and narrative themes found in the previous seasons. “Last Chance U: Basketball” premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, March 10.

“Cake” — FX, Hulu

A new season of the sketch variety show “Cake” premieres on FXX on Thursday, March 11 and on Hulu on Friday, March 12. “Cake” features both live action and animated comedy mini-sketches based around modern trends, current events, creative spins on classic punchlines and interesting animation techniques. This is “Cake’s” fourth season and although it is critically acclaimed for its humor and satire, it has no affiliation with the La Salle Collegian’s CAKE column… yet. The show has been compared to other adult sketch shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “Robot Chicken,” but is unique in that it partners live action sketches with animated ones. While the show is listed as a comedy and satire, it is not afraid to tackle serious issues and topics in a thought-provoking, and, as FX puts it, “raw” and “artistic” manner.

eisemanj1@lasalle.edu