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In the TV genre of “super serious dad and his child in some sort of fantasy setting”, a few shows come to mind, but the ones I want to talk about today are The Mandalorian and The Witcher. While The Mandalorian is currently a better example of this type of genre, based on The Witcher’s last episode in season one, we can expect to see the dad/adopted kid relationship very soon. I want to talk about each of them and give you my honest opinions. I will preface this by saying that I did watch both of these series in true binge fashion, and I did enjoy both of them. Because this is meant to be a general overview, there shouldn’t be any important spoilers. Be cautious, though. This is also just my opinion, and I do like one better than the other. Now, let’s begin.  First, there is The Madalorian, which is Disney’s latest attempt at making a TV show based on the Star Wars series. It takes place about 5 years after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. For some of us, that means absolutely nothing, so it’s set 25 years before The Force Awakens. It can be viewed on Disney Plus (yours or anyone else's). The Mandalorian has a clear timeline and simple-to-understand plot points. You can mostly tell who are the bad guys and the good guys. Also, there is baby Yoda, and if that can’t convince you, then maybe this just isn’t meant for you. And bbYoda is there for more than its cute factor; it opens up new lore for even those who have seen all the Star Wars movies. Mando (the main character) has an interesting backstory (yes, even among intergalactic mercenaries), and the other characters are similarly interesting: a mechanic who can rewire droids and take care of a baby with unknown origins; a bounty-hunter droid; and a veteran from the rebel side of the past war. These characters come together all for the protection of the cutest strange space baby on this side of the galaxy. Currently, it has 8.8 on IMDB and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. I am also giving it a rating of 10/10 baby Yodas, but I believe you should always watch a show before trusting the ratings. After all, different people like different things.  And there is The Witcher, a show based on both a book series written by Andrzej Sapkowski and a video game series by the same name developed by CD Projekt Red.
The Netflix series follows three different characters on their adventures, but the problem is that not all of these stories are travelling at the same time. So, if you haven’t read the books or played the games, you may not realize that Ciri’s story at the beginning of the series is about 20ish years after where the other stories begin. And it isn’t something that is very recognizable until the third episode at the least. That doesn’t make it a bad show, but it can be difficult or frustrating at times. I do think that if you watched Game of Thrones and enjoyed it, then you may like The Witcher. Despite the 8.4 on IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes does not care for it, giving only a 66%. I will also give the show 7/10 Dandelions. Like I said before, though, do your own research. Honestly, the biggest deciding factor for me is the sexual content. Geralt (one of the main characters in The Witcher) sleeps with at least two people in the first season, and there is general nudity in large quantities. The Mandalorian contains no nudity, unless you count Mando’s face. If there is a show or particular episode of a show, you want me to give my honest opinion on, then comment on this post. Thanks for listening to my not-a-TED Talk. I will leave you with two last things. I haven’t watched Star Wars in approximately forever, and Geralt is the biggest Himbo I have ever had the honor of meeting. ELIZABETH MARVIN
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 Anonymuz is an underground Florida rapper. I think he is currently criminally underrated, so I’m going to tell you about him and try to get you to listen to him.
I recently discovered Anonymuz when I saw him featured in a video called “Pokemon Cypher 2019” on YouTube. He had a very distinct style and sound that distinguished him from the nearly 20 other rappers featured, so I decided to check out his other stuff. Since then, I’ve been listening to his music almost nonstop, and I’m still yet to hear a bad song from him. Over the course of a couple months, he has already become one of my top 5 favorite rappers of all time. There are many things that I like about Anonymuz. Firstly, he’s a very technically skilled rapper. He spits a variety of intricate flows, switching between different ones effortlessly, and he perfectly compliments any beat he’s on. Secondly, he has a lot to say beyond the typical hip-hop tropes. You’ll never catch Anon flaunting about how much richer he is than you (although, that might just be because he’s broke lul). That being said, he still knows how to wind down and just have fun on a track. Thirdly, he’s unabashedly passionate. He raps often about how much hip-hop means to him and the power that he believes music has to impact the world. He wants to be a positive force in the world that inspires people to do great things, and I respect that. Another thing I like about Anon’s music is that hooks, as well as refrain in general, are greatly de-emphasized. More often than not, he forgoes having a chorus at all. He instead breaks up his songs in other ways, such as switching the beat, switching his flow, or inserting an audio sample that reflects the song’s theme. Even when he does include a chorus, it’s not the focus. I’ve only come across one notable exception: his song “Fake Shit”, which has a smooth R&B vibe that Anonymuz surprisingly pulls off quite well. If you like songs that are all about the bars, then Anon is a good match for you. For those who would like to give Anonymuz a look, I have a few song suggestions to get you started: 1. “Cowboy Bebop”, from Vice City (2016) This is the lead single from Vice City wherein Anon gives a grim, visceral depiction of gang mentality. It’s an absolute banger with the kind of thunderous bass and cutthroat delivery that makes you want to punch a hole in the wall. 2. “Yoko Kurama”, from Urameshi (2017) This is one of his catchier songs. The hook is nice, but it’s nothing fancy, and it feels like an extension of the verses rather than a departure from them. This sums up pretty well the types of hooks you’ll hear from him. This song also exemplifies Anon’s appreciation for anime. It’s named after a main character from Yu Yu Hakasho (same as the album), and it starts with an excerpt from the classic anime “Cowboy Bebop”. 3. “25 to Life feat. Sylvan Lacue”, from There Is No Threat (2019) This song shows Anonymuz’s thoughtful, introspective side. In his first verse, he raps about how much hip-hop means to him and what he wants his music to do for his fans. In his second verse, he reflects on the state of his life, acknowledging that he is yet to see the success he’s sought after and that he’s often felt pressured to give up, but ultimately reassuring himself that he will push through adversity and achieve his dreams. This is all complemented perfectly by a subdued, spacey beat that makes you want to sit back and think about life. Bonus Track: POISON KLAN by PlayThatBoiZay feat. Denzel Curry & Anonymuz Anonymuz teams up with fellow Florida rappers Denzel Curry and PlayThatBoiZay on this track. The beat is unapologetically grimy and dark, making this is a good representative of the grimier side of Anonymuz’s music (especially since he’s the one who produced it). Also, notice how even in a short 16-bar verse, he switched up flows three times. Absolute legend. You can find Anonymuz on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music, Soundcloud and YouTube. XAVIER CHARLOT |