Category: Interesting

I finally watched ‘Wednesday’…

The show had quite a few woe factors.

*Potential* spoilers ahead.

After all the clickety-clacks I’ve seen and heard from Wednesday, I had to do a little writing on my own.

‘Wednesday’, which was recently renewed for a second season, is known for being the second most-watched English series on Netflix and creating an entire TikTok trend from just one scene. But I think its greatest achievements are found in its story, characters and world that the show’s creators have crafted.

Not just well-written, but well-executed

Like that bully who almost didn’t make it out of the pool.

Genuinely, this series has some of the wittiest writing I’ve seen in awhile. From Wednesday’s dark but clever one-liners to all the characters’ dialogue, the writers have done a great job of maintaining the quality of the writing from episode 1-8.

Not only were the verbal lines smartly written, the non-verbal storylines received the same care too. The murder mystery hooks you immediately, while being a genius way of developing Wednesday’s character. No time is wasted with pointless scenes or interactions. Everything shown has a purpose and adds to the story. Minute details placed along the way eventually connect to the overall plot.

There were so many satisfying payoffs that come to mind: how the importance of those boots surfaced at the end, how the prophecy came true, how our characters’ interactions with fencing and archery returned in a significant way, how someone finally unleashes their potential, how a sword from years ago was wielded again, how three generations of conflict ended, how the necklace played a part, how the visions finally made sense… I could go on and on.

And to top it all off – a talented cast who delivered all of their scenes perfectly. We probably also have to thank the casting director for choosing the right actor/actress for each role. No one can channel Wednesday’s energy like Jenna Ortega. But I can say the same for Emma Myers as Enid, Gwendoline Christie as Principal Weems… everyone was given the best and gave their best. In short, a show both well-written and well-executed.

A world that has Never been More intriguing

If the show was already a beautifully layered cake, this is the icing on top.

Nevermore Academy and the nearby town of Jericho seem both welcoming and haunting, creating a wonderful juxtaposition of a backdrop for the story. As the series progresses, the seemingly normal (or should I say, normie) walls of Jericho start falling down, revealing the rich lore and history behind it. The world that Tim Burton and crew have created sucks you right in by being both believable and strangely magical. It’s fascinating.

What adds to the 10/10 atmosphere are the lighting, costumes and set design. Whoever in charge have masterfully used all three to bring out the inner world of our characters and the character of their outer world. Just think of Wednesday and Enid’s room and the contrast of colours in their windows, decorations and clothes.

And then the lighting and vibes hit right all the time. Whether it’s the iconic room, the principal’s office, the café, the carnival, the woods, the hidden library, the crypts, the town, whether it’s day or night, rain or shine… chef’s kiss. Have I mentioned the soundtrack?

Honestly, the viewing experience kind of reminded me of ‘Harry Potter’. Before you stone, burn or roast me, I am not comparing the two. But… think about it.

Hogwarts. Nevermore.

Wizards. Outcasts.

Magic. Powers.

I just can’t wait to return to Nevermore in Season 2.

With such a cold exterior, Wednesday sure made us all feel warm inside

If the only thing you’ve watched about Wednesday are TikToks and trailers, you might be thinking I have a really dark sense of humour to enjoy this show. And maybe I do. But that’s not what made me geek out so much over the show!

What I love most were how the characters and their relationships developed. The show is more wholesome than it lets on. The highlight for me was definitely Wednesday and Enid’s friendship. Season 1’s finale felt like someone giving you a big warm hug.

But that’s not all. What about Wednesday’s relationship with the rest like Bianca, Xavier or Eugene? Or how about Wednesday and herself? The Wednesday at the start of the show is pretty different from the one we see at the end. The character grew so much throughout the season emotionally – but in a way that still stayed true to the core of who she is.

Once again, credit should be given to Ortega, whose mixture of subtle and dramatic expressions fully captured the essence of the character. From her death stare to her sinister smile, from her “youthful sneer” to her judgy demeanour, and from her vengeful tears to her iconic smirk. And nailing that dance sequence like that after choreographing it herself? She deserves all the praise she’s getting.

So, what would I say about ‘Wednesday’? It’s Goody.

All images via Netflix.
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The Falcon and The Winter Soldier – We Need More!

Spoiler alert!

Scroll no further to avoid spoilers for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

Last Friday, Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ series wrapped up with a conclusion that left many threads open and potential storylines unexplored. “We need more” was probably the biggest thought most viewers had. Here’s what I hope to see from future instalments of this story!

More of Sam and Bucky’s adventures (and bromance). We all know that’s the best part of the show.

No one hated this scene. And that’s the truth.

Honestly, the best part of this series is seeing “a couple of guys” just hanging out and playing frisbee with the shield. What’s better than that?

Anthony Mackie and Sebestian Stan’s friendship off-screen overflows on-screen to create a powerful and hilarious dynamic for these characters. More of this please.

Oh, and we definitely need more fight scenes where they team up. That fight for the shield at the start of Episode 5 was *chef’s kiss*.

Captain America with his stars and stripes… wings and shield. I need more of that flying Cap action.

Straight out of a comic book panel.

Another highlight of the finale was the reveal of Sam’s newest suit, sponsored by Wakanda. Not only did this allow us to see Sam accepting the mantle of Captain America, but also the kind of moves and “combos” only he could pull off with the shield at maximum potential.

Trust me, Captain America jumping out of a building with wings, flying after his shield he just threw, and catching it mid-air at high velocity was something I never knew I needed but I did. Don’t even get me started on how his vibranium wings shielded him from a falling helicopter…

Now on to the “meatier” stuff. We need to see more of John Walker and his dark side explored. His mini-redemption in the finale felt a little too quick and undermined the build-up with his character in Episode 4 & 5.

Not a guy you want to mess with, a.k.a. Captain America’s greatest cosplayer.

There, I said it. If there is one thing I didn’t really like about the finale, it was how quickly they restored John Walker and his relationship with Sam and Bucky. This dude literally tried to kill them a few days ago in a mindless rage! But now, he’s running side-by-side with them like friends..? What we’ve seen so far is this demoralised, insecure guy that could snap anytime under the wrong circumstances.

I get that he tried to save some people. And I know he is not evil. I also loved the reveal of U.S. Agent. But he is messed up! I just felt the path to that final state he was in with the people around him could use some more build-up and time.

Would also love to see Sam and Bucky’s distrust in him in the future and how that tension plays off in the story.

Sharon Carter to The Power Broker… What happened?

When you make the wrong call… in life!

“What happened?” That is honestly the biggest question I have when it comes to Sharon. Her reveal as the Power Broker was not surprising. But I found it unbelievable. And I mean that in best way possible. Like… what happened?

How did the Sharon we used to know become such a jaded, dark and scheming person? Why did she become so power-hungry? This was the same woman whose speech inspired Steve Rogers to stand his ground and fight for what he believed in! What happened..?

Once again, I wish this was something explored more in the series. But I guess this leaves us open for a season 2 or a movie, right?

I hope Aunt Peggy ain’t rolling in her grave.

Last question of the day: Where is Steve Rogers? Is he really on the Moon?! They left this unanswered and I bet on purpose.

We miss you, man.

That’s all I want to know!

I’m sure he’s alive. But where is he?? Does he still hang out with Bucky and Sam? Is he living a good life in his old age??

Somebody answer me!

p.s. So I didn’t actually plan this, but Endgame was released 2 years ago today?! Happy anniversary to all you MCU fans, I guess. Hope to be back in the cinemas again for epic experiences like that…

What I learned from my wisdom tooth

Maybe it’s called a wisdom tooth because it can teach us some things about life…

So, I had my first wisdom tooth extraction. Did I see it coming? No. Was I prepared going into the dental clinic a few days back, that my “toothache” would require a procedure on the spot? No. Did I regret the visit? No.

Because more than just fixing my problem, the experience taught me a few things.

1. Don’t wait till you’re in pain before visiting the Dentist

That was literally the last thing the nurse said to me before I left the clinic, of course, in a more Singlish way. Going to the dentist, I learnt:

  • My teeth weren’t as clean as they seemed
  • My teeth could have used regular cleaning by the dentist
  • My wisdom teeth do exist and have been growing “behind-the-scenes”

Yes, my last dental appointment was years ago. Is it because I wanted to be filthy? No! I just did not see the need to visit the dentist because I brush regularly and had it all taken care of. Well, that’s what I thought.

And isn’t this the same for our lives as well? Many of us do not consider a need for God – the greatest “Doctor” and “Dentist” in our lives. It is only in times of pain that we look to something or Someone higher for help.

Yeah, I have learned not to make that mistake again – either physically or spiritually. We are all not perfect. Our inner selves aren’t as clean as we want to believe sometimes. It could use regular maintenance and cleaning by God. And most importantly, there are always things beneath the surface we do not see, that He can reveal and fix before it causes us further pain. Choose to go to Him daily.

2. Removing a wisdom tooth is uncomfortable and even painful, but is good in the long run

For all of you who have been through an extraction before, you know it does not feel good. My dentist did a great job and I felt no pain in the whole process. But it still was uncomfortable! I mean who likes having to keep your mouth open, trying to breathe through your nose while someone else is trying to pull a tooth out from the back of your mouth using some tool or device? And of course, there is that sore afterwards.

But man, am I glad I did it. Now I do not have to worry about chewing food on the left side and feeling that sharp ache. And with confidence, I can even say I would not have to worry about it anymore in the foreseeable future!

Mirroring this to our lives again, it is the same with allowing God to remove negative or harmful things from our hearts. For some of us, it’s insecurity. For others, it’s fear. Or maybe, it’s bitterness, selfishness or anger or pride…

The process may not be easy and we may need to humble ourselves to admit we need change, but it sure is good for us in the long run! Just like how I chose immediately to remove my wisdom tooth, I want to obey God immediately and change quickly whenever He corrects me.

3. Getting an extraction costs, but is surely worth it

One last thing I found particularly interesting is how the dentist constantly tells me how much the procedure would cost me. It is almost like he did not want me to be surprised or shocked by the bill at the end. It was clear he wanted me to have a choice, and to be sure of what I am in for.

Before doing anything, he showed me the total cost of consultation, X-ray, extraction and sterilisation. If there was any price I was not willing to pay, say the extraction that would cost me hundreds of dollars, I could opt out and just have the X-ray first and do the extraction another day.

Yes, the entire visit cost me $300, and I did consider whether or not to spend that money for the extraction. But I am glad I did it. There was just no better alternative! It was well worth it. Would I rather spend some money which could be earned back or suffer more pain? The answer was clear.

This reminds me again of our relationship with God. Jesus makes it clear to us to “count the cost” (Luke 14:28-33) of following Him. Because as a Christian, our problems don’t automatically go away. As a Christian, we face challenges too. As a Christian, we learn to obey and trust in God even in times when it is difficult to. However, what we get in return is a pathway to joy and freedom that is eternal.

What is $300 compared to long-term painless eating?

What is humility and having faith compared to eternal life?

Nothing.

Entering the 2020s

First post of the decade. Second one about crossing into a new one. Just a random “diary” kind of entry.

Was just lying in bed two nights ago and it kind of hit me. This past decade was the one that changed me the most as a person. It formed the transformative years of my life.

At the start of the 2010s, I was a totally different person and would have never imagined how I would be by the end of it.

In this decade, I tried out martial arts (for awhile). In this decade, I found my love for movies – especially the MCU. In this decade, I picked up the acoustic guitar. In this decade, I discovered my passion for writing. In this decade, I experienced four phases of life – secondary school, polytechnic, army, university.

There were so many other things that happened in this span of 10 years, but nothing transformed my life like the following: coming to Heart of God Church and knowing Jesus.

In 2011, I became a Christian and everything has been the greatest adventure since. It is hard to believe just 10 years ago, I did not know God.

More than the skills, experience and interests I adopted along the way, with Christ and church, I have found true joy, purpose and relationships for my life. I enter the new decade with faith, friends and family – more than I ever had before.

It’s crazy. In this next decade, I am going to enter my 30s (though not that soon). I am going to experience the next phases of life – love, career and family.

But no matter where life takes me, I set my eyes again, like I did in the 2010s, on the one Person that is always there for me.

If there is only one thing I can bring from my life in the 2010s to the 2020s, it is my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I may not know what the future holds, but I know Him who holds my future.

And that makes all the difference.

The magic of animated films

Why do animated films mean so much to us?

This is a question I started asking myself recently just for the fun of it. Just last week, the Frozen 2 trailer came out and last I checked, it has garnered more than 30 million views on YouTube. With the excitement seen here, as well as for the recent release of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and numerous upcoming titles such as Toy Story 4, it seems that animated films strike a chord with most people. And no, it is not just kids.

frozen-2
Frozen 2 (2019)

I am talking about full-grown men and women, myself included. You don’t have to look far to find people who are still excited about such films even though they are way past their “early years”. Just look on the Internet or look at your friends.

And that honestly has got me wondering – why do animated films mean so much to us? It isn’t exactly erroneous to say that most animated films made by the likes of Disney and Illumination are targeted towards a younger crowd. But either way, we still see adults equally (if not, even more) hyped up about these movies, queuing up for tickets at the box office.

One reason I can think of is nostalgia. My mom makes joking remarks about me when I watch animated films. She always says these films are for kids, and teases a 23 year-old me for watching them. This applies not just exclusively to animated films though. She says the same for superhero films. And that could be because our parents didn’t grow up watching these characters come to life. Guess who they recall watching most of these movies? Their children – us.

toy-story-4
Toy Story 4 (2019)

When Woody and Buzz Lightyear embarked on their first adventures, most of our parents were already in their adulthood. They might not have been drawn to watch Toy Story because there were other more “mature” movies available to them.

But for me, once I began to have a basic understanding of the world around me, I was already seeing Toy Story frequently playing on TV. Animated films formed a significant part of my childhood. I presume this is also the case for many of you. Maybe that is why we get so thrilled finding out there was a sequel to Finding Nemo, 13 years after the movie came out.

Movies like Finding Dory, Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4 throw us all into a frenzy because these stories were huge parts of our childhood. Watching these familiar characters return brings back loads of good memories and maybe even reminds us of the happiness we felt as a child.

But is nostalgia the only reason we get so easily attached or attracted to animated movies? I’d like to doubt so. If nostalgia was the only reason getting us to watch animated films, why do we also look forward to watching brand new ones?

httyd-thw
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

Assuming you are a little closer to my age, when films like Despicable Me, How to Train Your Dragon and Frozen came around, we were not really young anymore. Want even more recent titles? Sure. Rise of the Guardians, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, The Secret Life of Pets, Moana, Coco are all titles that come to mind when it comes to animated films released in recent years. Yet we love them all equally. One of my favorite animated films of all time is Inside Out, a film that was released in 2015 when I was 19. I find myself more interested in animated films the older I get!

Perhaps, the “magic” of animated films is not really found in their ability to bring us nostalgia, but in their ability to bring us back to a simpler time. When we were young, our knowledge of the world was little and our imagination of what was possible – limitless. Now that we are older, maybe that’s not the case anymore. When we were young, our view and belief of the world was purer; maybe now, not so.

Perhaps, animated films serve as a reminder to our inner selves that we should never stop imagining. These films have always fueled our imagination in our youth and continue to bring out the child on the inside. Deep down, though our minds have long matured (and rightly so), our inner child remains; and he/she believes in and yearns for a world that is beautiful, colorful, even a little magical like how it is in many animated films.

The “magic” of such films lies in their power to remind us what true friendship (e.g. Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon), heroism (e.g. Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph) and family (e.g. Incredibles, Frozen, Coco) are like. Though we should definitely grow out of our childish selves, I say we should remain child-like in our faith towards humanity and the world as a whole.

Good people do exist. Good things can happen. Maybe it’s time to gather some good people around you and catch some good animated films again, don’t you think? See you at the cinema.