Archives for March 2021

Anime is something I’ve never gotten around to on this feature yet, but I recently rewatched one of my favorite animes of all time and thought others ought to watch it. The first time I watched Akame ga Kill was one of the most exhilarating TV watching experiences I’ve had in my entire life. To me, it was such an awesome and flawless show that it remained in my mind like a fond memory I was longing to revisit. This last rewatch makes it the sixth time I’ve done so. 

Upon rewatching, I saw some flaws that I hadn’t noticed before. This definitely isn’t a perfect anime, or at least not as perfect as I make it out to be. But I believe its awesomeness outweighs its flaws. Those who watch a lot of anime, have watched this anime, and/or at least know the controversy surrounding this anime may be scoffing at my seemingly blind love for this show. I’ve found that traditional anime fans are uncomfortable with this show, and dedicated fans absolutely loathe it. It’s different from a lot of other anime in ways that I personally think are good, but could understandably upset someone who enjoys traditional anime structures. It feels closer to western television in many respects, which is an entirely different landscape. I’ll admit, this is coming from someone who primarily enjoys western TV shows and has watched 10 animes at most. I can’t speak for the die-hard anime fans, but I think more open-minded viewers are in for a treat.  

I don’t enjoy too many animes because, like K-dramas, there’s a bunch of annoying tropes that they adhere to. When I say annoying, I mean for myself and probably other media consumers like me. If these tropes were in an American show, that show would never air. In fact, much of the problems I have with Akame ga Kill are the parts that mimic traditional anime. This includes blatant exposition, questionable retcons, and battles where the characters tell each other their strategies as they execute them. These problems don’t permeate throughout the whole series, however, and they’re hardly noticeable as long as you aren’t seeking them out.

One problem specific to the show is tonal whiplash. It’s clear that the animators had to squeeze in quite a bit of manga into just 24 episodes, so the story’s pace is very quick. This means that deeply emotional moments that I would’ve liked to linger on are cut short at times, and sad moments may be inappropriately followed by comedic ones. On the other hand, the pacing is one of the reasons why this show is so great. The story is constantly moving and engaging you with action and never wasting your time. By the end, so much stuff has happened that the show feels like one crazy adventure. 

The ending has also been a polarizing topic. I’ll say that I thought it was good, and some of the reasons people don’t like it don’t make sense. First, I don’t think it’s fair to compare anime to the manga it is adapted from. Anime is a far more popular medium than manga is, and it doesn’t exist to validate the wishes of the niche group of manga fans. The book will be better than the show a majority of the time because it is subjective to your imagination and unrestrained by production limitations. Just because a show changes things or does not meet expectations, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad show. Secondly, a show isn’t bad if it evokes emotions other than happiness. The sadness and anger viewers might feel are intentional, and add to the value of the show. 

Now onto what the show does great. First and foremost: the music. This is one aspect of the show that nobody can dispute. Not only is it Hollywood blockbuster grade, but it is weaved so well into the show that you might hardly notice it’s presence and still feel its effects. Next are the characters. The way their backstories are introduced is a bit lazy, but beyond that, Akame ga Kill introduces a cast of charismatic characters that you’ll laugh and cry for. I can count on one hand the amount of movies and shows that have actually had me jumping out of my seat or shedding a tear, and this is one of them. And finally, the structure. Akame ga Kill is one complete story, so every episode is relevant to the main conflict, and it ends with all the closure you’ll need. 

Akame ga Kill is also the only anime I’ve ever seen with no fillers. Fillers are easily the worst part about anime, and why I’m always reluctant to pick up a new one; I know that at some point, I’m going to be subjected to characters sitting around and talking about nothing while I curse the creators who aren’t even trying to hide the fact that they’re wasting my time. 

I’ll remind you again. This isn’t just for anime watchers. Anyone looking for something new can take something away from this show. I promise, or at least hope, that it’ll be every bit as awesome as I’ve described. It’s available on Netflix!     

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Who would’ve thought that a show about superheroes would take the television scene by storm? WandaVision has done just that, with each new episode triggering huge ripples across the internet from comic book fans and new viewers alike. The series ended last week with its ninth episode, and now, looking back on what we got, some people are a little disappointed. This isn’t because the show itself was bad; it just decided not to meet people’s high expectations.

Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame shattered the traditional superhero genre to such an extent that MCU fans now expect future stories to be just as interconnected and mind-bendingly creative. It’s part of the reason why Zack Snyder’s Justice League cut will most likely be underwhelming in comparison. Marvel almost ensured that superhero stories can’t just have a hero defeating a villain in a big fight anymore. So for them to employ that trope in WandaVision feels like a major step back. 

Another problem is that the show just played itself. The premise of a superhero couple stuck in a TV show dimension is so interestingly wacky that it inevitably opens itself up to a lot of potential creative outlets and fan theories. As the show progressed, it continued to introduce wacky concepts, and eventually hinted at the potential for a multiverse and even an X-Men crossover event. This made fans and fan theorists go bonkers. Instead of following through on these elements, however, the show just decided to ignore them and give us a more generic ending. Those hints will probably be relevant in future projects, but as far as WanadaVision goes, they are just teasers.  

WandaVision is also heavily reliant on your investment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. People who haven’t at least watched the Avengers films won’t be able to appreciate a lot of the elements in the show, and might even think it’s not that great. This also means that the show isn’t conducive to rewatches. The fan service and cameos were fun when I first watched the show, but once we know they’re there, they’ve lost their entertainment value. 

There were many things to enjoy beyond those things, however. Just because the show didn’t meet the expectations of fans, it doesn’t mean it still didn’t take some creative direction with its premise. I see WandaVision as a step towards Marvel’s goal to turn everyone into dedicated nerds. They’re slowly introducing more and more niche stories that only comic-book readers appreciated once. They are slowly bridging the gap between the average viewer and Marvel’s full creative potential.  

To sum it all up, manage your expectations, and you’ll have a good time watching WandaVision. It isn’t a full TV show as much as it is just a really long movie. It doesn’t have multiple arcs or complex storylines with broad implications. It’s just a side story meant to flesh out characters we don’t really know and show us what they’re capable of.  

As Oprah Winfrey once said, “I love bread.” Oprah has never been more right about the carbohydrate food category. So, when I go to a restaurant and they slap a bowl of bread and a plate of oil in my face, I know some bangin’ food is about to be served. This weekend I ventured off campus to the Barcelona Wine Bar restaurant at 1200 Villa Place. I knew it was going to be good, because of the piping hot and buttery bread, but trust me, you’re going to want to keep reading, because it gets even better. Now, before y’all start with the, “Zoe, you’re under 21! Why are you at a wine bar!?”, just know that it is actually a restaurant alongside a bar, with its own dining area.  

My close friend Emilio wanted to show me his native Spanish cuisine, and I was touched to say the least. It meant a lot to me that he wanted to share his home cuisine with my ignorant American cuisine self. Yet, I was also hesitant because my food palate is limited to chicken tenders, fries, and GoGo Squeez applesauce packets. I said yes, and saw the excitement in his eyes as he listed off dishes that included moldy sausage, along with squid, and fish. I was scared, and you would be too if your diet consisted of the safe and bland foods of chicken and rice.

The design of the restaurant itself is very easy on the eyes. The restaurant had an elegant yet gritty vibe, with beautiful hanging fixtures, golden wood floors, and metal décor to offset the glowing light coming in from the large windows. The menu was entirely in Spanish, so thank goodness Emilio was fluent and guided me through what to order. We ended up sharing five plates of tapas, which consisted of Jamón Serrano, bread and oil (my favorite!), calamari, Torrijas with Crème Catalan, Jamón & Monchego Croquetas, and Potato Tortilla. When I say run, don’t walk, to try to the Croquetas, I am not being dramatic. It’s basically a fried dough ball of cheese, ham, and potatoes blended together into a mouthwatering mixture. The Jamón is basically Spanish ham that you can put on breads, and dip into a buttery oil. Emilio says that his family usually buys Jamón by the pounds, and he could usually eat all of it one sitting. The Torrijas reminded me of French toast, and its flaky insides with notes of cinnamon were deserving of happy tears.

I was so glad I ended up going with Emilio because I tried so many new foods I wouldn’t have tried by myself. I was also so excited to try cuisine from a different culture, and get out of my comfort zone of the usual chicken tenders. But, the pinnacle of my Barcelona Wine Bar experience was seeing the excitement in Emilio to share his Spanish culture. As we ate and chatted over the tapas, he discussed his childhood memories of eating food and showed me pictures of his hometown, and photos of his hometown were actually featured in the restaurant! I was touched that he wanted to share that with me and so happy that he got to be reminded of his home which is so far away seeming even farther sometimes during this pandemic. I love that Vanderbilt gives me the opportunity to interact with students from all over the world, and gives us a space to share our culture and experiences. I urge you to try the Barcelona Wine Bar not only for its great Spanish cuisine and moderate prices, but because you might just learn something new about yourself and your peers.

My favorite place to sleep is in the car. The rhythmic motion of the car, the warmth from the seats, the low hum of the stereo, and the ticking of the turn signal provide an instant surge of melatonin. I have fond memories of my Dad and I blasting “Rockstar” by Nickelback. I know, I know. Nickelback is outdated and cringe, but they have produced some absolute bangers. I also love driving at the wheel (not asleep, of course), while blasting my music with the windows rolled down. Daydreaming is a hobby of mine, as I look out the windows of my car and the scenery from my hometown flashes by.

So, I was not surprised when I found a second home in the Vandy Vans. These vans help transport students across campus safely at night. I took my first Vandy Van ride this spring semester, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. My friends and I were headed over to Commons from Scomb, but it was cold and dark, so we decided to gamble and take the Vandy Van for the first time ever. We waited for a couple of short minutes, and then our knight-in-shining gold and black arrived. The foldable doors screeched open, and we ascended the staircase to our seats.

We sat down, and my first sense of feeling went to the heat radiating from the inside of the van. It surrounded my cold exterior, and melted through the layers of chill. I felt a sense of comfort as the yellow iridescent lights and warmth from the heaters made me sleepy. Yet, the icing on the cake for me was the music playing from the radio. The driver had put on the ’80s classic rock station, which just so happens to be my Dad’s all-time favorite era of music. Naturally, I grew up listening to these tunes, and overtime found myself enjoying them as much as my Dad. I heard classics from “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey to “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith. I was jolted back to car rides with my Dad and siblings, so my meter of comfort was reaching maximum levels.

The ride itself was smooth and calm, with the blinker making soft ticking noises at corners and the engine revved a slow purr at green lights. My friends and I were all in a trance as we looked out the windows at the glittery city of Nashville. We started off the ride cracking jokes, but we were soon thrown into a vortex of utmost comfort that we ended up finishing the ride in silence. We arrived at our destination, thanked the driver, and descended the stairs into the dark and cold night. We all had glassy eyes and slow thoughts when we first exited the van. How long were we in the van? Did we all age 10 years? Are we even in Nashville? Was that the Magic School bus?

We lost our trance-like state, and returned to a homeostasis, but we all had the same experience riding in the Vandy Van. It was a vortex of comfort that threw us all into memories from our childhood. I don’t know if the vents were blasting aromatic dopamine or serotonin, but it was such a calming and euphoric experience. The Van makes you remember things clearly, and look inward at yourself. Each time I take a ride with a Vandy Van, I close my eyes and let the warmth and music take over. For a short 10 minutes, I am transported to an alternate universe where my only concerns are if I know the next song lyric. I urge you to ride the Vandy Van with your friends, and see where the vortex takes you.