Elves and Beasts and Lightsabers

Thoughts on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul Contains spoilers for both shows I believe that Breaking Bad is one of the most significant pieces of media in the 2010s. I believe part of what made Breaking Bad so compelling is its relevance to the times. Breaking Bad speaks to the cynicism and the loss of faith in authority and meta-narratives, both heavily a part of 2010s culture. Breaking Bad discusses the breakdown of society, the dehumanizing nature of capitalism, toxic masculinity, the cynicism towards official authorities and for maintaining one’s moral standards; ultimately, it discusses the deconstruction of metanarratives. In the 2010s, people are painfully aware of society’s moral shortcomings.   We are cogently aware of the injustices of the world, not just external injustices, but internal injustices within the society we live in. We know that our brands for things such as clothing and food manufacture such products through unethical means and that managing a lifestyle t...

  I watched some the new Lilo and Stitch "movie" and it was terrible. This is not a surprise. I was expecting it to be awful because all the live-action Disney remakes are, and was only watching it out of curiosity; I had heard that some of the Experiments from the TV show make a cameo. I am a huge fan of the original movie, the TV series, and the franchise. I still find the original movie to be very powerful emotionally. A film like Lilo and Stitch was so memorable because it had those slower, emotionally heavy moments that really hit hard and challenged people. At the same time, the movie balanced this out with humor that didn't contrast with the heavier moments; each moment was given its own space to breathe. Take for example, the scene where Stitch leaves Lilo after looking at the Ugly Duckling book. It's a silent moment where Stitch simply goes out into the forest and simply says "I'm lost". Stitch is in this existential crisis and the audience can ...