Okay Gophers, one more week of midterm exams and projects and essays and then we’re finally free from responsibilities – for five days. Take some of our weekly favorites and implement them into your spring break or show-binging plans.
“Legend of Korra:” After a week-long binge of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” I couldn’t help myself from diving into “Legend of Korra.” Set 70 years after its parent series, the Nickelodeon show is based in an early civilization where some people have the ability to manipulate the elements while others don’t. In every generation, there is the Avatar born with the ability to manipulate each individual element, visit the spirit realm and be tasked with the challenge of keeping peace among all people. Korra, this generation’s overconfident and witty Avatar, evades multiple disastrous events over the course of the show’s four seasons. Whether it be 15-feet-tall dark spirits threatening to take over the South Pole or a masked vigilante with the capability to remove a person’s ability to manipulate the elements, Korra, alongside her friends and family members, work together to jump every hurdle thrown their way – one way or another. – Carly Quast
“Inventing Anna:” This Netflix special series follows journalist Vivian Kent as she uncovers a groundbreaking story about one of New York City’s hottest and fakest socialites. Inspired by the true investigation by New York Magazine’s Jessica Pressler that documented Anna Sorokin’s rise and fall through New York society – and all the scams she had to perform to get herself there – the show is pure, post-capitalistic pleasure. – Nina Raemont
Merge Mansion: After viewing multiple ads for the game on TikTok, I was convinced to download Merge Mansion over the weekend, and I have not been able to put my phone down. The game follows a young woman and all the secrets that her grandma is keeping at her old mansion. In order to unlock these secrets, you must play a puzzle to create various tools and items. Not only will wanting to solve the mystery keep you motivated, the satisfying movement of the puzzle will as well. It’s a relaxing puzzle game to lose track of time with. – Harry Madden
“Transcendent Kingdom” by Yaa Gyasi: An impactful story is one that burrows into my brain and changes the way I think. Yaa Gyasi’s second novel “Transcendent Kingdom” did just that. Themes of immigration, family, depression, addiction and religion all converge to create the truly transcendent experience that is this novel. The reader goes on a contemplative journey with Gifty, the main character, whose brother passed away from an overdose when she was young. Now, as a doctoral student, Gifty attempts to explain her brother’s addiction and her mother’s depression through science, but in doing so, realizes that human behavior is not that simple. Although I read this book in an embarrassingly short time, it will stick with me for years to come. – Sarah Horner
“The Anthropocene Reviewed” by John Green: Romanticizing your daily life may be a trend right now, but writers have been doing it for centuries. Lately, I’ve been doing it along with well-loved YA fiction writer John Green in his podcast series (turned non-fiction novel) in which Green examines relatively random and obscure elements of human life and rates them on a five-star scale. Some of my favorite episodes include “Capacity for Wonder and Sunsets” and a special covering a species of Ginkgo tree. Each one holds a lovely amount of research and care for the subject at hand, no matter how mundane. Whether he’s talking about Halley’s Comet, chemo or hot dog stands, Green lovingly demonstrates what it means to be human. – Bel Moran
