Pop Culture

October 16, 2018

A Star is Born is a musical masterpiece

With the massive successes of Hamilton and La La Land, the past few years ushered in a new era of widely-beloved musicals. A Star is Born, starring Lady Gaga and first-time director Bradley Cooper, triumphantly added to this trend last week. 
October 12, 2018

Point/Counterpoint: Do subtitles help the viewing experience?

If you’ve ever watched a movie or TV show with me where I’ve been in control of the device settings, there’s a 100 per cent chance it’s been accompanied by subtitles.
October 12, 2018

Big Mouth’s second season continues reign as TV’s funniest cringe-comedy

When Netflix’s animated comedy series Big Mouth came out with its first season last summer, audiences were surprised by its star-studded cast, bizarre-but-amazing premise, and cringe-worthy puberty jokes. Its second season, which was released on Oct. 5, doubled down on its wacky sense of humour while also delving into some of the deeper difficulties of becoming a teenager.  
September 28, 2018

‘Forever’ isn’t the TV show you’re expecting

The set-up for Forever, Amazon’s newest half-hour comedy starring former SNL powerhouses Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen, is a married couple decides to shake up their annual fishing trip and try skiing. The punchline is a delicate and understated rumination on the value and drawbacks of monogamous relationships. 

Recapping Apple’s lackluster iPhone XS and XR reveal

September 28, 2018
This month, Apple announced a line of new products, including the iPhone XS, XS Max, and a more affordable alternative, the iPhone XR. If the tech giant’s release of new phone models is news to you, you’re not alone—the launch flew largely under the radar, and for good reason.

What TV shows to watch based on your favourite Queen’s courses

September 25, 2018
Watching television makes for a great study break, but deciding what to watch can be time consuming. Ironically, your classes may hold the key to your next TV show.

Five TV shows you should watch this fall

September 21, 2018
The arrival of fall means we finally get to try out all the new shows coming to television and welcome our old favourites back into our lives.

The highs, lows, and surprises of the 2018 Emmy Awards

September 21, 2018
Unlike the shows they honoured, this year’s Emmy Awards didn’t bring any serious drama. However, many deserving shows, actors, writers, and directors were recognized for their hard work with Emmy statuettes. 

The Predator earns its name

September 18, 2018
Director Shane Black’s decision to hire his friend, a convicted sex offender, as an actor marred the glitz and glamour of the red carpet opening for his film The Predator at TIFF.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse succeeds as a comedy without trying to be funny

September 18, 2018
Eight seasons into the American Horror Story franchise, it’s safe to say that creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have completely lost sight of the show’s initial creative direction.

The Kissing Booth normalizes potentially abusive behaviour

September 14, 2018
The Kissing Booth, a popular Netflix original movie released in May, disguises itself as a run-of-the-mill, teen romcom—while carelessly normalizing early warning signs of an abusive relationship.

ing Mac Miller, a selfless rapper

September 11, 2018
On his song “Small Worlds,” the late Mac Miller summed up his most-prized possessions: “A little space and time.”

As a former high school loser, Sierra Burgess is a Loser gives me hope

September 11, 2018
In a pivotal scene from Netflix’s newest teen romcom, Sierra Burgess is a Loser, the titular character stands in front of her parents, sobbing. 

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before excels through unique characters

September 7, 2018
An otherwise standard Netflix rom-com has made waves on social media in recent weeks, and it’s largely a credit to its actors’ character development and relatability.

Shapovalov vs. Auger-Aliassime a valuable moment for athletes

September 6, 2018
Midway through the third set of their first-round match at this year’s US Open, Canadian Denis Shapovalov said three words tennis fans rarely hear in the middle of a match. “Are you okay?” Shapovalov asked fellow Canadian opponent, 18-year-old Felix Auger-Alliassime, across the net. Spectators wondered—was that a sign of comion in the middle of a tennis match?