simao_zambelli

"Have you ever watched Gilmore Girls?" It's what my friend said when she recommended me this show while were discussing my tumultuous family relations. She said: "Give it a shot, you might find it surprising how much you can relate to these characters, their journeys and struggles." Said and done.

I have just finished watching the show and the last episode had me crying from beginning to end, and this is a statement to the most powerful asset the show has: the ability to make us relate and sympathize with the characters. This is a show about relationships: family, friends and love, plus we get to see one the main characters go through high school and college, and who can't relate to those things?! Life is tough and relationships are hard, but to still believe in your goals and dreams despite it all is what this show is all about.

The Gilmore Girls: Lorelai's character (the mom) is the soul of the entire show, her dysfunction relationship with her parents, the hard work put into building her life and independence, the love, care and trust (even if a bit idealized) she shares with her daughter is a wonder to see, she is a living and breathing compulsive joker that made me laugh out loud so many times I lost count, and all of it lets us connect with her in so many levels.

Rory's character (the daughter) is the one everyone wish they were: has good grades, likes to study, is ambitious and above it all has in her mother a best friend and a partner. As she comes of age, we get to see a lot we can relate to: first love, first time, getting to college, existential crisis (every college kid has at least one), graduation and the uncertainties that lies ahead of adulting around.

Emily's character (the grandmother) is the one that makes us understand why all of us gotta go to therapy: because our parents didn't. She is also the reason one of the most iconic parts of the show exists, the Friday night dinners with Lorelai and Rory. The dinners are almost a synthesis of the entire show where these three women, who lead absolutely different lives and want completely different things from one another, try to get together and figure out a way to be a family.

The show is pretty clever in depicting the impact family support can have on someone as well as the result family disfunction can inflict on somebody, and that's what family is all about. But don't get me wrong, sometimes the very lesson the show is trying to teach about the importance of clear communication, and the problems with misinterpretation and assumptions are sometimes used for a lack of better writing, especially concerning Lorelai and Rory's romantic interests throughout the show and are very often frustrating and out of character.

It has a lot of great side characters and the tone and dynamic between them all shifts a bit from season 4 forward. It's a nice depiction of the small-town way of life and has a rare yet kind and considerate take on relationships between generations (grandma, mother and daughter). All and all Gilmore Girls is an up lifting, feel-good and cozy show. I loved this journey and I genuinely think it made me realize and change the way I see myself and deal with my family issues (and all of it while having a good time!). Hope a lot of people give it a shot, because it's definitely worth it.

It's true, it's not a typical MCU movie and, in my opinion, that's refreshing. Marvel took a risk with Eternals, tying to sophisticate the storyline and bring a never before seen representation in big blockbuster movies, and it works, in a way...

The movie underperforms precisely because it tries to achieve to much in a limited amount of time with the biggest cast of leading characters I've ever seen, which left them, for the most part, underdeveloped (kinda like what happened in The Crimes of Grindewald), but it doesn't mean you can't appreciate how different and unique each of them are! Putting that aside and understanding the bigger scope of the story, it's really worth the watch. The Eternals focuses more on the characters moral conflict with the task they've been given then the typical evil vs good story we've all seen before. The "we don't interfere" plot line had me skeptical until I saw how, that even for the characters, it wasn't natural. It was also interesting to see the burden and the toll the "don't interfere" actions took on them and their relationships among themselves and the people. By the end the movie as paved the way to set itself free from the limitations it had in the first place, which is good and bad, since we're only see the true potential of the story in the next movies. Eternals also have to be praised in the amazing visual effects and directing by Chloé Zhao, it has some National Geographic levels of visuals.

I do believe this movie and this story has potential and that we need to be more realistic and recognize the good and the bad, giving it a fair feedback. Because this way we, as fans, have a shot in putting constructive criticism out there and help pave the way to better content!

Back in 2005 when the series launched and I was 7, I remember feeling so excited for every new episode each week. The animation, the story, the characters and the art of bending the elements - the avatarverse made wonders with my imagination. Today, in my mid-twenties, I can look back and understand why this series had such an impact on me. First of all, it's a war story that focuses more on it's consequences rather than on it's motives (which is rare), most of the cultural references are asian and the characters are amazingly diverse. This show really thinks out of the box and came at a time where diversity and inclusiveness weren't even that common on television, and still today Avatar is waaaay ahead than other contents in this department. During the three seasons we're taken on ride through amazing character arcs, complex politics, the weight of power, the importance of friendship and the toll responsibility and duty can have on someone. Some say it's a kid's show, I say it's a lesson on how to be human, kind and brave. It really doesn't disappoint, the storytelling is consistent, it isn't rushed and it doesn't leave you feeling cheated, it has a satisfying ending that manages not only to be true to the characters journeys but to also be unique, epic and bring closure to their arcs. If you go on this journey bare in mind that it has a bit of a slow start, but I assure you, by the time "The Storm" (ep 12) hits you'll be hooked! I loved growing up with Avatar in my childhood, and to be able to fully understand it's uniqueness and cleverness after all this years just made me appreciate this show even more. Really hope a lot of people get see this masterpiece of animation, it's worth it. ;)

Ps: And remember: "there's no war in Ba Sing Se"