➥ AADL 2023 Staff Picks: Homepage
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AADL 2023 STAFF PICS: SCREENS
TV, movies, DVDs, video games, YouTube, streaming, etc.

HAILY H. — DESK CLERK

The Eighty-Six
(2021)
In the Republic of San Magnolia's war with the Giadian Empire, the marginalized Eighty-Six are conscripted to fight. Vladilena Milizé, a Handler for San Magnolia’s military, confronts discrimination and the harsh realities of the war, while Shinei Nouzen, captain of the Spearhead squadron, carries the weight of his fallen comrades as their worlds collide in a struggle for salvation or despair. {Crunchyroll}

The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today
(2023)
Office worker Saku lives alone with her cat Yukichi. Yukichi is no ordinary cat, however, he is gigantic! Yukichi is also quite talented and takes care of the house while Saku works hard to earn money for Yukichi’s precious cat food cans. {Crunchyroll}

ALLISON J. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Something in the Dirt
(2022)
I’m super into the work of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, particularly their movie The Endless (for more info on that, check out the What Scares Us episode on this awesome movie!). Something in the Dirt was conceived of and created during the COVID-19 pandemic and it was something I anxiously awaited after loving their previous projects. The movie itself certainly unfolded differently than I expected, and by the end, I realized that I had been missing the point the entire time. I’ve watched it twice more since then and each time I pick up something new or discover an aspect I hadn’t considered before. It also features multiple easter eggs from their previous movies, which are generally set in the same shared universe. It’s fun! Give it a try! {Hulu}

Satan’s Slaves
(2017)
Satan’s Slaves: Communion
(2022)
This year I was delighted to discover Indonesian director Joko Anwar’s horror movies. I first watched the remake of the Indonesian horror classic The Queen of Black Magic, which Anwar wrote before going on to direct a remake of the 1980 film Satan’s Slaves, its wholly original sequel, and a movie I adore called Impetigore. Fans of the Conjuring series will love his similar visual style and the dark and creepy nature of his films. Satan’s Slaves follows a struggling family after the death of their mother. Strange things start to happen leading them to uncover the secrets of a fertility cult that worships Satan. It follows the structure of a haunted house movie but offers some truly interesting world-building and great scares along the way. But the sequel is where things start getting interesting! The family moves to a dilapidated apartment complex to escape the cult but finds they aren’t safe there either as the evil spreads throughout the apartment complex. Featuring some of the best scares I’ve seen in years and an excellent creepy quality throughout, Satan’s Slaves: Communion became one of the top movies I watched in 2023. Highly recommended! {Amazon} {Amazon}

Persona 3
(2016)
Persona 4: The Golden Animation
(2014)
Persona 5
(2018)
Originally I started watching the Persona series with my husband because he loves the video games. However, within an hour or two I quickly fell in love with this strange anime series. Months later I still hum the theme songs under my breath whenever I need a quick lift. Each Persona features a new cast of high school students living in modern-day Japan who become friends and fight evil using Personas (physical manifestations of a person’s psyche and subconscious used for combat). If you’re into anime or RPGs you’ll probably be familiar with many aspects of this series but as someone who generally isn’t, I still found the concepts easy to pick up and understand with a little time and patience. Each Persona series features interesting themes and plot twists as well as characters you’ll grow to love. Overall, these are great adaptations of an interesting and complex video game series. {Amazon} {Crunchyroll} {Hulu}

Game Changer
Dropout.TV
After watching half a million YouTube shorts of Dropout’s various shows, my husband and I finally sprung for a month of the service and we are having such a blast watching hours upon hours of hilarious and impressive original improv comedy. (Drop used to be known as College Humor.) My favorite of the shows is Game Changer, a game show where the game format changes every single episode. The contestants never know what to expect but are all amazing improv comics in their own right. Some of the first few episodes of Game Changer were spun off as their own series (some of our favorites are Make Some Noise and Um, Actually). We also recently started watching their long-form RPG series Dimension 20 (specifically Fantasy High), which is pretty amazing. Plus, we’ve been introduced to superstars Ally Beardsley, Zac Oyama, and Brennan Lee Mulligan, among other favorites. There are a few free episodes available on YouTube if you’d like to check it out for free, but fair warning: You may just end up paying $6 a month to watch it ALL! {Dropout}

Evil Dead Rise
(2023)
This new installment of the Evil Dead franchise had me smiling wide and giddy watching it. The setting is nearly identical to Satan’s Slaves: Communion (which came out first and which I generally prefer) in that a family is trapped within their condemned apartment complex fighting off an evil entity. It’s a nasty, campy, and brutal gore fest from start to finish. Unfortunately, this became an inadvertent two-parter for me, as I was watching it when Ann Arbor lost power (again!) back in June, which did deflate the ending a bit. However, I would still consider this a must-see for any fan of the horror genre. {AADL}

The Medium
(2021)
A collaboration between the Thai director Bangjong Pisanthanakun (who directed Shutter in 2004) and the South Korean writer Na Hong-jin (who wrote 2016’s The Wailing), The Medium is a mockumentary-style supernatural folk horror film following Nim, a shaman who claims to be possessed by the spirit of Ba Yan, a local goddess. After her niece Mink starts exhibiting strange behavior it’s up to Nim to figure out what’s wrong before it’s too late. This movie is brutal and unflinching while also showcasing the natural beauty of Thailand and its fascinating folklore. I really enjoyed this one and was left with a lot of questions to puzzle over after the final scene. {Amazon}

Renfield
(2023) 
This one is especially fun if you watch the classic Universal Monster movie Dracula (1931) first, as it builds off the original lore to create an action comedy horror movie all its own. In Renfield (2023), the titular character no longer wants to do the bidding of his master, Dracula after 90 years of harsh servitude. Thus begins his journey to make his way in life and separate himself from the world’s most famous Transylvanian vampire. Nicholas Cage is incredible as Dracula and Nicholas Holt plays Renfield as a straight-man henchman with heart. I also enjoyed seeing Shohreh Aghdashloo as a mob boss, whom I recognize from her work in The Expanse. It’s funny, it’s campy, and sometimes it’s a crazy gore fest, but I enjoyed every part of it and recommend it to anyone who can handle a little (or a lot!) of blood. {AADL}

One Missed Call
(2002)
No, not the crappy 2008 American remake—the original 2002 Japanese film in which a young psychology student named Yumi gets an odd voicemail message on her cell phone detailing the upcoming date and time of her death. She struggles to figure out who sent the voicemail and why before it’s too late. It’s a rehash of a lot of J-horror tropes from this time period but features a great sense of dread and visual flair thanks to director Takashi Miike. This one is super nostalgic for me and I had a great time revisiting it. {YouTube}

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
(1920)
Yes, you read that right: 1920! A great horror movie for those who aren’t into the really intense stuff, this silent movie is the quintessential German Expressionist film and features some of the most insane set design and visual style I’ve ever seen. In the movie, a hypnotist uses a brainwashed somnambulist to commit murders. Or does he? At a tight 51 minutes, you won’t regret watching this influential and essential piece of film history. {AADL}

Bros
(2022)
I’m not usually a huge romantic comedy fan, but there was something about this that I really loved. Billy Eichner co-wrote and stars in this funny and heartfelt movie about a man who struggles with commitment but finds himself falling in love with a man he meets during a night out. As the two learn more about each other they encourage each other to follow their dreams and live the lives they’ve always wanted. I found it very funny, wholly original, and very sweet. {AADL}

RYAN K. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Plagiarism and You(Tube)
hbomberguy
(2023)
It seems to be a yearly tradition at this point. Around Christmas every year, YouTuber Hbomberguy appears from the woodwork and gives us a scathing, multi-hour critique of another content creator who deserves to be shamed off the face of the internet. While this year's Plagiarism and You(Tube) might not quite be as iconic as last year's ROBLOX_OOF.mp3, Hbomberguy once again informs us on how certain YouTubers and content creators may not be coming up with all of their content on their own. With multiple plagiarists to cover and a healthy amount of sarcasm and wit, this video essay is well worth the nearly four-hour-long runtime. {YouTube}

Metroid: Dread
Nintendo, video game
(2021)
Metroid is up there for my favorite game franchises of all time. I grew up playing emulated SNES games on a home media PC, and nothing captivated me in the same way as Super Metroid. Over the years, I would devour all of the 2D Metroid games and always wanted more, but the Metroid 4 (Metroid Fusion) came out back in 2002, and let's just say I wasn't quite old enough to remember that. There was a planned Metroid 5, a sequel that even got a title announced, but it was canceled and delayed in perpetuity. Pretty much every Metroid fan was sure it would never come out—which is why it was so shocking on June 15, 2021, when Nintendo announced with zero build-up that Metroid Dread would be coming out later that year. Not only would it be Metroid 5, it would be the fabled game that was thought to have died over a decade previously. Having replayed the game and 100-percented it this year, I can say it was worth the wait. All of my favorite parts of a Metroid game are present, from the exploration to the boss fights to the expertly designed feeling of progression and improvement. If you've never tried Metroid, this is a great place to start. And if you have played Metroid and enjoyed any part of it, this game will blow you away. {Website}

LOREN B. — DESK CLERK

"Sing After Me"
Madeline Kahn and Grover
(1977)
The older, more unrehearsed Sesame Street material is where it's at. This duo has terrific screen chemistry. {YouTube} 

“There’s a Hole in the Bucket”
Laurie Berkner & Brady Rymer
(2016)
My household emphatically got the Laurie Berkner Band memo this year. Their version of this classic children's song is fun to watch (and listen to when you're going screen-free), but we've plumbed YouTube and been thoroughly entertained by many of Berkner's original compositions, too ("Umbrella," "Bubbles," "The Goldfish (Let's Go Swimming)," "These Are My Glasses," etc.). While I do hope to say goodbye someday, the LBB has been a 2023 mainstay. {YouTube}

"Guacamole"
by Mi Amigo Hamlet feat. Alina Celeste
(2021)
We were lucky to catch this excellent duo at their AADL performance, but this music video captures some of their magic. Fair warning: It's impossible to watch and not try to salsa along. {YouTube}

"The Story of Modern Art and Design, Housed in a Suburban Detroit Basement"
by Leslie Camhi
(2021)
The picturesque Cranbrook Art Academy and Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan gets a nice little visual essay treatment here, offering some peeks behind the scenes. {New York Times}

Pina: Dance, Dance, Otherwise We Are Lost
(2011)
I'd been sitting on this documentary for years, suspecting that it would floor me. 100 percent confirmed. {AADL}

CHEYENNE F. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Adults
(2023)
Come to hear Michael Cera do silly voice impressions, stay for a surprisingly moving story of a bunch of emotionally stunted siblings attempting to co-exist with each other. {Prime}

Metalocalyse: Army of the Doomstar
(2023)
Metalocalypse was a very funny Adult Swim show about a fictional famous death metal band. It was canceled in 2013, so imagine my surprise when, 10 years later, we finally got a movie that completed the story. I waited so long for this series to finish I really would've taken anything, but I can happily say Metalocalypse went out on a high note. {WarnerBros}

The African Desperate
(2022)
As a Black artist, this coming-of-age story about the final day of school for a recent Black MFA graduate felt very personal. This experimental film is equal parts funny and excruciating to get through, (just like going to one of your friend's friends' trust-funded exhibition openings) but well worth the effort. {MUBI}

Joyland
(2022)
Joyland is a beautifully shot, sometimes bleak, and often suffocating look at how we all falter under societal norms. {Prime}

Stop Making Sense
(1984)
I never thought I'd get the chance to see the Talking Heads' innovative concert film in theaters, but A24's restoration and subsequent theatrical rollout made that possible. It's the Talking Heads, it's David Byrne in his big suit, it's a classic. {AADL}

Harlan County, USA
(1976)
This Direct Cinema documentary, covering coal miners and their families striking against Duke Power Company for fairer wages and safer worker conditions, is a classic for a reason. {AADL}

Succession 
season 4
(2023)
Kendall Roy, you will forever be famous. {AADL}

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off 
season 1
(2023)
Big year for Michael Cera lovers. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a reimagining of the classic graphic novel series and movie with Ramona Flowers and her seven evil exes taking a central role. {Netflix}

Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake
season 1
(2023)
I loved Adventure Time growing up, so I was excited to get another installment in the series. Fionna and Cake is a fantastical story involving multidimensional exploration, but at its heart, it's an existential story about growing up and moving on. {MAX}

Chainsaw Man 
season 1
(2022)
After making a literal deal with the devil, a poor boy named Denji gains the ability to turn into the titular Chainsaw Man and joins a devil-fighting agency. I understand that description sounds like a lot, and it really is. Chainsaw Man is violent (I mean it's called Chainsaw Man) and often crass, but in between the gore and fighting lies the story of a bunch of traumatized people just trying to find a family. {Crunchyroll}

ANUSREE S. — DESK CLERK

Abbott Elementary
(2022–)
{AADL}

The Lobster
(2016)
{AADL}

Kaala Paani
(2023–)
{IMDB}

CHRISTOPHER B. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Cremator
(1969)
From the very first scene of this movie, I knew I was going to be adrift in strange and troubled waters. Set in Czechoslovakia between the wars, Mr. Kopfrkingl becomes increasingly obsessed with liberating people’s souls by killing them. Unsettling and gorgeously filmed. {AADL}

South Side
(2019-2023)
At first, the show seems like a goofy Parks and Rec-style comedy. It’s told from the perspective of a local rent-to-own store on the south side of Chicago and the cops that patrol the neighborhood. But it mixes in serious and beautiful stories of the characters in an unexpected twist. I loved the rash of clown attacks that plagued the neighborhood but hated the last episode. The show was too interesting and original to continue but at least we got three seasons. {Max}

O.J. Made in America
(2016)
This came with the highest recommendation from fellow staff member Matt G. and it lived up to the high bar he set for it. I don’t follow football and didn’t have a TV when O.J. was being chased in his Bronco or when he was on trial, so much of this was new to me. Even after watching all eight hours of this, I didn’t want it to end. Not only are the raw facts of O.J.’s rise and fall a compelling story, but the candid interviews and the historical footage make this simply captivating. It was almost as if the filmmakers started the project when O.J. was born, knowing how his life would unfold. But is this even about O.J. at all? The whole documentary asks important questions about race in America, justice, and the media. {AADL}

Inland Empire
(2006)
This is a long movie, with some very frightening scenes of rabbits (that I’m still thinking about) and the usual David Lynchian elements of horror where characters wonder whose life they are living. The final scene set to Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” is one of my very favorites in all his movies. {Criterion}

True Detective
season 2
(2015)
Yes, yes, season 1 was a dark masterpiece, but season 2 with all of its doomed characters flailing around trying to keep it together is where my heart goes. And I know everyone hates Vince Vaughn, but as Frank Semyon, he utters the immortal words: “There is no part of my life not overwrought with live-or-die importance. I take a shit, there's a gun to my head saying ‘Make it a good one, don't fuck up.’” {AADL}

I Think You Should Leave
season 3
(2023)
This show has been talked about so much that there’s not much more to say. Either you want to buy an 80-pack of eggs or you don’t. {Netflix}

VANESSA K. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Elemental
(2023)
One of the few movies that has made me cry. I found the plot and characters very relatable because my parents immigrated from Thailand to the U.S. to start a new life. {AADL}

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
(2023)
I was a huge fan of the previous two Ant-Man movies, and I thought this installment was all right. The main highlight for me was seeing Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs in the MCU! {AADL}

Loki
season 2
(2023)
Stories featuring elements of time travel, multiverses, or alternate realities have always fascinated me. After finishing their first overarching story in Avengers: Endgame, it is clear that the MCU is playing with the concept of multiverses in their next few phases. After watching both seasons of Loki, I believe Tom Hiddleston did an amazing job playing the titular character and the writers have given Loki room to grow beyond the version of Loki presented in the MCU phases 1 through 3. {Disney+}

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
(2023)
Spider-Man is one of my favorite superheroes from the Marvel franchise. This animated movie is packed with action, comedy, and colorful scenes to replicate a comic book style. Though not officially associated with the MCU, the concept of the multiverse (or appropriately referred to as the spider-verse) is explored. How many Spider-people is Brooklyn big enough for? {AADL}

Secret Invasion
(2023)
The series was OK. It was interesting to see how the main events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame impacted the non-superpowered characters and their society. Most importantly, Nick Fury is back! {Disney+}

Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3
(2023)
The Guardians are back for another space adventure to rescue one of their own, Rocket. We are offered a glimpse into Rocket's tragic backstory and how those events have shaped him into the character he is. While the comedic elements from the first two volumes are present, some cruel and heartbreaking moments are balanced into the mix. Also a continuing theme from the first two films, the music choices in Volume 3 fit right into the movie. {AADL}

Zootopia
(2016)
After watching Zootopia, I realized how much I enjoy the mystery/detective genre. Hilarious and fun for the whole family. {AADL}

Haunted Mansion
(2023)
The Haunted Mansion attraction at Walt Disney World is one of my favorite rides. Though it may appear spooky, it is more whimsical than scary, and the same could be said for the movie adaptation. I liked seeing some of the features from the ride incorporated into the movie, such as the stretching room and the various ghosts that stalk the mansion. I've heard some mixed reviews online, but I enjoyed the film. {AADL}

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
(2023)
I didn't think I would ever return to the world of the Hunger Games after reading and watching the original trilogy, but here we are. Set 64 years before the Hunger Games trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is President Coriolanus Snow's tragic origin story. The movie is best summed up by the following quote: "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." There were a few elements that Suzanne Collins incorporated into this prequel that tie in so well with Katniss Everdeen's story. {IMDB}

Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt RED, video game
(2020, 2023 Phantom Liberty expansion)
This video game is a lot of fun to play and I have not even finished it yet. As someone who always pursues lawful good choices in video games, I struggled so much because many of the decisions offered are the lesser of two evils, akin to the trolley problem. The events of the game take place in a fictional megalopolis known as Night City, which is heavily influenced by Japanese culture. There are two distinct classes in the city: those who struggle to get by and often resort to less-than-savory methods of pleasure and survival, and the elite known as Corpos who are financially wealthy and dominate society. The majority of characters found in Night City have undergone cybernetic enhancement, either as a necessity or a lifestyle choice. The game developers have put a lot of love into Cyberpunk 2077, featuring an immersive world, a compelling storyline, and a phenomenal soundtrack. All of these are reasons why it's so easy to put in hundreds of hours in a single playthrough. {Steam}

EMILY M. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Baumgartner Restoration
If you're like me you are constantly searching for longer-form content on YouTube to put on while you play video games, do crafts, eat dinner, basically anything, this channel is one of my favorites for that. These videos show the art-conservation process from beginning to end to show exactly how much effort and ingenuity goes into the work of fine art restoration, my recommendations would be for The Conservation of The Assassination of Archimedes and Wood That It Were So Simple. {YouTube}

JAY M. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Polite Society
(2023)
A powerful story starring two women of color who battle with their place in a patriarchal world. Chalked full of funny moments, unique fight scenes, and the unrequited love of two sisters, this movie will leave you with the feeling that you can accomplish anything even when the whole world is against you. {AADL}

CRYSTA C. — DESK CLERK

Nope
(2022)
Entertaining and thought-provoking. I haven't seen a sci-fi movie like this before. {AADL}

The Menu
(2023)
The plot unfolds slowly and is to be savored like each new course on a menu. {AADL}

Unwelcome
(2023)
What happens when all you want is to live in peace but the world keeps getting in the way? {AADL}

Bros
(2022)
A terrific gay romcom! {AADL}

Three Thousand Years Of Longing
(2022)
Historical fiction meets fantasy. {AADL}

VALERIE L. — CLERK I

Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3
(2023)
I’ve never really been a superhero movie fan, but the Marvel Universe movies have been slowly growing on me. My partner’s father really likes them so often they will be on the TV when I’m there. My partner and I had seen the first two Guardian movies fairly often so we decided to see Volume 3 in the theater. I thought it was a great movie. It tied up a bunch of different storylines for closure and understanding. I laughed quite a bit throughout the movie and enjoyed seeing the Guardians triumph once again. {AADL}

Encanto
(2021)
I’m a little behind on my Disney movie watching, but I watched Encanto this year for the first time and I do believe it has just surpassed The Lion King as my favorite Disney movie. It has so many great messages in it: self-acceptance, your worth doesn’t lie in your gift but in your existence, generational trauma, perfectionism, etc. It’s lively, but yet tender and calm at times. The songs are amazing. Little Antonio is my favorite of the family. He’s always there when someone in the family needs him. I have watched it numerous times this year! I just love it! {AADL}

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
(2023)
I originally went to this movie as it was what my 8-year-old nephew wanted to see, but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. Is it highbrow entertainment? No, but it was good. The turtles meet other mutant animals from the same lab that produced the serum that changed them. There were a lot of opportunities for making the right choice and the pull of the wrong choice. Being teenagers, they don’t always make the right choices but in the overall picture, they work for the good of New York City. {AADL}

MATT S. — DEVELOPER

Zodiac
(2007)
I was inspired to rewatch this because of the Blank Check podcast episode about it. While it was overshadowed by other huge movie releases in its year, Zodiac remains one of the best films of 2007. It’s a gripping story about the obsession that presaged the rise of online true-crime enthusiasts and the endless stream of crime documentaries on Netflix. Give it a watch and then listen to the corresponding Blank Check episode. Hopefully, you’ll come away with a new appreciation of it. Directed by David Fincher with a screenplay by James Vanderbilt, based on work by Robert Graysmith. {AADL}

AMANDA S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Reservation Dogs
season 3
(2023)
The third and final season. This show is the best new show in years, and I can’t get enough of it, so I guess I’ll just keep rewatching it and mentioning it annually in my Pulp write-up. {Hulu}

Better Call Saul
(2015-2022)
As a big fan of Breaking Bad when it was on, I avoided this spin-off because spin-offs are usually terrible. I highly regret that decision, and wish I had watched this sooner!! This series is so well done, and it was awesome to get to know Slippin’ Jimmy more. Please watch if you liked BB! {AADL}

The Last of Us
(2023)
I don’t often get into apocalyptic stories, but I got sucked into this popular show, and I’m glad I did because this one was as enchanting as it was heartbreaking. I loved the dynamic of the two main characters as they travel cross country and try to survive a world post-pandemic. I knew nothing about the video game, and it didn’t matter. Also, PEDRO! {AADL}

Party Down
season 3
(2023)
Thirteen years after seasons 1 and 2, the cast reunited and Party Down returned for a third season. I’m a big fan of this series and was skeptical that they could pull it off, and holy smokes, they did more than pull it off because it was amazing. It captured the essence of the earlier seasons about event caterers in L.A. who dabble in the entertainment industry, and the show continued to feature some of the best television comedy from Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Megan Mullally, Adam Scott, Ryan Hansen, and Martin Starr. {Starz}

Shrinking
season 1
(2023)
Jason Segel stars as a therapist and grieving dad struggling with the death of his wife. He throws the therapy manual aside and tries to help his clients his way, and alongside his co-workers—the stand-out one portrayed by Harrison Ford—he also begins to heal himself. This heartfelt show is a surprise gem. Ford is fabulous in it! {Apple+ TV}

BARBARA N. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Neptune Frost
(2021)
Neptune Frost is set in a coltan mine in Burundi and a surreal e-waste dump where a hacker collective is dedicated to seizing control of a global electronic matrix. Columbite-tantalite is essential to cell phones. Reflecting real conditions, people are forced to choose between leaving their ancestral lands and working in mines. The soundtrack is a vibrant mix of electro-punk and acoustic rhythms from Rwanda, combined with poetry, song, bird calls, straightforward dialogue, and mesmerizing imagery that enables the film to work on many levels. It's quirky, daring, provocative, and hints at innate human powers to be reclaimed, and a terrestrial and cosmic interconnectivity more comprehensive than any electronic network could be. {AADL}

ROOSEVELT F.-R. — DESK CLERK

Bottoms
(2023)
The most fun I've had watching a movie in a long time. My inner adolescent hasn't felt this specifically seen since that part in Turning Red where the kid draws her crush as a mermaid and then hides it under her bed. This film, directed by Emma Seligman, is a must-see for fans of Edgar Wright's chaotic cartoony flair and those of us who may or may not have experienced high school as deeply uncool queer girls. {YouTube}

Arthur
(1981)
My parents communicate primarily in movie quotes, and Arthur alone comprises about 40 percent of their vocabulary. I got to watch it with them this Thanksgiving and had a great time learning the language. Utterly charming, absolutely hilarious, and of course, eternally quotable. "Oh, pardon me—oh, you're a HEDGE!" {AADL}

The Case of the Golden Idol 
video game
(2022)
Between its original gameplay concept, tantalizing mystery plot, and an art style straddling the line between nostalgic and grotesque, his little puzzle game clawed its way into my brain and would not let me go. I just wish I could play it for the first time again. (The DLC packs are the next best thing.) {Steam}

In Stars and Time
video game
(2023)
Do you like time loops and/or queer narratives bursting with heart? This single-dev game is for you. I've been following this project ever since it was a little one-off webcomic, and it's been so exciting to see it finally arrive on digital shelves! Of course, I haven't had time to play the full game yet, but I devoured the prologue and the free demo earlier this year. Check them out (and drop a review for an indie dev if you like them, too)! {Steam}

Signalis
video game
(2022)
Much has already been said about this enigmatic survival/existential/cosmic horror experience. I'll just add that I thoroughly enjoyed playing it while screen-sharing with a friend who's obsessed with it. Highly recommend going this route if you can. It's a lot to unpack solo. {Steam}

DANI G. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

The Bear
(2022–)
Yes, Chef! I dressed as Carmy for Halloween this year, and only a few people knew who I was despite how often I've been hearing about this show. It deals with loads of mental illness (anxiety, burnout, suicide to name a few) and shows real character fall and growth. It's messy at times, and hilarious, and heartwarming, and sad. But there hasn't been a show that has made me feel like it in quite a while. {Hulu}

Coral Island
video Game
(2023) 
This farming sim came out of early access in November and I have lost days of my life to it. 10/10 {Steam}

DAVID C. — DESK CLERK

When Evil Lurks
(2023)
{IMDB}
A pandemic-as-demonic-invasion face melter—not for the faint of heart! {Shudder}

Crimes of the Future
(2022)
David Cronenberg returns to the visceral, fully embracing the persistent eroticism of his earlier body horror movies while de-emphasizing the horror. Asks instead, what if bodily transformation, painful as it may be, is a path toward transcendence and liberation? {AADL}

Infinity Pool
(2023)
Though perhaps less impressive than Possessor, this film by Brandon Cronenberg still contains one hell of an unhinged Mia Goth performance, in a year of unhinged Mia Goth performances. {AADL}

I Blame Society
(2020)
Explores what happens if you commit to the bit for too long. For fans of the Creep movies. {Tubi}

Noroi: The Curse
(2005)
A documentary filmmaker investigates seemingly unrelated paranormal phenomena before mysteriously disappearing. We see the footage he shot before his disappearance and it is SCARY. The set pieces jump around in style, but they all slowly build to a confrontation with the mind-blasting unknowable. {Shudder}

I, Daniel Blake
(2018)
Speaking of confronting the mind-blasting unknowable, I, Daniel Blake is all about navigating bureaucracies while trying to get your benefits. Realistically demonstrates how well-meaning people can still be vessels for harm caused by the systems we’ve constructed for ourselves, even as the entire world makes allowances for the perpetrators. Deeply angry, moving, and sad. {AADL}

Stage Fright
(1987)
A late-’80s Italian slasher that feels inspired by American slashers of the previous decade more than the gialli films that inspired those American films. It then went on to inspire modern slashers! A stylish, well-executed, unironic slasher film for those who like that sort of thing. {Tubi}

Roman Holiday
(1953)
A cute and cozy jaunt through Rome! {AADL}

NATE P. — GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Bluey
(2018)
Not just good for a kids' show—I might like Bluey more than my son does. {AADL}

Sunshine
(2007)
A terrific, lesser-known sci-fi thriller from director Danny Boyle, featuring the 2007 versions of an all-star cast. {AADL}

The Fabelmans
(2022)
Spielberg's cathartic, autobiographical picture and one of the better ones in the "Aren't movies great?" genre. {AADL}

Olive Kitteridge
(2015)
The HBO miniseries adaptation of the Elizabeth Strout book in which Frances McDormand is absolutely incredible. {AADL}

ELIZABETH P.-W. — LIBRARIAN

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 
Nintendo, video game
(2017, 2023)
I'm not much of a video game person, but I was intrigued by all the hype surrounding the release of the new game Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch earlier this spring. I didn't grow up playing Zelda and didn't know anything about it, but I was truly delighted by both Tears of the Kingdom and the previous version of the game that came out for the Switch, Breath of the Wild. The open-endedness of the game allows it to be played differently by every person and pursue quests that appeal to you. For me, much of the fun and beauty of the game comes from simply exploring the worlds where it takes place. Unlike many video games, I didn't find myself bored or fatigued and I often even found it peaceful. Who knew video games could be so cool?! (Lots of people I guess, just not me). {Nintendo}

Sandwiches of History
YouTube
(2021–)
Barry is a sandwich enthusiast who enjoys making unusual sandwich recipes from historic cookbooks, rating them, and if possible, "plussing them up"—aka improving upon them. It is the viewer's luck that he does this every single day, films it all, and uploads it to YouTube for us to watch. Sandwiches range from the fairly predictable—"The Sophisticated Club Sandwich" from 1958—to the unusual—"Yeast Sandwich Revisited" from 1936—to the puzzling—"Grandpa Sandwich," "Scraped Chicken Sandwich" and "Brand New Sandwich" to name a few. Barry's videography skills are somewhat amateur, which makes the entire endeavor even more charming to me. I find this channel both amusing and comforting and recommend giving it a go! {YouTube}

HALEY Y. — DESK CLERK

You Won't Be Alone
(2022)
I love a good folk-horror flick, and this one did not disappoint. It has burning witches, generational curses, and gory shapeshifting—and is somehow one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. A testament to the suffering and hope that is experienced in life. {AppleTV}

Skinamarink
(2022)
It's a very slow and very blurry burn, but if there was ever a film that felt like my childhood nightmares, this one is it. {AADL} {Hulu}

EMILY M. — LIBRARIAN

Last Man on Earth
(2015-2018)
Following a virus in 2020 (yikes!) that seemingly wipes out the entire human race except for him, Phil Miller (Will Forte) is doing what any last man would do: living in the biggest mansion in his hometown, covering the walls with pieces of great art taken from museums, soaking in and drinking a kiddie pool of margarita, and making friends with a full range of sports-balls. But, it turns out, Phil might not be alone after all. Without giving away some wonderful reveals, the show eventually settles on following a small group of survivors as they build their lives in the new world and put up with Phil’s boorish behavior (as much as they can). How a show this absurd managed to last four seasons on network TV, I’ll never know, but I am grateful it did. (And I’m also glad the Algorithms That Be pointed me to it, albeit five years after its cancellation.) {Hulu}

Reservation Dogs
(2020-2023)
Teens Elora, Bear, Cheese, and Willie Jack live on a reservation in Oklahoma, working to process the death of their friend Daniel and trying to figure out who they are, both within and outside of their Native identities. Equal parts funny and moving (folks, we really need a better word than “dramedy”), the final season of Reservation Dogs was appointment viewing for me, and while I’m glad the creators got to choose when and how their story wrapped up, I was sorry to see it end. Though education wasn’t the primary reason I turned to the show, it also helped to continue to fill in the wide gaps in my knowledge of Indigenous culture and history. I am certain I’ll rewatch this show if only to get to spend time with these kids again. {Hulu}

AMANDA V. S. — GRAPHIC ARTIST

The Last of Us 
HBO
(2023)
Resisted this one for a while because I’m just not into zombie-type stories and know nothing about video games—I promptly became completely obsessed. {AADL}

Omoiyari: A Songfilm by Kishi Bashi
(2022)
A moving film and score that weaves together the history of Japanese incarceration with a search for identity as a Japanese-American. {Website}

LILY W. — PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATE

Petite Maman
(2021)
This little French film (less than 90 minutes!) is quietly striking. Filmed entirely from the perspective of eight-year-old Nelly, it's a beautiful magical realism story of grief, acceptance, and maternal love. {AADL}

NIKO K. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Dumb Money
(2022)
This movie is about the GameStop situation that happened during quarantine in 2021. Because I was not privy to any of that and because the stock market remains a total mystery to me, I enjoy movies that explain how stuff like this can even happen. I watched this back to back with The Big Short (2015), which caused me to combine the events in my mind, creating a reality in which the GameStop short-squeeze caused the housing market crash of 2008. {AADL}

The Hangover
(2009)
This movie is so deeply rude and stupid. I love this movie. Definitely in my top five. {AADL}

RYAN T. — DESK CLERK

The Whale
(2023)
A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. {AADL}

Antlers
(2021)
In an isolated Oregon town, a middle-school teacher and her sheriff brother become embroiled with her enigmatic student, whose dark secrets lead to terrifying encounters with an ancestral creature. Directed by Scott Cooper. {AADL}

Trigun: Stampede
(2023)
Follow gunman Vash the Stampede as he struggles to maintain his pacifist ways while avoiding the immense bounty on his head. This modern adaptation of Nightow’s Trigun manga was visually stunning with some great isolated stories throughout the 12-episode run. I highly recommend it if you’re into Western/dystopian/action/drama. Directed by Kenji Muto. {Crunchyroll}

Thelma & Louise
(1991)
Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns into a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two girls escape for the crimes they committed. Directed by Ridley Scott. {AADL}

Oldboy
(2003)
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days. Directed by Park Chan-wook. I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into other than “it’s a tough watch.” I caught this on movie theater day a few months back. Though I enjoyed the film, it was interesting to observe the rest of the crowd as certain sequences played out. {AADL}

La Llorona
(2019)
An aging paranoid war criminal, protected by his faithful wife, faces death while being haunted by the ghosts of his past. Directed by Jayro Bustamante. Unfortunately underrated in the plethora of other films using this folk tale in their titles as well. {Wikipedia}

The Lure
(2015)
In Warsaw, a pair of mermaid sisters are adopted into a cabaret. While one seeks love with humans, the other hungers to dine on the human population of the city. Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska. A both dark and lighthearted retelling of Han Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. Polish/musical/horror/comedy/romance/’80s new wave … what’s not to like? {Wikipedia}

Cure
(1997)
A frustrated detective deals with the case of several gruesome murders committed by people who have no recollection of what they've done. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. {Wikipedia}

One Hour Photo
(2002)
A mentally unstable photo developer targets an upper-middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine. Directed by Mark Romanek. {AADL}

Lost Highway
(1997)
Anonymous videotapes presage a musician's murder conviction, and a gangster's girlfriend leads a mechanic astray. Directed by David Lynch. {AADL}

Nanny
(2022)
Piecing together a new life in New York City while caring for the child of an Upper East Side family, immigrant nanny Aisha is forced to confront a concealed truth that threatens to shatter her precarious American Dream. Directed by Nikyatu Jusu. {AADL}

Ghostwire: Tokyo
Tango Gameworks, video game
(2023)
A tense action-adventure thriller from the creators of The Evil Within. After strange disappearances hit Tokyo’s population, it’s up to you to uncover the source and purge the city of a strange, new evil. {Website}

Sonic Frontiers
Sega, video game
(2022)
Sonic Frontiers is the iconic franchise’s first-ever open-zone-inspired gaming experience, bringing Sonic fans an all-new type of Sonic rush. In the dangerous and vast world of Sonic Frontiers, anything is possible, and players will have the freedom to explore the visually stunning, open-zone realm. {Website}

Resident Evil 4
Capcom, video game
(2023)
Resident Evil 4 has reawakened for a new generation of terror fans, powered by RE Engine to deliver modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics while still preserving the essence of the 2005 original. {Website}

Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Ember Lab, video game
(2021)
A story-driven action-adventure game that seamlessly blends narrative with exploration, puzzle-solving, and fast-paced combat for a beautiful, immersive journey. {Website}

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Ninja Theory, video game
(2017)
A warrior’s brutal journey into myth and madness. Set in the Viking age, a broken Celtic warrior embarks on a haunting vision quest into Viking Hell to fight for the soul of her dead lover. {Website}

The Callisto Protocol
Striking Distance Studios, video game
(2022)
From Striking Distance Studios and the creators of Dead Space comes The Callisto Protocol, a terrifying, story-driven, survival horror game set in a prison colony on Jupiter’s dead moon. I know I’m in the minority here, but I love 1992’s Alien 3 film and The Callisto Protocol gives me big Alien 3 vibes. {Website}

ALYSE P. – PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN

Joe Pera: Slow & Steady
(2023)
I enjoy all things Joe Pera, and his debut stand-up special does not disappoint. While less calm than his Adult Swim content it was a fun and great laugh—especially the squirrel bit. {YouTube}

John Mulaney: Baby J
(2023)
{Netflix}

Nate Bargatze: Hello, World
(2023)
Nate Bargatze’s latest comedy special is great because as a fan of stand-up comedy, I’m always trying to find good clean comedians to share with family/mixed company and this special fits the bill. {Amazon}

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
(2005–)
With this being the longest-running sitcom in history I was surprised at how fun and fresh the show still feels. Several of the episodes from season 16 stand out but “Risk E. Rats Pizza and Amusement Center” and “Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day” are now among my top favorites across all 16 seasons. {Hulu/FX} 

I Think You Should Leave
(2019–)
Tim Robinson’s Netflix show features many sketch comedy greats, like Bob Odenkirk of Bob and Dave and Breaking Bad Fame, and Sam Richardson, who starred alongside Tim in The Detroiters, as well as newcomers like Patti Harrison. Season three debuted this Summer and is still just as funny and uncomfortable as the first season. {Netflix}

Moonlighting
(1985)
While certainly not new, by any stretch of the imagination, Moonlighting was recently released for streaming for the first time. While this show is not one of my favorites, it’s been my fall go-to TV choice after listening to The Psychologists Are In—the Psych rewatch podcast—and hearing multiple writers and producers reference it as one of their biggest influences. It’s also nice to watch Bruce Willis exercise his early career quick-witted comedy chops. {Hulu}

Strange Planet
(2023)
Based on the webcomic of the same name, this Apple TV+ cartoon by Nathan W Pyle and Dan Harmon, with episodes co-written by Demi Adejuyigbe and Open Mike Eagle, is a very sweet and calming look at life and humanity. {Apple TV+}

Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
(2023)
While this movie has a “rotten” 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it was a fun comedic romp that reminded me a bit of Mystery Team meets The Goonies meets The Hangover and has some pretty great classic cringe humor. {YouTube}

Quicksand
(2023)
An independent buddy comedy filmed in Northern Michigan. {Website}

REENA P. — DESK CLERK

My Cousin Vinny
(1992)
A comedic film about a recently graduated lawyer named Vinny who must exonerate his cousin from a murder. Starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, as well as Ralph Macchio of Karate Kid fame, this movie is filled with courtroom antics and cultural clashes between New York and Alabama. Directed by Jonathan Lynn. {AADL}

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
(2003)
"Oceans are now battlefields" is the opening line of text used to announce the beginning of this movie set during the Napoleonic Wars. Starring Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey, the British frigate HMS Surprise is tasked with capturing a French privateering vessel, the Acheron. With the advice of his eccentric but even-tempered surgeon, Stephen Maturin (played by Paul Bettany), Captain Aubrey endures an intense journey to the Far Sides of the world to seek his glory. The captain and his surgeon have a fascinating relationship that feels organic and fraught all at once, imperiled and strengthened by the horrid realities of war at sea. Endlessly entertaining and fun, and a great movie for naval nerds. Directed by Peter Weir. {AADL}

Armored Core VI
FromSoftware
(2023)
Armored Core VI is the mech-gaming experience you have always hoped for. A mostly linear single-player experience, you play as a mech pilot known only as 621 who steals the callsign "Raven" and slowly uncovers the mysteries of the ruined planet of Rubicon. It is a masterpiece standing on the shoulders of its predecessors, though you do not have to play the previous installments to follow this iteration's story. The captivatingly dark industrial settings and blazing-fast gameplay are guaranteed to keep you hooked—that is if you can manage to keep pace with the increasingly challenging boss encounters. The most satisfying experiences of this game come down to build-crafting: though there's a learning curve to building your chassis, eventually you get to see the results of your customization firsthand! Chassis parts and weapons are all swappable between missions and you can always find a new combination of parts to turn the tide of battle in your favor. This is my game of the year. {Website}

Dark Souls II
FromSoftware
(2014)
Last year I reviewed the original Dark Souls experience, and this year I'm continuing the trend by talking about Dark Souls II. There's a remastered and updated version of the game called Scholar of the First Sin, and I'd weigh your decisions carefully when picking between the two. This review is of the original game, which feels largely curated, despite some of the ugly corners of rushed development showing their colors on occasion (the lighting system was never fully implemented). The rerelease adds tons of enemies and more content, which apparently can come off as inconsiderate of the original game's design, though I do not have firsthand experience with it. The challenge continues to mount as you enter the world of Drangleic, and must once again rekindle the old flame to restart the Age of Fire. The level design speaks to the apocalyptic nature of the world: it's dark, in disrepair, and desperately in need of a hero. Compared to the first experience, DS2 has gone out of its way to make death feel even more painful and tragic. Two new mechanics penalize you in unique ways: despawning enemies you've slain too many times, and increasing the amount by which your character goes "hollow." Each encounter ends up feeling much more daunting, and fights require slightly more planning as a result. If you're looking for a challenge, DSII will not disappoint. {Website}

Pizza Tower
Tour De Pizza
(2023)
Pizza Tower is a 2D sidescrolling platformer that plays a little like Warioland, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Donkey Kong all at once. You are Peppino Spaghetti, and your pizzeria is going to be destroyed if you don't climb the Pizza Tower! Fast-paced, irreverent, and silly, Tour De Pizza does a mix of amazing sprite work and endlessly addictive tunes to make dashing through enemies and collecting items a fun time. An excellent indie game and a surprise smash hit. {Website}

ELI — LIBRARY DIRECTOR

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
(2023)
I love Scott Pilgrim; the original comic, the 2010 film and video game, the colorized reissued comics, the soundtrack, the videogame soundtrack, everything. Creator Bryan Lee O'Malley and show writer BenDavid Grabinski made sure to prepare fans for a very different take on the story with the release of this latest 8-episode adaptation for Netflix, animated by anime masters Science Saru, and from the first episode, this is a very new story and a fresh, adult take on the characters fans thought they knew well. Every episode is a delight, from the outstanding writing melding nods to old jokes with the fresh laughs of completely new ones, to the excellent performances by what has become a star-filled voice cast, to the dynamite pacing, effects, and fight choreography of a studio that knows what they're doing. A true television masterpiece great for rewatching; I think I'm on my third time through already after just two weeks. Highly recommended! {Netflix}

ORIOL — DESK CLERK

La Llorona 
(2019)
This film is not the one from the Conjuring franchise that came out the same year! Jayro Bustamante directs this searing domestic horror about a Guatemalan former dictator (a thinly fictionalized Efraín Ríos Montt) as he stands trial for committing genocide against the Mayan people. Confined with his family to his estate by round-the-clock protests, and infatuated with his new maid Alma—who happens to be of indigenous Kaqchikel ethnicity—Montt begins to unravel as the ghosts of his past reverberate against his present. Less outwardly scary than it is bone-chillingly dreadful, this movie is a triumph on so many fronts. For one thing, Bustamante was forced to film in the movie in the French Consulate of Guatemala City (a French sovereign territory) under threat from the Guatemalan government, which continues to deny the genocide to this day. So it’s wild that this movie exists, let alone has so much going for it—the immensely resonant script with layers upon layers of politically and symbolically trenchant meaning in every line; the acting of all the leads, manifesting the slowly building dread/complicity as it writhes to the surface of consciousness; how the movie shoots the hauntingly beautiful visage of María Mercedes Coroy, alternately forgiving and condemning; a cameo from Rigoberta Menchú Tum herself! Ghosts haunting their oppressors is my favorite horror subgenre. Content warning: genocide, sexual assault, infanticide. {AADL}

Talk to Me 
(2022)
This might be my platonic ideal of horror movies. Australian teens come into possession of an embalmed hand that lets you briefly be possessed by a dead person. So of course, they use it as a party drug. This film (banned in Qatar for featuring nonbinary actor Zoe Terakes, who kills it here, along with the rest of the cast) weaves together the trauma of familial grief while successfully deploying the full potential of its brilliant premise. Squeamishly emotional horror to the nth degree. Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. Content warning: suicide, self-harm {AADL}

Occult
(2009)
There is a certain class of horror media where simply reading the Wikipedia plot summary is enough to leave me sleepless and despondent. Occult is definitely that type of movie, gripping me with a solemn terror that latched onto me well beyond the end credits. A found-footage doc that follows bizarre phenomena plaguing the victims of a mass stabbing, this movie gets excellent mileage from the documentarian axiom that you don’t stop filming no matter what turns the subject takes, however dark or inexplicable (though the boundaries of professional distance are, um, tested). Apparently, Shiraishi trafficks heavily in the documentarian aesthetic. I can’t stop thinking about the horrific escalation of stakes as we witness the initial event blossoming from personal tragedy to supernatural mystery to eventual hyperobject. I can’t stop thinking about the utterly skin-crawling score (uncredited on IMDB or anywhere in English as far as I can tell), which sounds like a cabal of demons possessed the dustiest, rustiest kalimba and most rotten log drums in existence before corrupting the crap out of the resulting audio files. I can’t stop thinking of the performance of Shohei Uno as Eno-kun, so perfectly naturalistic in its chilling banality. Directed by Kōji Shiraishi. Content warning: mass death {YouTube}

Andor 
(2022)
What if John Le Carré set his spy fiction in the Star Wars universe? My favorite spy fiction depicts the soul-breaking drudgery of tradecraft, and this show does so in space! No Jedi here, just downtrodden galactic laborers turned freedom fighters trying to escape the crap sandwich of Imperial rule. The dialogue, acting, and deployment of Star Wars tropes are all perfect. This show’s existence cheapens all other Lucasfilm properties (that’s a good thing). If you like this show and you’re not a leftist, you’re watching it wrong. At the moment, there are no clear plans for a home media release but you can watch it on Disney+. Created by Tony Gilroy. {Disney+}

JENNY C. — DESK CLERK

Baldur’s Gate 3
video game
(2023)
I purchased Baldur’s Gate 3 back in 2020 as an early-access release on Steam (one of the biggest platforms for purchasing and managing games on a computer). Early access meant that the game was not finished, so for almost three years, players could, at most, play the first act of a three-act game. Despite this, I played it for about 200 hours. I wanted to experience all the different ways I could solve the problems the game presents and all the ways I could build the characters. I could not WAIT for the full game. It was finally released for PC on August 3 of this year, to a deluge of spectacular reviews and accolades.

Not sure what Baldur’s Gate 3 even is? Well, first of all, please note that it is a mature-rated game featuring sexual content and violence, to say the least. Beyond that, Baldur’s Gate is a city found in Dungeons & Dragons, the long-running pen-and-paper RPG. It is the setting for many adventures, including two computer games in the ‘90s. A quarter century later, the series has returned in a big way. Developed by Larian, a company that made the critically acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin games (a spiritual successor to the original Baldur’s Gate games), Baldur’s Gate 3 offers an adventure that starts with a band of very different people trying to cure themselves of a parasite that would turn them into Mind Flayers. Think The Borg from Star Trek, but instead of cyborgs they have octopus heads and eat brains!

However, there are mysterious forces at work, and it isn’t a simple invasion by the Mind Flayers. The party will uncover a conspiracy and can choose to defy it—or go along with it—in a myriad of ways. Have a quest to infiltrate a goblin camp? Well, you could sneak in the back and avoid any detection, or maybe sweet talk one of the guards by complimenting his thoroughbred beast-dog … or maybe you just use psychic powers to exert your authority over the goblins—who start to call you a “True Soul” in response.

Whatever path you forge through the game, there is a lot to discover and experience. Wonderful character writing sculpts party members and their experiences, drawing the player into their stories. There’s mystery, romance, and so much magic. If you’re looking for a game to sink into the world and explore, check out Baldur’s Gate 3.

If you’re interested in some content that takes place before the BG3 begins, there is a Dungeons & Dragons game book in the AADL collection for you! Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus involves the series of events that led to Elturel (a neighboring city to Baldur’s Gate) descending into the top layer of Hell. This event is very relevant to the early parts of the video game, and several prominent characters in it, so this tabletop game book is considered a prologue to BG3. {Steam} {AADL}

MARISA H. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Warrior Nun 
(2020) 
An orphaned teen is accidentally chosen to be the Halo-Bearer for a secret sect of demon-hunting nuns. This is peak camp and so, so stupid but so so so incredibly fun. {Netflix}

The Last of Us 
(2023) 
A beautiful and compelling story of survival. Episode 3 in particular is perhaps the greatest single episode of television I have ever seen. {AADL}

They Cloned Tyrone 
(2023) 
This is a pulpy, mystery/sci-fi/comedy and well-written homage to Blaxploitation films that takes us down a rabbit hole of government conspiracy. {Netflix}

Scavengers Reign 
(2023) 
A beautiful anime, reminiscent of the art of Moebius, that follows the stranded survivors of the deep-space freighter Demeter 227. Thrilling, beautiful, and somehow cozy in a lonely way. {HBO}

Class of ’07 
(2023) 
Almost a lighthearted counterpoint to Yellowjackets, an apocalyptic flood traps a group of women celebrating their 10-year reunion from an all-girls school. {Amazon}

LUCY S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Colin From Accounts
(2022–)
This rom-com series, set in Sydney, Australia, features 40-year-old Gordon and 29-year-old Ashley who begin the series as total strangers but form an interesting bond when they injure a dog and decide to take joint custody. It is exceedingly funny, sometimes tense, always honest, and entirely charming. Its creators are also the co-stars and married in real life. {Paramount}

ELLE B. — LIBRARIAN

Jury Duty
(2023)
Honestly, this was just plain fun to watch. Ronald is a regular guy who thinks he’s a part of a documentary on the average American jury process. But unbeknownst to Ronald, every single person involved in the trial is an actor. {Amazon}

Tunic
video game
(2022)
{Steam} {Nintendo}

Pikmin 4
Nintendo, video game
(2023)
Lemme tell you: people have been SLEEPING on Pikmin and the folks over at Nintendo hit it out of the park with the newest installment to the series. My only qualm? The second player’s role of “Pebble pitcher” is … not the most enthralling. My condolences to second players everywhere. {Nintendo}

Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Nintendo, video game
(2023)
The challenges! The whimsy!! No notes. {Nintendo}

Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo, video game
(2023)
{Nintendo}

ELIZABETH S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Fall of the House of Usher
(2023)
What can I say? I just love the Flaniverse. {Netflix}

Swarm
(2023)
This wild ride of a show focuses on a murderous main character who is part of the “Swarm,” an obsessive fandom modeled after the real-life BeyHive. Can obsession with celebrities lead to darkness, detachment from reality, an unhinged series of events culminating in a murderous rampage, and an entirely new identity? A cautionary tale. I’m looking at you, Swifties. {Amazon}

Sister Wives
(2010-2023)
Sometimes you just need to sit down for an indeterminate amount of time and watch 18 seasons of reality TV about a polygamist family. Pro tip: It’s best if you don’t think about how many hours of your life the task consumes. {TLC}

FROM
(2022-2023) 
I affectionately refer to this show as Lost 2.0. There are more than a few reasons for this, including but not limited to the fact that Lost producers Jack Bender and Jeff Pinkner are responsible for its creation. Premise: A group of unrelated travelers end up in a town off the map that they cannot leave. At night, monsters come out. Lost fans, if this is ringing any bells, head on over to this show which is promised to end up less confusing than Lost. We’ll see! {MGM+}

What We Do in the Shadows 
(2019-2023)
With the premiere of the fifth season, I decided to rewatch this entire series. It is worth rewatching again and again, as long as you don’t mind crying from laughing. {AADL}

Dark 
(2017-2020)
A friend told me to watch this, and I am so glad I did! I already need to rewatch it. No other show could do what Dark does so masterfully, I’m convinced. I also enjoyed 1899, which was like Dark, created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. Hopefully, they continue to work together, because I am as invested in their creations as I have historically been in the Flaniverse. {Netflix}

KATIE D.W. — LIBRARY TECH

The Richly Textured Life
by Dr. Ron Delph
(2015)
I discovered a YouTube Playlist of Star Lectures offered by Eastern Michigan University’s Honors College. I attended some of these in person, but many I was unable to attend. This one in particular is by one of my favorite professors from when I was in undergrad. He speaks passionately about the various things that contribute to a rewarding and fulfilling life. I found it inspiring. {YouTube, Part One} {YouTube, Part Two}

Chi’s Sweet Home
Chi’s New Address
(2008-2009)
These anime shorts are based on the manga Chi’s Sweet Home and are absolutely adorable! The episodes are only about five-minutes long and each tells a story in the life of Chi, a rescued kitten. There are two seasons, but I had to get the second season elsewhere as the library doesn’t have it in the collection right now. {AADL} {Season 2 on CrunchRoll}

Good Omens
season 2
(2023)
I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed at first that the whole cast of human characters didn’t return for this season and that it instead revolved around the angelic and demonic characters. That said, I really enjoyed the season and watching the relationship between Crowley and Aziraphale grow. I liked all the scenes that took place over the past centuries as well. {Amazon}

Loki
season 2
(2023)
The second season of this show felt like a smooth continuation from the first season. The new characters they introduced fit well in the story and there were enough twists and turns throughout to keep me guessing as to how it would all end. {Disney+}

CHRISTOPHER PORTER — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN | PULP

Formula 1: Drive to Survive
(2019–)
The only time I've ever been interested in auto racing was when Pole Position came out on the Atari 2600 in 1982. But after watching the documentary series Formula 1: Drive to Survive, I now picture myself as an F1 driver every time I get behind the wheel of my minivan. The doc follows the F1 circuit as the drivers and their massive crews traverse the world, from Monaco to Singapore, for 20-plus races a year. Drive to Survive is beautifully shot, which it should be because there are big Euro-glam vibes in Formula 1—most of the drivers could double as models—and every element of F1 has a strong design aesthetic, right down to the tools in the garage. The sport's carbon footprint is hideous, and my tofu-eating ass has some viewer's guilt, but I can't get enough of these cars, which look like spaceships on Earth. Formula 1: Drive to Survive does a terrific job of spinning tiny dramas throughout each season, which is no easy feat considering there's usually little doubt who will win the race in recent years: F1's current champion, Max Verstappen, is LeBron James and Michael Jordan combined. {Netflix}

The Last Drive-in With Joe Bob Briggs
(2018–)
I missed Joe Bob Briggs' original cult run as a campy horror-movie host from 1984 to 2000 due to a severe lack of cable TV in my life. Shudder resurrected him in 2018, and over the years since, I've watched all the movies he's presented with co-host Darcy the Mail Girl on the streaming service. I don't find Joe Bob as funny as he thinks he is, but I've long loved crap horror movies presented by badly made-up hosts sitting on cheap sets (Sir Graves Ghastly, Count Gore de Vol, Count Scary, The Ghoul). Plus, there's a good vibe about the show, Darcy always calls Joe Bob on his b.s., and Briggs is an encyclopedia of film knowledge. {Shudder}

More AADL Staff Picks:
➥ 2022
➥ 2021
➥ 2020
➥ 2019
➥ 2018
➥ 2017
➥ 2016