Happy Throwback Thursday, fam! The writers at GateCrashers want to let you in on the old things they’ve newly discovered. In this monthly column, we’ll explore these throwbacks so you can reminisce, or find something old that’s new to you. This month Brason, Bobby, Gabrielle, Amanda, Isabel, and Bree followed a theme of “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”
SOMETHING OLD
Brason
The Sopranos S1 Ep. 1-3
So much packed into just forty-five minute to one-hour episodes, including a raw performance from James Gandolfini and Lorraine Bracco. Dealing with many stages of the “mob” life that might come off as parody at a few points, it still manages to keep you sucked into this world like you’ve known this entire group of friends and family for years.
Gabrielle
Little Witch Academia
I discovered Little Witch Academia after not seeing any anime since I was around 8 years old, and to be honest: It made me want to watch more. It’s so wholesome and fun. I don’t think it’s a great example of writing or anything, but I just enjoyed it so much. I love the characters, world, and tone. I only wish it was longer.
Bobby
Days of Being Wild (1990)
Wong Kar-wai’s films, with his utilization of mood through a cornucopia of colors, are some of my favourite films. And while I’ve watched most of his films, I never watched Days of Being Wild (1990), and I am happy to say that it lives up to the hype! There’s an element of relatability to the characters in the film, who are mostly just walking and talking, with a lot of voiceovers. There’s a beautiful melancholy to the film that is heightened by cinematographer Christopher Doyle’s bottle-green-and-blue colours, especially with how the film focuses on a wide variety of characters, each of them unique in their personalities.
Isabel
Leverage S5
I rewatched season 5 of Leverage this month, and it’s always just as good as the first time. The culmination of everyone growing together in ‘The Long Goodbye Job’ is endlessly heartbreaking. The emotion in Nate’s voice when he screams, “WHY WOULD I LIE”, parallels the very first episode of the show… Leverage just works every time.
Amanda
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human is a choice-based adventure story game created by Quantic Dream that follows three androids living in a future where they’re regarded as slaves. They eventually gain sentience, develop a concept of freewill, and fight for their individual civil liberties. It came out in 2018, but I didn’t really clue into it until last month. A good friend of mine had been properly obsessed when it came out, but I wasn’t much of a PlayStation or PC gamer at the time, so I didn’t investigate further until I was looking through some old playlists on Jacksepticeye’s YouTube channel and realized he had done an entire playthrough. After watching literal hours of gameplay, I was hooked.
This game is so stressful! Every decision you make can impact the entire outcome of the game! Apparently, there are many different ways to accidentally kill the main characters! Controlling three different people all fighting for their lives in a society that wants them dead is anxiety-inducing! And yet! I am fully obsessed with Kara, Markus, and Connor and their stories. Kara is trying to escape her abusive owner while protecting the child she cared for; Markus becomes the literal messiah of the entire android population; and Connor–my sweet, sweet Connor–is struggling to choose between following his programming of hunting down deviant androids or paving the way to his own future. I cried several times while watching and, eventually, playing this game. It’s so good. Please check it out and then come talk about the inevitable robot uprising with me.
SOMETHING NEW
Brason
Industry Baby by Lil Nas X
After Call Me By Your Name & Sun Goes Down, how was Nas going to one-up himself? By some brilliant marketing and getting a kick-ass comedic feature from Jack Harlow in a ballsy music video. Just a vibe the whole way through discussing pushing past what others thought possible of you.
Bobby
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr
It may not have ended, but after reading the fourth issue of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, I want to say that this is one of my favourite comics of the year so far. Grafity’s Wall was the comic that established Ram V as one of my favourite comic book writers, and Laila Starr might be my favourite comic written by him. It is funny and philosophical, with the characters having so much depth to them as they explore the greater implications of the book’s premise. Filipe Andrade’s art is a harmony of vibrant colors and stylised movement. And the lettering by AndWorld Design has a cool snappiness to it.
Isabel
Leverage: Redemption
Only the first eight episodes are out so far, but I don’t think I’ll ever quite recover from Hardison’s speech in the first – changing the cheesy title into a direct link to Judaism and the restorative justice at the center of the show, it got me in that single moment. Also, Breanna is a lesbian. Did you know Breanna is a lesbian? Now you do.
Gabrielle
Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso started its second season this month, and it keeps being as heartwarming as ever. I discovered the show in July too, but it quickly became one of my favorite shows. I never thought I’d watch a football show, but this is something really special.
SOMETHING BORROWED
(or recommended)
Brason
Mob Psycho 100 S1 Ep. 1-4
Really defined character work and a show confident in its themes. The artwork explodes at you every chance it gets, each shot feels planned out. The action is really not the best part for me here, it’s the clever dialogue and humor. Little hints at characters arcs way down the line.
Bobby
Painting Oxford Road, Manchester (1983) by William Turner
I wanted to look at paintings, so a friend who loves expressionism recommended the paintings from that movement, as well as the ones influenced by it. And that’s how I discovered Manchester artist William Turner (1920-2013), who was self-taught. Inspired by movements such as expressionism, his paintings of the North took me back to a different time in the area, a time before my birth. There’s a power of showing memory through art, especially when you share it with someone. His painting of Oxford Road in Manchester from 1983 stood out to me, with its depiction clearly from a past era, yet feeling timeless.
Isabel
Hades
Okay, I know this is old news by now, but did you know Hades KICKS ASS? It’s kind of a miracle game for me. My ADHD barely lets me finish games usually, but Hades? I finished the main quest days ago and I still haven’t put it down. It’s really a triumph for ADHD gamers.
Gabrielle
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
I also started reading again this month, and although I’m doing it very slowly, I couldn’t ask for a better recommendation than the one Jon from GC made with Meddling Kids. As a horror fan and an obsessive Scooby-Doo fan, this book does EVERYTHING for me. It’s fun to read, I’m excited to get deeper into the Lovecraftian elements, and see how the characters develop.
SOMETHING BLUE
(or something colorful)
Brason
All of the Lights by Kanye West Music Video
Quite possibly my favorite song off of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a cold & depressing opening to this video with the Interlude playing, then a boost of energy with the bright letters and the bombastic energy of Kanye on top of a cop car. His dancing matches the huge and inspiring energy of this song.
Bobby
The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme (2010)
Thanks to Beach House, I’ve been listening to a lot of dream pop. There’s something about the ethereality of the genre that makes it so appealing to me. And that usually leads me to take note of the visual aspects of some of the albums of dream pop I listen to, which was the case with The Radio Dept.’s Clinging to a Scheme (2010). The outfit worn by the person on the cover and the smoke billowing from what appears to be a cigar all seemed to have the colour of blue to me. It’s a colour I sometimes associate with emotions. And with this album, there was a serene sadness that I fell into. I can see why it’s a favourite.
Isabel
White Tank Tops
This might be a weird one, but I think everyone should buy a white tank top. I’m not sure I’ve ever worn something so gender-affirming. There’s something about someone’s shoulders and arms being so out there, so visible. It feels so strong in such a wonderful way. And, I live somewhere humid, so they’re great for the horrible weather here.
Gabrielle
Lighting in Control
I started playing Control, which I had in my library for a while now, and I love it. I understand like half of what’s going on, but it’s really fun to play, and above all else, I’m in love with how it looks. It’s set in a surreal ever-changing office building, with the creepiest and coolest lighting that’s able to turn a boring building into a haunting and mysterious but exciting place to explore.
Bree
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
Atlus has hopped back on the remaster bandwagon with a Switch port of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. The original American release was in 2003, and the remaster keeps the original intact aside from some graphics and sound enhancement. I was initially apprehensive, as I hadn’t played any of the SMT entries but had tried Persona 2 (similar mechanics) and did not care for it. However, despite missing the combat mechanics of newer Persona entries, the story and world building have hooked me.
The protagonist begins the story with realizing the hero’s journey will be a rug pulled out from him- as his world has already ended in an event referred to as “the conception.” He is then imbued with “demon” powers from an unnamed character, a horn grows out from his neck and he is covered in black and blue tattoos. The world initially feels visually sparse, but as you explore you begin to find increasingly complicated maps and locations that are filled with interesting characters.
Having a piece of media start at what feels like an ending was a unique experience. I’m about halfway through, but the game seems to be dealing with themes of destruction, creation and rebirth. Would recommend to anyone that likes turn based RPGs!
