'90s Kid Nostalgia (Reading Rainbow; Bill Nye, the Science Guy; Magic School Bus)

Welcome back to school, nerds! Washburn began its fall semester this week welcoming freshman, international students, and returning students who are well into studies. The beginning of a new school year never fails to bring with it feelings of nostalgia. I'm especially missing the days before before my life was consumed with homework and essays. 

In an effort to cope, my television habits are regressing back to the days of childhood. Luckily, Netflix has plenty of shows from my younger days as well as a solid collection of old school Disney movies! 

Reading Rainbow (1985): 

Image credit: www.smule.com

Every bookie today can attest that at least some of their love was inspired by LeVar Burton's passion for reading. Near and dear to our hearts are the classic episodes where LeVar introduced us to some of our favorite childhood books like "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Netflix's collection of "Reading Rainbow" is pretty slim for now - but fear not! With LeVar's successful Kickstarter campaign to get the show up and running again (with added resources for kids and schools), we'll surely be seeing more of that butterfly in the sky.

Bill Nye, the Science Guy (1993):

GIF credit: www.tumblr.com

BILL BILL BILL. You can watch the whole first season of this old school Disney beauty and learn all about the wonders of science. Bill Nye is such a classic, I can remember even watching his videos during physics class in high school! From gravity, to respiration, to evolution - Bill Nye has got your back. 

P.S. Did you know a Kickstarter campaign for a documentary about Bill Nye was just successfully funded? The filmmakers plan to tell Bill's story, including his studies, television career, and his mission to change the world.

Magic School Bus (1997): 

Video credit: jaron134, YouTube

Remember this precious gem of kid television? Featuring Lily Tomlin as the one and only Ms. Frizzle, "Magic School Bus" took us on crazy learning adventures everywhere from our backyards to outer space. Along the way, 'The Friz' taught us about a range of sciences, including astronomy, chemistry, biology, zoology, botany, and anatomy. Cuddle up with some cereal on Saturday mornings with your blanket to enjoy this nostalgic treat or use it study up for those biology classes this semester! 

Females Are Strong as Hell (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - 2015 - TV-14)

Today, I present to you the shortest and giggliest guilty pleasure binge of your life. Just 13 episodes. A Netflix original of comedy to the core. Created by humor junkies Robert Carlock and Tina Fey (both known for their work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock). Starring KCMO native Ellie Kemper (The Office, Bridesmaids). Put your hands together for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - ooooo dammit!

Image credit: www.vogue.com

The show begins just as four girls are pulled by SWAT members from an underground bunker where they've spent the last 15 years of their lives held captive by a doomsday cult preacher. When the 'Indiana Mole Women' share their story on a TV talk show, Kimmy realizes that she doesn't want to return to her old life in Durnsville. She stays behind in New York City to start a fresh life and somehow catch up on all the adulthood learning she missed. 

GIF credit: tvguide.com

First thing's first, Kimmy needs a job. She starts working as a nanny for local crazie Jacqueline Voorhes (Jane Krakowski - Ally McBeal, 30 Rock) after Kimmy finds her son wandering about the streets of NYC stealing candy. Next she scores an apartment with roommate Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess - 30 Rock), a flamboyant struggling actor.

GIF credit: www.tumblr.com

Kimmy starts feeling out her new-found freedom, navigating NYC, boys, friendship, and responsibility. Just when things are going great - she's needed to testify against the crazy cult leader who kidnapped her, Rev. Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm - Mad Men). Can Kimmy save the day?

Image credit: thedailybeast.com

I love Ellie Kemper's portrayal of Kimmy - her one-liners often come in hilarious comebacks with some childhood flare (remember, Kimmy hasn't seen the outside world since 1995). Plus this chick deserves your respect for keeping herself and her friends safe and sane...ish...for 15 years underground. Never once did she fall for Wayne Gary Wayne's end of the world bullcrap. And when she finally got out, she thrived. 

Video credit: IGN, YouTube

Ultimately this show is straight up entertainment - I giggled from start to finish. Be warned, it's some pretty silly, shallow humor. You won't laugh if you're looking for some intriguing satire. It's an adorable show and intentionally made to be. Not a lot of character development or deep plot, but plenty of goofiness. Rating: 3/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's. 

The Precious Butterfly that is Ned (Our Idiot Brother - 2011 - R)

So lately I've been obsessed with this show that only ran for like two seasons in 2000 called Dark Angel - which sadly is not streaming instantly on Netflix. While that is my current binge TV show, I've got a few movies to review for you in the meantime! The first is a film I discovered thanks to Netflix recommendations when I watched a bunch of indie films in a row - I'm so glad I took a risk on Our Idiot Brother. It's precious.

GIF credit: pandawhale.com

Ned, portrayed by Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man, Ant-Man), is somewhat of a clueless hippie with a giant heart. After a run in with the law, Ned decides he needs to finally get his life together. As he puts together some money for a place of his own, Ned couch-surfs at his sisters' in the meantime - played by Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, and Elizabeth Banks. The sisters struggle with their brother's disruptive presence as he's notorious for making a bit of a mess.

Video credit: Movieclips, YouTube

I found Ned to be a lovable character with a precious soul and a hopeful personality. In my favorite line out of the entire film he says, "I like to think that if you put your trust out there, if you really give people the benefit of the doubt, see their best intentions, people will rise to the occasion." And honestly, that's kind of the message I got out of the film. Ned never loses his faith in the universe and his family. He's the chillest dude you'll ever meet - he's also one of the most positively passionate.

Image credit: richredman.wordpress.com

The film also features characters portrayed by Rashida Jones, Hugh Dancy, Adam Scott, and Steve Coogan, among others. Some goofy, some supportive, some less than... As for the plot, while entertaining, the movie is a little choppy. There are a lot of little bits going on in the supporting characters' lives which tend to pull the movie in a lot of directions at once. Part of me wants to say that this is distracting, part of me wants to say that it works for this film.

GIF credit: pandawhale.com

In the end of course, Ned's homecoming pulls his family closer together - he even gets his dog, Willie Nelson, back! Yay for the good feels! While the film has it's issues mechanically, I found it to be an overall adorable indie flick. Rating: 3.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's

Metallic Assassins and Austrian Accents (Terminator - 1984 - R)

The original Terminator is a classic science-fiction film that everyone should take a risk and see at least once. Like Star Wars, you may not love it, but never having observed the beauty of it with your own eyes is frowned upon by all. (Though personally I love Star Wars with all my heart and most films of the science-fiction category - have I mentioned how stoked I am for the new movie???)

*cough cough*

Luckily, you have the chance to watch Terminator for yourself as it's currently available to instantly stream through Netflix!

Image credit: terminator.wikia.com

The film is set in 1984 near Los Angeles, California, where two beings arrive from the year 2029. The first is a cyborg assassin hell bent on killing a young woman named Sarah Connor. The second, a human fighting to save mankind and hell bent on saving her. 

GIF credit: terminators.tumblr.com

Sarah finds herself caught in the middle of a war going on nearly fifty years in the future. Her human protector, Kyle Reece, tells her that her future son will lead the humans in an epic war against the machines. The machines sent the Terminator back in time to kill her so her son would never be born. Now they have to find a way to kill this futuristic assassin before it kills Sarah - and of course, this being an '80s film, that's going to take a lot of fire.

GIF credit: wow247.co.uk

The movie feels quick, as the plot only occurs over the course of about 48 hours. It's a lot of running and hiding. But it gives a very Ripley vs. Alien vibe near the end when Sarah's forced to kick some robotic ass. And who doesn't get a kick out of some fabulous '80s special effects - including a stop motion cyborg (awkwardly) chasing Kyle and Sarah up the stairs. However, I was surprised at Schwarzenegger's performance - he has maybe six lines in the whole movie! That's one stone cold robot!

Video credit: MoviesHistory, YouTube

Personally, I love a good cheesy sci-fi and Terminator was good for my soul! Now I've got to catch the other two movies before I see Terminator: Genysis in theaters this month. Rating: 3/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

I've Become An Obsessive Fangirl (Marvel's Agents of SHIELD - TV-PG)

Hello lovelies! Holy cannoli, do I have a recommendation for you... Last week, I didn't blog a thing because I was too in love with this show to watch anything else. I just had to power through it and after a weekend of reflection, I'm ready to share my thoughts. This show blew my mind wide open and I have been obsessively fangirling over it for days.

Image credit: www.mtv.com

If you're expecting a Disney Channel-esque show depicting teenagers going on daring missions for the Avengers - you'll be quite surprised. No mouthy teenagers, no Disney Channel feels in this show. Agents of SHIELD is straight up adult and takes itself just as seriously as the Marvel movies do. The show, created by Joss Whedon (The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, & Firefly) and a bajillion other brilliant minds, tells SHIELD's side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe story.

GIF credit: rebloggy.com

SHIELD, or the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, is the acting government agency that takes responsibility for all things alien, paranormal, and superhuman here on Earth as directed by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). The show follows a particular team of agents led by Philip Coulson (Clark Gregg) who are on a mission to track an organization that is trying to create a superhuman solider with abilities similar to Captain America. The team includes Skye the hacker, Fitz and Simmons the brilliant scientists, Melinda May the total badass extraordinaire, and Grant Ward who is basically just there to make 'smolder' faces in the background. They are all fabulous and will win your heart in an instant. I honestly can't pick a favorite character from either season... though I couldn't tell you how many times I called Coulson some variation of "you precious butterfly" throughout my crazy binge-watch of the show.

GIF credit: www.pinterest.com

Beware, further description gets a little spoilery. (It's super hard to avoid with this show and I am so sorry!)

Did you know that all of the recent Marvel movies are meant to correspond to the same timeline? Agents of SHIELD falls on that very same timeline and if you watch the show, you'll notice all of these crazy intersections where giant things that happen in the films are referenced in the show and expanded on. The show even sets up certain elements for future movies that I am super excited about.

GIF credit: www.tumblr.com

Both Seasons 1 and 2 are currently on Netflix to stream and Season 3 is set to premiere in September. Season 1 primarily focuses on Skye's introduction to the SHIELD agency, Coulson's Tahiti mystery, and the establishment of the team's dynamic. But you better hold on to your seats as you get to about episode 15, because the end of the season starts clear back there - and it is a wild wild ride. Trust will be broken. Season 2 centers around the rebuilding of SHIELD, Skye's new abilities, and a sketchy secret safe-haven for gifted people.

Seriously the show blew my freaking mind with how everything lined up perfectly. It was like reading comic books - except watching them on television! Ah, the intersection! So in terms of the shows put-together, so much love. And the characters are fascinating! They each have their own subplot and character development that occurs alongside the main plot. They are weighted and complex and it feels just as if you were connecting with one of the Avengers characters. It's beautiful, trust me.

Video credit: Marvel Entertainment, YouTube

One major critique of the show that I have is a lack of leading diversity - which I suppose is not so much a critique of the show as it is a critique of Marvel's mainstream content in general. The show does feature several fantastic POC characters that are dynamic and influential of the plot and I would love to see more of that in the coming seasons. I truly think a strength of this show is it's ability to allocate time to all of the characters' developments and subplots pretty equally, especially in Season 2.

Image credit: denofgeek.us

So that was a hefty binge! But OH MY GOSH SO WORTH IT. I adored this show so much as a Marvel fan. While those who may not be so into the superhero world will likely not have the same appreciation for it as those of us in the particular fandom, the show gets a great review from me. I even got my mother into it! Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

If it bleeds, it leads. (Nightcrawler - 2014 - R)

My friend Colleen has been on me about watching Nightcrawler since she saw it in theaters. And good grief...this film was a wild ride from start to finish.

This thriller is set in Los Angeles, where unemployed Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal - Zodiac, Love & Other Drugs) is participating in some sketchy activities in order to get by - simple things you know, like stealing metal, watches, bikes. But when he happens upon a car crash and a couple of news video scavengers show up, Lou thinks he's found his calling. He pawns a stolen bike for a camcorder and takes off to find the crime of the night, hiring ill-fated Rick as his navigator and assistant.

Image credit: www.fcc.gctnetwork.com

Lou becomes obsessed with being the first video crew on the scene and his moral compass begins to sway - that is if he even had one in the first place. He begins breaking into crime scenes and even staging them so he can get the best shot. It all leads up to a lovely unexpected twist near the end of the film.

GIF credit: www.orzzzz.com

I started Nightcrawler thinking I was going to get the chance to actually like Lou before he turned salty, but I was quite wrong. His character was creepy from the get-go - obsessive manipulative, and scary good at selling himself. Think Patrick Bateman from American Psycho without the actual murdering, though I wouldn't put it past Lou if there were ever to be a sequel.

GIF credit: www.buzzfeed.com

As far as plot goes, I felt this film was kind of lacking. While it was entertaining, I didn't feel that there was anything really pulling it along rhythmically besides Lou's obsession with his work. There was no realistic resolution, which also bothered me. When Lou is finally confronted by investigators, they basically just slap him on the wrist and send him away. I also felt that the cinematography could have been better as each scene felt the same with a background of mostly police cars and firetrucks.

Video credit: MOVIECLIPS Trailers, YouTube

I was pretty hyped for Nightcrawler, but it left me hanging. It's a thriller with no real horror or suspense - unless you count the scene where Lou screams at a mirror. But it is graphic and gory, showing lots of dead and nearly dead bodies, hence the R rating. Ultimately, it was a decent film, but not the best for a thrill. Rating: 1.5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

I don't f*** dudes for Big Macs... (Orange is the New Black - TV-MA)

Talk about crazy popular cult TV. What started as a simple Netflix original show has blown up in the mainstream world. When Season 3 of Orange is the New Black was added just two weeks ago, all I saw on social media for days were people freaking out about the latest drama at Litchfield Penitentiary...and by golly, they were right.

Video credit: Netflix, YouTube

Orange is the New Black takes place in upstate New York where Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling - The Lucky One) self-surrenders and is sentenced to fifteen months in prison for a crime she committed almost ten years earlier while she was involved with an international drug smuggler. Her boyfriend drops her off at Litchfield Penitentiary and her journey of penance goes from there. In prison, she quickly finds that her fifteen months are going to go by very slowly. She begins as a scared and privileged girl, but as the seasons progress, Piper finds her feet in prison...watch the show, no spoilers here.

GIF credit: www.bustle.com

But don't make the mistake of thinking this whole show is about her. The show features many fantastic female characters that often steal the spotlight with the many subplots running at the same time as Piper's story. There's Sofia (Laverne Cox), a transgender woman sentenced for using stolen credit cards to pay for her transition. I adore Sister Jane (Beth Fowler), a Catholic nun who became an activist during the Vietnam war and was imprisoned for handcuffing herself to a flagpole at a nuclear testing facility in protest - so much love. There's also Dayanara (Dascha Polanco), the artist, who may or may not find herself close to one of the guards... And who could possibly forget the queen of the kitchen, Red Reznikov (Kate Mulgrew - Star Trek: Voyager), badass extraordinaire.

GIF credit: www.wolfieten.tumblr.com

I rave about this show to people. If you're looking for a show with strong female characters who are depicted honestly and dynamically - this is your show. The inmates' backstories are my favorite part of Orange is the New Black and some of them will play with your moral compass, making you wonder...was she really in the wrong? The show doesn't shy away from discussions of race, gender, and sexuality as well as social injustices, poverty, and obviously prison life. And for that and beyond, I love it.

GIF credit: www.huffingtonpost.com

Warning time. Since the show is produced by Netflix, it is able to take some major liberties with the creation of the show. Expect HBO level graphic content when it comes to sex, violence, and drugs. But if you're not the kind of Netflix binger to let that stop you, give Orange is the New Black a shot. It's a wild ride. Rating: 3.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.