Marvel Rivals

As someone who played Overwatch from the year it came out until it died, I'm a big fan of hero shooters. I've tried all sorts of alternative games like Paladins, Apex, Valorant, and more. None of them could fill the hole in my life that Overwatch left. 

Don't get me wrong, I hated Overwatch for plenty of reasons. I got told to play healer and make sandwiches anytime I turned my mic on and the power balance for the characters never really reached a good place. Still, I loved it. The colorful, almost fantasy-like designs of the cast, the wide array of abilities that were more than just "gun," and the sheer size of the community were all unbeatable in my eyes. I'd resigned the feeling to the past and moved on, thinking those golden days were over.

Then, my brother convinced me to download Marvel Rivals.

There are so many characters to choose from that all boast different kits and skill floors and, most importantly, designs. Everyone who plays will find a favorite. The best strategy, as YouTuber TheRussianBadger points out, is to master one hero from every category - being Duelist (dps), Strategist (support), and Vanguard (tanks). My favorites are Scarlet Witch, Invisible Woman, and Doctor Strange respectively.

As an Invisible Woman main, I've found I'm either everyone's favorite person or compared to Satan and his spawn. Every player has strong opinions about every character, and frankly, that's a good sign. If your lineup is so diverse that everyone has different opinions about every character and their threat level, you've made an actually unique lineup instead of a copy-paste with slightly different guns. 

As of right now, Season 5.5, I've secured my spot in Platinum I and have put almost two hundred hours into the game. Competitive is by far my favorite game mode since everyone who's there is in it to win. It's fun to trash talk all in good fun, call shots or heed a good call to clutch a game, and ban people who call you slurs since Rivals actually cares about the safety of its community. One of my favorite matches was as Scarlet Witch with a line of supports who could hear my mic but didn't have any themselves. I was able to protect them effectively with a code system using their basic communication wheel; thumbs up for push forward, fall back for protection when attacked, etc. They all DMed me afterwards to thank me for considering the well-being of the healers in the heat of battle. It was so rewarding to see people care and caring so much yourself.

Quick Play is where all of the frustration comes from. Players are randomly matched against each other, meaning you may end up with a team of low-skill players who get wiped immediately, which sucks. Or, maybe even worse, you end up with a team of Grandmasters who won't even let the other team leave spawn, forcing them to surrender and you don't even get to play at all. There's also no ban function in Quick Play, meaning you're up against the most toxic comps in the game, and there's only so many times you get canceled by Penni Parker before you just need to quit.

The Arcade options are always fun for something quick and casual that isn't a nightmare like Quick Play is. My personal favorite right now is Marvel Zombies. It feels more intimate with only four heroes instead of the usual six, and ramming full speed into zombies as Jeff is very satisfying.

This game is free to play, which means skins and in-game currency costs real money. They're expensive, too. However, Rivals is very good about rewarding you with in-game currency and skins as often as possible. Half of my hero roster boasted alternate looks before I spent a dime on the game. Between the achievements, Christmas event, New Year's event, and the occasional gift from Galacta, I was able to buy a legendary skin without touching my wallet. I've since spent about thirty dollars total on the game (a battlepass, the Disappearing Dessert skin for Invisible Woman, Psylocke's Fleeting Butterfly skin, and about a hundred lattice to cover the rest of the tokens I needed for the new Cloak & Dagger winter skin). That's still not as much as I've spent on major games, and honestly, you don't need the skins to play the game. I'm just addicted to getting sparkly and cute pixels for my favorite heroes. I've met players in lobbies who've never bought a skin before and only used the free ones Rivals hands out every season, and they seemed perfectly content.

I've heard many complaints that the free-to-play method is predatory and causes people to spend more money on games than if they'd just charged a base fee for the game, and I completely agree. I'm not a fan, and honestly, I like the method Helldivers II uses for battlepasses and in-game currency way better. However, and this may just be because I have a developed frontal lobe and can't steal my mom's credit card, I've never felt compelled to buy something. Any time I have, it's been because it was a few dollars and I already had some in-game stuff that was given to me for free. Rivals has been pretty good about keeping their community in mind. You can see it in the way they design the skins. They know their audience.

Speaking of fan service, Marvel Rivals is very good about adding heroes to the roster. Every season, we've gotten new characters with new powers and come up with new ways to win using them. My favorite addition is definitely Gambit. I'm so happy we got a character with complexity and a bigger kit in the Strategist category. He's so fun to play or have on your team. People who play Gambit really get into it and I think that's amazing. I've had a Gambit save me from getting destroyed by a Vanguard when I was playing Sue Storm, and when I thanked them in chat, they said "anytime, chere." Immaculate.

I really love playing Rivals in my downtime. It gives me an outlet for battle strategizing, trash talking, and good, old-fashioned teamwork in the same way Overwatch did all those years ago. I think it's better than Overwatch, actually. If you haven't given it a shot yet, I'd say go for it. A fair warning, though: You need a pretty powerful device to play. The servers are almost always bogged down and you'll rubber band like crazy on bad days even if you've got the best PC possible. I personally use my PS5 and it works fine most of the time.

See you on the battlefield!

Whataburger

About a month ago, I took a week-long vacation to the Lone Star State so I could spend Christmas with my in-laws. Of all the things to do in Texas, I was most interested in the food, since a lot of chains were either Texas-exclusive or originated there and, allegedly, tasted different because of that. My in-laws were kind enough to make sure I hit every spot on my list. 

My most anticipated spot was, obviously, Whataburger. It was both the only stop I knew I needed to hit before leaving and the stop my father-in-law was most excited about on my behalf. According to him and my husband, it wasn't spectacularly good, but had higher highs than In-and-Out and held a heap of nostalgia for both of them.

Nearly halfway through the trip, I finally got to experience this great promised land; this golden treasure of Texas. I have to say, it was a lot better than I even thought it would be. The patties were juicy, the lettuce crisp, the cheese melted just right. It was infinitely better than the best McDonald's or Wendy's offers. In fact, it might be my new favorite fast food joint. The service was great, the building was clean, and the fries were the exact right texture and saltiness.

It's possible that the Whataburger I experienced is better than the average one. Regardless, I couldn't believe it was as delicious as I anticipated. Did it still taste greasy and give me a stomach ache? Sure, but all fast food does that. It's still fast food. It's just really, really amazing fast food.

Perhaps the best part, though, was the look on my father-in-law's face when I gave him my opinion. He told me about his childhood love of Whataburger, how it rubbed off on his son, and how excited he was to see I thought so highly of his comfort food.

I think that's the best thing about food. Not the nutrition, the fuel, or even the taste, but the stories it holds and tells from person to person. All of us have at least one dish we love that evokes memories of the best of our childhoods, our college years, our grandparents, our culture, our partners. Your comfort food tells your story, gives a glimpse into who you are and what you love. That dish should be celebrated and cherished, whether it's a casserole your aunt makes, a dessert your best friend does better than anyone, or even a #1 meal from Whataburger with no onions.

The Rest of the Laurels

Let it be known that I'm a sucker for the Greeks. I love Greek mythology, architecture, history, themes and motifs, art, clothes, everything. I was absolutely a Percy Jackson kid growing up and have since become a student of history (which I now have a degree for). This album tickles me to listen to.

However, the masterpieces Janani K. Jha crafted goes deeper than my love for her choice of theme. The Rest of the Laurels is a masterclass in album cohesion and flow. Each track is so distinct yet clearly meant to fit together like puzzle pieces that belong in a museum. There's not a single song I dislike. The lyricism is brilliant and the story each piece tells is so clear while being propped up by haunting metaphors crafted with obvious love and care.

Hats - or laurels, I suppose - off to you, Ms. Jha. A dear friend of mine introduced me to your album and The Judgement might have been the single most played song on our car rides in 2024. You've made an amazing album and it is one for the ages.

Here's my track-by-track breakdown:

Hellbent:

An incredible introduction to the album. The dissonant beginning always gives me chills and raises my heart rate. Certain music motifs from this song will reappear in later songs, giving listeners a tease of the bangers they're in for. The synths make my head fuzzy in a good way.

Royal We:

This song is my least favorite, but not at all because it's bad. The only reason it's on the bottom is because of the nature of a list; there must always be a least favorite. It sets up both the sadness and underlying rage that will rear their heads in later songs. It's an essential to the cohesion and vibes of the album, though I rarely find myself listening to it casually. 

The Siege:

In the best way possible, this song sounds like a record straight from the Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift. "I was forged a phoenix, always rising from the grave" might be one of my favorite lyrics of Jha's. The exhaustion of desperately wanting to break out of a cycle, a cage, a siege comes across perfectly in this track.

Gladiators:

This is one of the first tracks of Jha's I've heard. I was a huge fan of Achilles Heel when that came out and I rediscovered her through Jorge Rivera-Herrans and Epic in time to experience this song as a single. It was and still is a feature on every playlist I have for my battle-worn OCs. I love how empowering this song both sounds and feels. I need a sword.

Thanatos (End of Us):

Anything named after my second favorite Greek god is already a win. I love the beat of this song. The plucking strings really do elevate it in a way I can't quite describe. It feels darker in the way a song called Thanatos should. You can hear the desperation behind the calm and the feeling of impending doom that sits behind anything semi-positive about this relationship.

Weird Hills:

WOW. This song is a gut punch to anyone who's ever had a relationship of any kind that ended in betrayal. Jha captures that heartbreaking feeling of missing someone you loved who screwed you over unforgivably. It's human nature to miss the familiar, to grieve the person who didn't die but chose to leave and stuck a knife in your back for good measure. This song is for the empathetic, non-confrontational lovers who can't just let go, and instead wander those weird hills, searching for an answer.

Achilles Heel:

My beloved, returned to me after all these years. The Iliad is my favorite of Homer's works and Achilles is my favorite hero, so again, I was already biased toward this track. The lyrics, the punching beat, the insane vocals; everything in this song makes my bones rattle in tune as I ascend. Chef's kiss.

Polyxena:

The acoustic guitar is a refreshing twist after a primarily synth and strings album. It stands out from the first note to the last, almost sounding like a Spanish progression, or maybe something from a grungy western. I appreciate the suspenseful feelings and building anticipation. After the heart attack Achilles Heel gives you, Polyxena lures you into its ascension and rewards you for sitting on the edge of your seat. The payoff is incredible.

The Judgement (I Think Too Much):

What. A. Song. Musically, this might be the best track. We see the layered vocal chant that first showed up in Hellbent, giving attentive listeners the musical pat on the head they deserve. Something about the vocals switching from left to right in my headphones made me drop my chores to dance through the chorus. The electric guitar and pounding drums mixing with Jha's siren-like vocals make for an unforgettable experience. 

Cut the Cord:

Again, the lyricism across this whole album is to be applauded, but especially in this song. Along with that, the staccato notes in the chorus along with the sound of an actual cut really makes me bop my head and wait for the beat drop like a kid on Christmas. Another song that makes my head fuzzy in the best way. And the halftime at the end? Chills every time.

Nike:

Eldest daughter energy. I'm such a fan of songs that sound like this one - slower, lyric-focused, and makes the listener feel powerful. Nike does all of that so well. This track comes across as cathartic for both writer and consumer, almost becoming an anthem for the weird, smart plotters who know their worth. 

Library of Alexandria:

Short, but so powerful. For anyone who felt the need to change themselves and desperately want to like who they see in the mirror, this will make you feel seen. The lyrics are precise and hit you hard in the insecurities.

The Maze:

Okay, that run on "Dionysus?" Applause. Along with that, this song is another one of my favorites musically. I love the callback to the overlapping synth-y vocals of Hellbent and The Judgement. Thematically, this is a very satisfying conclusion. After all of the heartbreak, confusion, and fear, there is only one person who can change your life: you. You have to be your own change, because at the end of the day, it all starts with you.

Top Five Songs:

1. Weird Hills

2. The Judgement (I Think Too Much)

3. Achilles Heel

4. Cut the Cord

5. The Maze 

For real though, if you (meaning Janani K. Jha) happen to see this, you should be incredibly proud of your work. And if you (my audience) have never given this a listen, change that fast. You're going to find a song you like, I can almost guarantee it.

War of the Worlds (2025)

I don't think there's a way to say this lightly. I loathed this "movie." I've been putting off watching it solely because I knew it would be a soul-souring brain-killing ninety minutes I'd never get back. Somehow, though, it was worse than I thought it would be.

Reasonably, I didn't want to subject myself to this monstrosity alone, so I watched the glorified Zoom call with four of my closest friends. When we normally watch a bad movie together, we all riff and joke the entire time and end up having more fun than we bargained for. War of the Worlds (2025) was so empty that we couldn't even joke about it. All we could say was "live Ice Cube reaction" over and over again until our bodies became so wilted that we nearly melted into puddles of the world's most bored mush. 

I can barely find words to describe just how less-than-worthless this experience was. It was a net-negative that took years off our lives we weren't expecting to pay. We knew it would be bad. We just didn't know it would be a literal void in space and time that Amazon Prime has the audacity to call a film.

I did have the benefit of watching (watching is a strong word; it was more like "being subjected to") this thing with an IT expert on the couch, who informed us that right-clicking on the image of a drone and selecting "commandeer drone" is, indeed, not how you would hack anything, much less a government drone. His crash outs were the most entertaining part of the torture.

If you're going to watch it, just watch Drew Gooden's video about it. Not only will you actually enjoy yourself, but there is nothing that happens in War of the Worlds (2025) that he doesn't cover better than the thing itself does. You'll get the same experience without the unfortunate side effects of putting yourself through the worst advertisement for Microsoft Teams in the universe.

Overall, well... nothing. I've got literally nothing and was given literally nothing. This was the worst thing ever. The end.

Hazbin Hotel

Unfortunately, I don't like this show. I love the concept; exploring themes of redemption and what makes a person good has always called to me. However, Hazbin often strays away from its core concept in favor of flat jokes and one-liners. There's a lot of inconsistency in the writing, character development, and growth, making it feel more like a kid's show that really isn't for kids. 

The only area that is consistent, too consistent, is character design. Every time we're introduced to a character that breaks the "skinny, edgy, and wears bright red/pink" motif, they're gone. I loved how Mimsy was short and curvy but they got rid of her as soon as she was done being a conflict. I also thought the design of some of the overlords (especially the dinosaur) were cool, but again, all background characters until they're useful, then they're gone again. I can appreciate distinct and cohesive styles, yes. This, though, leans more toward "lazy" than it does "consistent."

One consistent point across Vivzie's work is that her characters are very cool conceptually. In particular, I think Alastor, Vox, and Vaggi all have fascinating backgrounds and motives that should be explored far more often and intensely than they are. In the end of season two (SPOILER WARNING), I legitimately got chills when Vox nearly killed everyone, himself included, just to best Alastor at last. Upon further reflection, I realized the concept is what gave me chills, but there was almost no actual writing to back it. All we saw was Vox getting rejected once then being pissy about it for years. I would've loved a deeper exploration of their relationship and why, as someone who has the approval of thousands, Vox is so desperate for one man's nod. I'm sick of the "it's implied" argument, because frankly, it isn't implied. We're told that they have history and shown it once. For this to be the ultimate rivalry an entire two seasons has built towards, we're given almost nothing about the rivals except that it's intense and we should infer why since we've all seen this trope before. That's poor writing, not "show don't tell," and it's all over the place in Hazbin.

Is that to say I hated it? No. Rarely do I hate anything media-wise. It was entertaining at many points and I can see how Hazbin has garnered the fanbase it has. I don't think anyone is stupid or childish for liking the show; I just didn't personally like it.

What I did like, though, was the music. Spectacular cast, writing, and vibes all around. I still blast "Gravity," "Loser, Baby," "Out For Love," and "Losin' Streak" almost every day. The vocals are frankly mind-blowing and you can hear the Broadway experience shine through. It only ever improves. The second season's soundtrack is better than the first and I have high hopes for season three. It's hard to go wrong with legends like Jessica Vosk, Alex Brightman, Jeremy Jordan, and Erika Henningsen. These songs are unironically jam-worthy. Absolutely worth the listen if you're into show tunes and soundtracks.

The opposite is true regarding my opinion of Vivzie's other show Helluva Boss; I think the show itself, while still pretty flawed, is significantly better written and obviously a labor of love and indie production. The music in Helluva, though, is lacking. I may do a more in depth review of Helluva later, but I'll leave it at this for now: I like it better than Hazbin even though I don't love it, either.

To conclude, would I recommend this show? It's a nuanced answer. If you like crude humor, episodic plot lines, and animation for adults, I'd say give it a go. Who knows? It might stick with you. Otherwise, you should probably avoid the show and just give the soundtrack a listen. 

The Life of a Showgirl

The 12th studio album by pop sensation Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl was met with mixed reviews upon its release. Many fans adored the light hearted and classic pop sounds, mostly attributed to the return of Martin and Shellback for the first time since Reputation. Other fans, though, were surprised and disappointed by the more shallow lyrics after albums like Folklore, Evermore, and The Tortured Poets Department. 

So, where do I fall? Well, I loved it. I've never been tied down to specific music genre, especially when it comes to Swift, so the return to classic pop wasn't jarring to me. My favorite albums are Folklore, Tortured Poets, and 1989, if that gives you an idea. I love poetry, depth, sadness, yearning, and allegorical lyrics. But I also love to shake it to a simple pop song.

As someone who watched Swift go from country to pop to folk to bedroom pop, I wasn't upset that Showgirl was a true pop album. If anything, it felt like a return to classic pop. Danceable beats, simple lyrics, and a short list of songs. The sound is consistent and upbeat, making it feel like a cohesive album for the person who likes to shake it while bragging about their partner's... impressive tree. Above all else, Showgirl is fun, and I can get behind an album that's just fun.

Here's my track-by-track breakdown:

The Fate of Ophelia:

I can see why this was the single. The lower register makes it singable and the themes are a little more poetic to ease the newer Swifties into the classic pop style. The music video is gorgeous as well. I loved getting to see her Eras Tour dancers return after appearing in the Karma music video. Frankly, this song is one of my favorites on the album, and I don't really have more to say about it than that. 

Elizabeth Taylor:

I didn't expect to like this song. To be entirely honest, I thought this one might end up being my least favorite when I first peeked at the track list. The thrum of bass at the start of the chorus captured my heart and whisked it back to the first time I ever heard Reputation, and from that moment, I knew Elizabeth Taylor was my favorite on the album. If you want to hear this songwriting trio at their best, this is your track.

Opalite:

Cute, cute, cute! This song, which is the most Christmassy a non-Christmas song can sound, is one that I put on whenever I feel down. Something about it tickles my brain in just the right way - most especially the layered harmony on "love" right before the final chorus. 

Father Figure:

So many people I know that loved this album don't like this song. I think that's rather unfortunate, since this is definitely one of the more poetic ones in the lineup. Maybe I'm biased because it reminds me of my Halcyon character (Persephone Morningstar). Either way, this is a great song. I think it's a very clever song, especially when the chorus switches to exclude the character she's speaking to after promising to protect them; I love a good betrayal song.

Eldest Daughter:

In my opinion, this one is the weakest. I expected a song with more of a gut-punch commentary on the overlooked eldest daughter. Instead, I got a song that talks about the cruelty of the internet and the desperation to fit in when you're nothing like the people you're trying to fit in with. I just didn't love this song.

Ruin the Friendship:

Yikes. This one hurt. Frankly, this song should've been track 5. For those who don't know, Swift has a history of putting her more heartfelt (and often sad) songs as the 5th track in an album. In this case, I think Ruin the Friendship has a stronger heartstring tug than Eldest Daughter and deserved the slot. Regardless, this is another one of my favorites off the album. It's catchy, powerful, and thankfully in my range. 

Actually Romantic:

I thought this song was hilarious. It's very purposely nasally and carries a mocking tone that makes it all the more biting. Was it her best diss track? No, I still think that title belongs to This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things. Still, it's a lot of fun to blast with your girls down the highway with the windows down. 

Wi$h Li$t:

Again, a very cute song. I was expecting something a bit more like The Man or You Need To Calm Down, and I enjoyed myself despite the shock. Her love for Travis is contagious and that certainly comes through in this song. 

Wood:

Hilariously, this is my second favorite song on Showgirl. I know so many people were put off by the subject matter and I've been told I'm "wild" for loving this one so much, I just think it's funny to sing about your man's magic wand. She's living her best life, let her live it. It's catchy and clever and quickly rose to the top on my playlist for its ability to get stuck in my head all day.

CANCELLED!:

Close enough; welcome back Rep TV. 

Honey:

I love Honey's formula break by starting with the chorus, but other than that, I have very few thoughts about it. It's a basic love song about a pet name he uses for her. Very precious.

The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter):

This is one of the more brilliantly written songs on the album. It manages to work great for both of their voices and sound like a song Sabrina Carpenter herself would write while still being cohesive with the rest of the album. Although I still wish Carpenter collaborated on Actually Romantic or Wood, this is a great song for the both of them and I want a remix yesterday.

Top Five Songs:

1. Elizabeth Taylor

2. Wood

3. Ruin The Friendship

4. The Fate Of Ophelia

5. Father Figure