What We're Watching: I Need A Hero, April 2021
Happy April everyone!
A hero is defined as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. They don’t have to wear a cape, mask, or costume (though that can definitely be a bonus), they just have to inspire others with what they do. Our TV and film recommendations this month feature a variety of heroes, some straight from the pages of comics - my nerdy heart just couldn’t resist - and some not. Our picks show that anyone can be a hero, and that there shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all model for who is considered ‘heroic’. I hope these characters inspire you to be the hero of your own story.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018 dir. by Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Bob Persichetti)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a visually-stunning storytelling masterpiece that brings me so much joy every single time I watch it. After 10 years of Peter Parker being the one and only Spider-Man, Miles Morales - a young afro-latino artist from Brooklyn- is bitten by a radioactive spider from another dimension that gives him similar powers to Peter while also granting him unique abilities of invisibility and electric shock. Miles not only struggles with the normal identity crises of a 14 year old, but is also suddenly given powers that he has no idea how to control. Without Spider-Man to help him adapt to his new abilities, Miles has to rely on the help of other beings with spider-powers that become stranded in his dimension. At first he’s awkward and isn’t sure if he’s ready to handle the responsibility of replacing Peter Parker as Spider-Man. But once he finds the confidence to step into the role, Miles realizes that he doesn’t have to be like Peter to be a hero. He just has to be himself. - Brynna A, Editorial Lead
Captain Marvel (2019 Dir. by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck)
Captain Marvel may be the first project in the 23 film (and counting) Marvel Cinematic Universe to center entirely around a female hero, but you don’t have to be a Marvel super-fan to connect with Carol Danvers’ journey in this film. Danvers (Brie Larson) returns to Earth - specifically 1990s Los Angeles- after spending 6 years in service to an alien military force known as the Kree, with only a few altered memories of what her life was like before she gained cosmic powers in an explosion. The more time Danvers spends on Earth, the more she starts to remember who she was before the Kree claimed her, and her powers, as their own. She struggles to reconcile the life she is living with the person she once was, and ultimately it’s her friend Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) that helps her to come to terms with who Danvers is capable of becoming. Captain Marvel isn’t just a movie with kick ass fight scenes set to ‘90s girl power hits, it’s also a film about a woman who is able to find strength in reclaiming her identity, power, and emotions for herself. - Brynna A, Editorial Lead
Hilda (2018 Created by Luke Pearson)
‘Hilda’ is an animated children’s British-Canadian-American fantasy television show about a delightful young girl named Hilda who lives in a cabin at the edge of a magical forest with her mom. Growing up alongside giants, elves, and other magical creatures, Hilda is in a constant state of curiosity and exploration. She is a kind young child , always seeing and assuming the best in others. The blue haired heroine is accompanied by an adorable deerfox named Twig, and after moving into the city of Trolberg with her mom, Hilda meets new friends - David and Frida. ‘Hilda’ is a beautiful comedy-drama because Hilda’s positive attitude is infectious and through each of her obstacles, you’ll be inspired to stand a little taller against your own! Hilda is challenged by trolls, bullies, elves, myths, teachers, ghosts, new schools and even a sea monster, yet she never gives up. Even though it’s probably easier to change her whimsical and sometimes idealistic point of view (she’s a kid this is actually healthy JK), she stays true to who she is and for that, she’s a hero. Watch ‘Hilda’ for a reminder that you’re the lead character of your own life! - Kim, TLL Founder
Watchmen (2019 Created by Damon Lindelof)
While HBO’s limited series Watchmen is set in the same universe as Alan Moore’s graphic novel of the same name and weaves in a few characters and plot points from it, it is an entirely original story. The world of Watchmen is an alternate reality where the US won the Vietnam War because of a superpowered being named Dr. Manhattan, and that ‘victory’ changed a lot of world events after. But he’s not the reason I’m recommending this show. Regina King as Angela Abar a.k.a Sister Night is. Abar is a masked vigilante/detective with the Tulsa, Oklahoma police department that operates under the code name Sister Night. She is a descendent of survivors of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 that destroyed Black Wall Street. After the death of her boss, someone she considered to be as close as family, Abar discovers two things. First, that her boss was a closet white supremacist. Second, that she has a connection to the person responsible for his death. As she gets closer to discovering why this person killed her boss, she uncovers a decades-long white supremacist plot for maintaining power in the U.S. Angela Abar is heroic because she does whatever it takes to protect herself and her family, especially if that means taking out white supremacists. Abar’s story in Watchmen is ultimately about fighting through generational trauma and is a really powerful journey to watch her go on. - Brynna A, Editorial Lead
Dickinson (2019 Created by Alena Smith)
Dickinson tells the story of famed American poet Emily Dickinson. Set against the backdrop of America’s Civil War, as a young woman Emily grapples with the social, environmental and economic issues of her time through writing. The catch? As a member of an upper middle class Amherst, Massachusetts family, it’s frowned upon that women like her write, become published authors or even go to college. While for many women of her time, creative, whimsical writing was considered a societal downfall, it is in fact Emily‘s superpower. Each episode is dedicated to a real poem Emily Dickinson wrote in her lifetime, the themes of the which are inspired by her own experiences in exploring sexuality, advocating for the abolition of slavery, and supporting women’s rights to education, to name a few topics. She uses her writing skills to stick up for others and stand up for what is right. Doing so, even when a positive outcome doesn’t impact you directly and even though you get pushback for it, is heroic. Caring about people for the simple fact that they are also human beings deserving of equity and justice, in an American society that champions coming out on top of everyone else as a hallmark of success, is powerful and necessary. Through her work, Dickinson proves that the pen is in fact mightier than the sword, even going so far as to have her poetry published behind her father’s back to prove the value of the written word. While this retelling is part history, part fiction, the spirit of Emily Dickinson can serve as an inspiration to many of us who feel like our work is going against the grain, and proof that the hard work we put forth is worth it to many others beyond ourselves. — Wandy, TLL Newsletter Editor
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
What We’re Watching is our guide on tv and films from our team at the Light Leaks. Finding new things to watch shouldn’t feel intimidating- too many of us have been bombarded by bro-y film culture telling us what’s good. This column is our way of introducing you to new (and maybe some familiar) favs to watch. Happy viewing!