My Favorite Posts From 2022
These posts from last year best exemplify what I’m trying to achieve here on Opus.
It’s a bit of a misnomer to call this a “favorites” list, since that implies that I think some of my posts are better than others. While that’s true in the sense that no writer is ever entirely “on” in all of their writing, what I really mean when I say these are my “favorites” is this: these posts best exemplified what I’m trying to achieve here on Opus. Namely, thoughtful interactions with pop culture, and especially pop culture on the margins that might be otherwise overlooked and under-appreciated.
My Favorite Songs of 2021: Daygraves, Deafheaven, Japanese Breakfast, Low, Lycia, Angel Olsen & more
28 songs that helped get me through the year that was 2021.
Children of Morta Is a Heartfelt Epic About One Family’s Battle Against Evil (Review)
With its gorgeous pixel art design, colorful characters, and engaging storyline, Children of Morta is an RPG gem.
From the Womb of the Morning, the Dew of Your Youth Will Be Yours by Ronnie Martin (Review)
More than a return, this feels like a rediscovery of everything that made me love Ronnie Martin’s music in the first place.
Some Belated (and Extended) Thoughts on Halo Infinite
The latest chapter in the Master Chief’s never-ending battle leaves me wanting more, in both good and bad ways.
Dan Olson Explains Why NFTs and Crypto Are So Bad
A two-hour-long YouTube video raises serious (albeit snarky) questions about the benefits of NFTs and cryptocurrency.
Revisiting Some Classic Choose Your Own Adventure Books
I recently bought some of my favorite childhood books. Were they worth the money, or just a nostalgia trap?
Truth Social is Donald Trump’s Latest Boondoggle
The former president’s vaunted social media platform has had a rocky rollout since day one, with little sign of improvement.
Republicans vs. Twisted Sister, or the Need for Good Cultural Hermeneutics
You can enjoy whatever you want. Just don’t try and make it mean whatever you want.
Everything Everywhere All at Once by Daniels (Review)
Michelle Yeoh shines in this trippy sci-fi epic about a woman struggling to pay her taxes, run her family’s laundromat, and save the multiverse.
Macross 101: An Intro to the Legendary Anime Franchise
Macross is one of anime’s most storied franchises, but it’s been largely unavailable to Western audiences. Until now, that is.
Diane Duane’s The Wounded Sky is Star Trek at Its Most Bizarre and Breathtaking (Review)
This 1983 Star Trek novel contains a threat to two universes, bizarre alien technology, and a deeply emotional view of the Enterprise crew.
The Expanse Is Epic Sci-Fi Storytelling at Its Very Best
The series’ nine novels and related short stories spin an exciting, richly detailed, and thoughtful story that spans the solar system and beyond.
Remembering Newtype USA
During the early-to-mid ’00s, Newtype USA served up all of the anime coverage an American otaku could want, and then some.
Your Favorite Pop Culture Has Just Gone “Woke.” Now What?
Accusations of “wokeness” are fascinating, not because I agree with them, but because of the semblance of legitimacy that surrounds them.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s Wicked City Is a Sleek, Stylish (and Stomach-Churning) ’80s Anime Classic (Review)
Wicked City tells a compelling story with style to spare, but its body horror and sexual violence is probably too much for most viewers (myself included).
The Rings of Power, Season One: Flawed, yet Faithful to the Spirit of Tolkien’s Mythos
Amazon’s Tolkien adaptation is not without issues, but its heart (and sense of ambition) is in the right place.
Remembering Mimi Parker’s Beautiful, Blessed Voice
Parker’s voice could be world-weary, heart-breaking, and transcendent all at once.
Rejecting the Myth of the Tortured Artist
We should want artists to flourish and experience healthy lives, to create art that heals them as much as it benefits us.
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