This week’s round-up includes more music nostalgia, mourning the loss of a Buffy reboot and some of its stars, discovering a new favourite book, wondering where money came from, and much more.

Music

I’ve been on a bit of a nostalgia kick this week pertaining to early ’00s pop punk. In The Dawn Summary: Edition 13 I reminisced about my foray into pop-punk, rock and the like after my pre-teen pop days, and that has furthered into listening to the (probably more emo) stuff that followed, the likes of The Used, early My Chemical Romance and the more pop-punk Boys Like Girls and Yellowcard. It made me think of being on the beach and drinking beers with friends (not much else to do growing up on a 9-by-5-mile island), often accompanied by a fire or frollicking in a playground (somehow more fun as a drunk teen than an imaginative child). I met most of my current friends during that time, and although we don’t talk as much as once did (because, y’know, life), I still think of them often and get excited to see them again whenever I visit. Hopefully, soon, I won’t be so far away anymore…

Anyway, as I (possibly) move past my nostalgia phase and back to the present, I’m looking forward to listening to Charlie Puth‘s new album and Raye‘s new album, too. With Charlie having recently become a father and Raye reaching new heights in her career, I fully expect these albums to have a lot to say!

Television

In light of the recent cancellation of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, I decided now was the perfect time for yet another rewatch of the series. It also comes hot on the heels of Nicholas Brendon‘s passing. Both he and his character, Xander, were complicated. Xander had his endearing quirks and moments of loyalty and understanding, but he was also often selfish and a little misogynistic at times (I hear Xander was supposed to reflect Buffy‘s disgraced creator Joss Whedon, but that’s another conversation for another time). I have also read about Nicholas as a person, and it certainly sounds like he reflected Xander to a higher, more frightening degree. How does one mourn the passing of a person who wasn’t really a good person? Do we accept they had their demons and move on? What about those they hurt? I think Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia in both Buffy and Angel put it well: I will miss the version of the man I once knew. The younger Nicholas, the one who brought joy to so many as Xander and to his friends as himself.

It’s also a good chance to remember Michelle Trachtenberg, who also passed away at the young age of 39 (just two years older than I am now!) just over a year ago. It’s heartwarming to know both Michelle and Nicholas will always be remembered by the masses through the work they did, and perhaps none more so than on Buffy.

In light news, I watched the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special, and I swear I squeeeealed the whole way through! I was probably a little old to be watching Hannah Montana when it was on telly, but I enjoyed it all the same, and the movie, too. Again, it was nostalgia-filled, and it was nice to see Miley Cyrus embracing it so much!

Film

Recently I have been rewatching the Saw movies because I’m writing up an article about them for a Film Club at Dawn of the Tapes (coming next week!), and as much as I remember how gory they are, I didn’t really pay much attention to the story until now. I thought I’d find it repetitive and unoriginal, but damn, I was wrong! I’m enjoying the twists and turns they take, along with the increasingly horrendous ‘games’ that are played, and it bewilders me how theye keep it all going through so many films. I also have to wonder just how messed up in the head you have to be to come up with the premise and the torture devices (looking at you, James Wan and Leigh Whannell!).

Literature

I just finished reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt a couple of days ago, and… I’m floored. I struggled with it at first, finding the pacing to be rather slow and I wasn’t really sure where it was going, but then, WHAM! The second act hit the ground running and never stopped, right through the third act until the end. I have never felt such anxiety reading a book, and once it really got going, I could NOT put it down! It actually made me appreciate the first act a whole lot more, its pacing and slow introduction to the characters and their personalities. I have never read anything like it and I don’t expect to ever again. Donna Tartt is a genius, and I hope it never gets made into a movie or TV show, because, how!? I don’t think it would be possible to capture everything that the book has to offer. I highly recommend it!

Gaming

I haven’t been doing a whole lot in gaming recently, but I have been making my way through the original Life is Strange again due to a new game coming out this year that will be directly related to the games that feature Max Caulfield and Chloe Price, and honestly, I think it may have been one of the catalysts for my nostalgia kick. Even though the game is only just over ten years old, something about it reminds me of more carefree summer evenings playing the game, with its relaxing soundtrack and seaside setting. I actually think I find Max a little more annoying this time around (sorry!), but I think it comes with the territory of moving further and further away from youth and seeing things differently.

A Random Thing I Learned This Week

I suddenly found myself curious about why we use money. Like, who’s the arsehole that decided people needed to start paying for things that should be basic human rights!? Why do I have to pay for food, water and shelter? I understand there was a time where trading was the thing the to do, with people using what they had (clothing, crops, animals, etc) or exchanging services as a form of currency, but where did money as we know it now begin? I always assumed it became prominent with the Romans, but before them, where and when did coinage start? I’m not going to give a full history lesson here, as it seems rather lengthy and there are differing thoughts on how it truly began, but if you’re as interested as me, Wikipedia will come to the rescue!