What’s In Our Orbit? No. 1

Writers and artists at The Stargazer love entertainment media, so we go through a lot of it. Want to know what we’ve been watching/reading/playing recently? Interested in what we have to say about it? Check out What’s in Our Orbit. 
 
SERIES:
 
Deca-Dence (2020)
Available on: Hulu
★★★★
This Binge-worthy action-fiction adventure exceeded all of my expectations; I was most impressed by the unique mix of cartoon-style and CGI-like animation. NUT studios also did an amazing job of packing a large amount of plot detail, character development, and over-arching themes into just 12 short episodes. The anime follows a young girl named Natsume who lives in a post-apocalyptic mobile fortress and joins other survivors to defend their home from monsters called Gadoll. There is a lot more than meets the eye with this anime and I definitely recommend you check it out. – Bryan Herrera
 
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019)
Available on: Disney+
★★★★
I waited far too long to watch this show. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is a wildly amusing mockumentary show that follows a group of theater students who attend the school where High School Musical was filmed, as they attempt to put on a performance of – you guessed it – High School Musical: The Musical. The writing is sharp, the actors are perfectly cast, and the depiction of high school life is uncomfortably honest. Fans of the original movies will love all the fun callbacks (haha – get it?), but what I appreciated most about this series is that it still manages to tell a completely unique story. – Cassidy Elibol
 
MOVIES:
 
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Available on: Amazon Prime, Hulu
★★★ 
Recently, 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog dropped on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. This action-comedy stars Ben Schwartz, as the titular character, and James Marsden, as a small-town cop, accompanying each other on a road trip as they escape the clutches of the nefarious Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey. It’s nothing groundbreaking as far as video game adaptations or even kids’ movies go, and the trend of placing a beloved animated character in a boring real-life setting is something I will never understand. Thankfully, the film is saved by Carrey’s performance as the villainous Robotnik, who makes every scene he is in a joy to watch. – Yanni Spanolios 
 
Booksmart (2019)
Available on: Hulu
★★★★★
Olivia Wilde’s feature film directorial debut tragically landed without much fanfare, however, it is a film worth revisiting. It provides a comedic meditation on making the most of your time in high school, and the dichotomy between focusing on academic excellence versus having fun and partying. Nearly every actor in this film gives an absolutely standout and highly entertaining performance. If you missed this when it was first in theaters, I would suggest you go back and watch it now. You will surely be entertained by Molly and Amy’s wild escapades and quirky classmates. – Victoria Weaver

Art by: Ceci Monge