It’s unfortunate that the most beautiful period of spring coincides with the most demanding stretch of the academic year. Regardless, as the days become longer, the air grows warmer and everything bursts into motion at once, now is the perfect time to allow a little more art and entertainment into your life. If you're looking for a reminder of what makes life worth the grind, this week’s “To watch and watch for” will have you covered.
Without further ado, here are my recommendations for this week:
If you’ve given up on modern day Star Wars, I implore you to give the franchise one more chance with the Disney+ TV series Andor as the second season premieres this Tuesday. The series became an underdog miracle, offering a surprisingly prescient story of protagonist Cassian Andor’s radicalization under the Empire’s fascist surveillance state. Such a quietly radical political thriller without any Jedi, Sith or the usual nostalgia-bait mythologizing felt wholly uncharacteristic for a Disney production. Hopefully, season two offers new hope to a franchise long overdue for a comeback.
As the warm weather and the sweet air of possibility begins to settle in, you may be in the mood for a little slow-burn romance. If you don’t have the means to experience love in real life, Emily Henry’s upcoming novel Great Big Beautiful Life, which releases this Tuesday, might be the next best thing. Two writers — Alice and Hayden — are in competition to write a biography for a mysterious celebrity Margaret, who trickily spins her life story differently for each of the two. This deception — along with the quiet yearning building between the two – creates for a delightfully amorous story about rivalry and desire.
If I had to commission a band to soundtrack my spring, experimental indie rock veterans Deerhoof would quickly come to mind. Ever since the ‘90s, they have boasted an adventurous combination of turbulent, improvisational avant-garde and whimsical indie-rock. Their upcoming album Noble and Godlike in Ruin releases this Friday. Going off of their single “Immigrant Songs,” the album promises to have the kind of noisy oddball vitality apt for a season rife with spontaneous emotionality and expressive impulse.
As for live events, I would recommend the Classics department’s “Medea on Trial,” which will be held on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the John Astin Theater at Merrick Barn. This interactive performance revisits a powerful and enduring Greek myth while inviting the audience to take part in its literary and moral exercise. Princess Medea is held trial for killing her husband Jason and his family out of revenge, and the final conviction — whether she is acquitted or charged — is left entirely for you to decide.
If you are left unsatiated by those recommendations, here’s a wider menu of what to watch, read, listen and attend this coming week:
To watch...
Andor Season 2 Premiere, written by Tony Gilroy — April 22
Cheech & Chong's Last Movie, directed by David Bushell — April 25
The Accountant 2, directed by Gavin O'Connor — April 25
The Legend of Ochi, directed by Isaiah Saxon — April 25
The Shrouds, directed by David Cronenberg — April 25
Until Dawn, directed by David F. Sandberg — April 25
To read...
Great Big Beautiful Life, by Emily Henry — April 22
Rakesfall, by Vajra Chandrasekera — April 22
More Everything Forever, by Adam Becker — April 22
Hope Dies Last, by Alan Weisman — April 22
Matriarch, by Tina Knowles — April 22
The World of Nancy Kwan, by Nancy Kwan — April 22
To listen...
Noble and Godlike in Ruin, by Deerhoof — April 25
I Don’t Know How but They Found Me!, by Jensen McRae — April 25
SS, by 1300Saint — April 25
The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu, by Ray Vaughn — April 25
Tunnel Vision, by Beach Bunny — April 25
viagr aboys, by Viagra Boys — April 25
WITHERED, by d4vd — April 25
Live events...
Pan-American Jazz Ensemble — April 22 from 7:30–9:30 p.m. at Joe Byrd Hall
- This event is free; tickets are not required.
Hittin’ With the Youngins — April 24 from 7:30–8:30 p.m. at An Die Musik Live
- Tickets are required; free for Peabody Institute students
JHU Classics Presents: Medea on Trial — April 24, 8 p.m. at the John Astin Theater, Merrick Barn
- Free entrance!
Spring Fair Concert — April 26 from 8–11 p.m. at the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center
- This event is not free; registration is required.
