For many in my generation, Rev. Fred McFeely Rogers is a straight-laced dork – a grey-haired grandpa wearing rainbow cardigans and sneakers. His show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” is boring and its music is dated. This thought is not surprising considering the program aired in 1968 and remained on the air until his death in 2003 with little-to-no change. Yet for those who grew up with the show, Mister Rogers continues to be remembered with nothing but love and praise.

What makes him and his show so special? “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” is more than just another kid’s show. Mister Rogers used his time slot to give children a home. This neighborhood, in a world of saturated, simplified and speed-of-sound children’s entertainment, became a place for difficult conversations, encouraging words, self-reflection and jazz pianos –really good, jazzy pianos. 

The iconic opening riffs by Johnny Costa gently glide us through a quaint townscape complete with a trolley line and diverse suburban housing. We plunge into one of these houses. Suddenly the riffs swell into the chorus. The front door bursts open. And Mister Rogers sings into the living room,

“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood. 
It’s a beautiful day for a neighbor. 
Could you be mine? Would you be mine? 
It’s a neighborly day in this beauty-wood. 
It’s a neighborly day for a beauty. 
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?”

He opens a closet door and gracefully slips off an unassuming suit jacket,

“I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you. 
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you so.” 

and replaces it with a brightly colored cardigan.

“let’s make the most of this,” zip, “beautiful day! 
And since we’re together we might as well say. 
Could you be mine? Would you be mine? 
Won’t you be my neighbor?” 

He sits on a bench in front of the door. Dress shoes fling off his feet with a piano flourish, which drifts off into intricate arpeggios. The lesson begins. 

What’s the issue in today’s episode? It is 1968 and Robert Kennedy was shot earlier today – the lesson is death and the meaning of assassination. Or it’s divorce and how it is not your fault, kiddo. Or anger issues and how to control them. Or Loneliness. Or Depression. Or Physical disability. Or Segregation. “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” never shied away from heavy and complicated adult topics – why should it? 

Though children might not be able to fully comprehend such topics, they can recognize the impact not only upon their parents but their own emotions. All those feelings well up inside, so why let children’s hearts break when we can teach them how to show the hurt they feel? Mister Rogers uses the power of music to release whatever anguish one has to bear. Are you scared to show how you feel or are you struggling to contain it? Mister Rogers has a song for that. Do you feel unwanted? Mister Rogers has a song for that. Do you not want to go home? Wherever you are in life, Mister Rogers has a song for you.

“It’s You I Like” was the song for me. As a lonely only child with no kids on his block, picked on at school and parents divorced, I struggled to feel liked. I didn’t know if I could be liked or if anyone would care. But Mister Rogers cared. He sang to me after school sometimes,

“The way you are, the way deep down inside you […] 
I hope you remember, even when you’re feeling blue, that it’s you I like.” 

He liked me. He might’ve been the only one, but at six years old I knew that at least someone liked me –and that was enough to get through the day until my mom or dad got home and I could be loved. 

For the millions of children who didn’t have the love of their parents to come home to after rough days in their own neighborhoods, I can only imagine the importance of the unconditional love “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” provided. 

So, why was Mister Rogers so special? Why do we love a straight-laced, grey-haired dork? Because he could talk to children about their pain, taught us how to recognize it, to understand it and to control it without dumbing it down or overcomplicating it. Because when we most needed it, when there was no one else who understood and when there was nowhere else to go, Rogers was there to sit and talk with you just the way you are.

The fourth and final season of the Amazon Prime alternate history and sci-fi show “The Man in the High Castle” was released Nov. 15. The fourth season continues the show’s penchant for clever historical references and homages, complex characters, incredible production designs and ambiguous tone, all the way to the show’s final scene. This final season has divided viewers and critics but is a satisfying conclusion to an enrapturing series. 

The show is based on the Phillip K. Dick book of the same name, and while it deviates heavily from the source material, it remains faithful to the work in its themes, tone and some major plot points. The show is set in a universe where Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan win the Second World War. I started watching the show when it first came out and was hooked immediately. The show balances many concurrent plots and can be confusing for new viewers. I highly recommend that readers go and watch the first three seasons of “The Man in the High Castle” before reading further, as there will be spoilers for the first three seasons. There will also be hints at spoilers for the new season.

The new season is easily the darkest of the series and starts off immediately where season three left off. Juliana Crane – played by Alexa Davalos – escapes from captivity by traveling to the parallel universe, right as Reichsmarschall John Smith – played by Rufus Sewell – shoots her. While Season 3 ended on an ambiguous note, with viewers unsure if the shot killed Juliana, we learn that she has only been wounded and successfully travels, only to be found by this alternate universe’s version of Smith. The show then jumps to one year later. Trade Minister Tagomi – played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa – has recently been assassinated, and Inspector Kido – played by Joel de la Fuente – is tasked with investigating his murder. Smith’s wife, Helen, still reeling from the loss of her son, has taken their daughters and fled the Reich, living in the Neutral Zone. Hawthorne Abendsen, the titular Man in the High Castle, is still in captivity, and Wyatt Prince is leading resistance in the neutral zone.

The new season has left some of its less impactful plotlines by the wayside, many of which were resolved rather well at the end of Season 3. The loss of Tagomi, however, who had been a major character from the first episode, feels like a waste, as many roles he may have played are now pushed onto newer characters, leaving his arch incomplete. 

At the end of Season 3 it is heavily implied that the driving element of the series going forward will be the multi-verse and the Nazi’s portal into the multiverse, Die niebenwelt. Instead, this element of the plot is sidelined to focus more on the elements within the main universe, with the alternate universe and portal acting more as McGuffin’s and tools for character development. This is especially important for Crane, who is in the alternate universe at the season’s beginning, and Smith, who travels there after his alternate self is killed by a Nazi agent. 

Smith’s plotline is easily the most fascinating and satisfying of the series. Rufus Sewell’s performance is superb, and the contrast of the Smith we’ve grown to know over the past seasons and the alternate universe’s version of him gives us new insights into the character’s motivations and emotions, which have long been conflicted and ambiguous to the viewers. His progression from a more one-dimensional antagonist in the first season to a complex and multifaceted character is easily the most well written and performed plotline in the series. Helen Smith’s progression from a side character in the first two seasons to a major character in her own right only makes this plotline more interesting. 

We are also introduced to a new resistance group in the Japanese Pacific States called the Black Communist Rebellion, which is quickly established as a major concern facing the Japanese forces. The BCR is very clearly based on the real-life Black Power movement of the 1960s and is led by a man named Equiano Hampton, a clever reference to 19th century abolitionist Olaudah Equiano, and Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. The BCR quickly establishes itself as one of the best subplots in the series and comes to play a significant role in the finale. 

I don’t want to go into details on the show’s conclusions, but as someone who has watched the show from the beginning, I found the conclusion satisfying. It was difficult to see how the show would end, and I couldn’t see any route to a completely happy ending. I knew that some questions would need to be left unanswered. I found the conclusion to be rather ambiguous, but I was happy that it was not completely definitive. While the multiverse element played a much smaller role than I anticipated, I was happy that they focused more on the alternate history aspects of the show, which were always the most intriguing.

For new viewers, the show will likely be confusing, but in the context of the preceding seasons, it is certainly a satisfying conclusion to a very engaging show. While it is not without its flaws, it is certainly one of the best shows I’ve seen in recent years, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys history or science fiction, complex and ambiguous characters and incredible set design.   

It’s been a long journey on the road so far. Many battles and deaths have been overcome. Sam and Dean have had many heartbreaking and life-shattering moments. It is finally at the end. Season 15 of “Supernatural” starts Oct. 10, and this 15-year series will finally end. 

Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a fantasy show which first aired in 2005.

Supernatural is an intriguing story of two brothers who drive across the country practicing their family business, hunting for monsters and saving people from said monstrous beings. 

The more you learn about these two brothers, the more you fall in love with the characters and their faults. Over time you grow a love of classic rock that is always blaring through their 1967 Chevy Impala. There is comedy, horror and some amazing character development. The brothers face many different hardships as they hunt down demons, vampires and angels. They face death and turmoil daily in an attempt to save the world from the things that go bump in the night. 

It’s easy to enjoy all the crossovers and many references, including “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Scooby-Doo.” The characters even walk into a musical theater production about themselves. 

This series talks about god, gods, heaven, hell, purgatory and everything in between. If you are a lover of Halloween and all things spooky, then Supernatural is the show for you. It was based on many different horror movies and creepy legends that everyone knows and loves. This story of love and family not only gives many different life lessons, but creates a family in the fandom itself. This has been shown in many fan meetups and interviews over the last 15 years.

The fan base itself has grouped to create their own day – Supernatural Day is officially Sept. 13. To celebrate this day, it’s suggested that you watch a marathon of all the show’s seasons with other fans.

“Every Sept. 13, fans come together to celebrate the show’s anniversary with Supernatural Day,” according to CheatSheet.com. “And coincidentally, this year’s Winchester-themed festivities – the last before the final season – fell on Friday the 13th. It also happens to be the same day as a full moon. So you best believe fans got excited.” 

If you look up supernatural day then you will find many different articles about this day and why it’s a thing. The day is all about fans celebrating the show – wearing their merchandise and participating in Supernatural themed activities. 

This community of fans has developed over the years. They have even developed shirts to mark this 15th anniversary of the beginning of the show and the final ending to the series altogether. 

“The fans haven’t just created their own crazy, dysfunctional family; they’ve done some real good in the world, and that’s not changing right now,” according to The Mary Sue. 

Hot Topic partnered with some of the stars of the show to sell a shirt to celebrate the end of the series, and the profits were used to help victims of Hurricane Dorian.

Speaking from experience, this series has changed my life in many ways. My closest friends and I have bonded over this series and it was essentially the start of our friendship. One of them even got an anti-possession tattoo to mark his love for this amazing fandom and the family it has created.

“Maniac” follows Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone) and Owen Milgram (Jonah Hill) as they go through three stages of an experimental drug trial whose pills aim to cure all mental illness and human suffering–a lofty goal that quickly descends into absurdity. The strong lead performances are further bolstered by performances by Justin Theroux, Sally Field and others.

Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star in “Manic”. (Netflix)

The setting is a world very similar to our own, although this world has computers that feel human emotions and purple animatronic koalas who can swindle you out of 100 bucks in a game of chess.

Lead character Annie is a chain-smoking, pill-addicted type-A who aggressively commands every scene. She goes through great lengths and her family’s savings to enter the trial and get one more pill–although the effect of the pill is not what one would think.

She heavily contrasts with the quiet and paranoid Owen, who has experienced hallucinations since a young age and is constantly uncertain of what is real and what is not. The audience starts to feel similarly as the series wears on and we see the world more frequently through Owen’s eyes.

The pills drag the characters through fantasy simulations that allow the show to show-offishly leap from genre to genre–the lead actors show off their expertise as they slip from married Long Islanders in the 80’s to Middle Earth elves to spies in an alien invasion. Annie’s troubles and demons are obviously reflected in all of her dreams, while Owen is often swallowed whole by his heroic roles and has a difficult time finding his way back to his true self.

The show is colorful, well-shot and a delight for the senses. It seems to purposefully mimic low-production 80s films in its constant attempts to be self-conscious of its own absurdity. Like the fast-paced fantasy sequences, the mood of the show jumps quickly from comedic to darkly somber.

However, the themes of the show are hardly fantastical: Annie cannot move on from her estrangement from her sister. Owen is simultaneously trying to distance himself from his manipulative, powerful family and to desperately find his place in it. Both characters are overwhelmed with the desire for human connection, which they eventually find in each other in a refreshingly non-romantic fashion.

Some may find this show a little too odd. It is certainly not for someone looking for something traditional or expected. However, I still recommend trying it out for size. As with all Netflix creations, I recommend not watching the trailer. If you are like me, the first episode will suck you right in.

Cover photo courtesy of Wired.