2023 End-of-the-Year Retrospective
In which I think about the past year.
Last year, I did an end-of-the-year list because I enjoy these lists. I’m always open to recommendations - both receiving and giving. So, without further ado, I am continuing what I started last year.
What Have You Been Up To?
I admit it. I haven’t been as creatively active this last year. Whether it be a malaise that will (hopefully) disappear with the new year or some kind of permanent personal failing is something I’ll have to figure out.
Las Vegas
In February, my partner and I visited Las Vegas. I will start with the one black mark on the trip and I’ll get more positive about the trip the list goes on.
Meow Wolf
The black mark was Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. It is a giant bizarre-o art installation contained within a larger establishment called Area 15. I was so excited to visit it as I was under the impression that it was an experience, a story, and an art piece all in one. Unfortunately, it is an overpriced disappointment I would warn people away from.
Omega Mart may be the draw, but Area 15 is a whole warehouse of price gouging. It’s loud and unpleasant. There’s nowhere to sit. The seats that are available are uncomfortable or lucky people have taken them. I expressed interest in doing a two-minute zip line, but my interest quickly left my body when I saw the price. And then I saw the prices of everything else, including one of those museums that isn’t really a museum but a place for influencers to take aesthetic pictures. And there’s a line. For everything. The zip line, the non-museum, the dirty bathroom. Lines everywhere.
Now, to Omega Mart itself. After the line to get into the experience, my partner and I immediately paid extra for an “employee card” that would allow us to access more story. So we stood in line with everyone else who paid extra for this card and watched the same video over and over again. Then we stood in line in the next part with everyone else and watched everyone else do the same quiz to prompt the same sound.
Then we stood in line outside a hut for about 15 minutes while an employee told everyone what to click on a prop computer. Then she told us that we weren’t supposed to be at this hut yet. So we wandered around, stood in line to check our progress at a different terminal, and then tried to figure out where to go. Then stood in line for a phone call that we just left because some other people were waiting in line to start this phone call and we didn’t think we got credit for the phone call because when we returned to that hut (after waiting another 15 minutes), we still couldn’t progress. So we left in frustration.
When we weren’t trying to complete the story and just explore the space, we had to squeeze by clumps of people who were congregated in a large circle, people taking photos, one girl who was just filming herself staring at a screen, and kids running around without abandon.
It’s not worth it. There might have been a time when it was, when it first opened and it wasn’t over crowded. There was probably a time when you could actually explore without worrying about the line forming behind you. Maybe there was a time when you could actually figure out the story. That time is not now.
MGM Grand
We stayed at the MGM Grand and it was grand indeed. Our room was nice and everyone was so pleasant, lovely, and professional.
We did have a strange occurrence one night when a stranger knocked on our door. He found a random child wandering around the floor and was trying to find her parents. Eventually, MGM Security took the child and I’m assuming she’s the floor’s newest, littlest, most adorable keno runner. I’m kidding, of course. I’m sure they helped her.
We ate at the breakfast buffet twice. It’s a good buffet for a decent price (as long as you have the player’s club card). On the second morning we ate there, we were leaving and a mother rushed past us, dragging her child behind her. In front of us, the kid turned his head toward the wall, and a fountain of puke erupted from his mouth. Jon and I stopped dead in our tracks and we locked eyes with the kid. Fear and humiliation fell over his face and he looked like he was about to cry. I said, “It’s okay. I’ve puked in a casino before. It happens.”
It’s true. The Silver Legacy opened when I was a young kid. Close to the opening, my father, my uncle, my sister, and I visited the brand new casino for the first time. I wasn’t feeling great, but I wanted to see what the fuss was about. When we stepped off the elevator, I threw up into the first plant I saw. My father said that he liked to think that I was making a clear judgement about the casino. The moral of the story is that if you’ve lived in Nevada, you’ve probably thrown up in a casino before. I hope that one day in the future, the kid will pass the MGM and say, “That’s where I threw up once!” and smile.
We also ate at the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill. Luckily no one puked there. It had the delectable food I expect from Vegas without the exorbitant prices. And I got a great cocktail there. I highly recommend the restaurant. Try to make reservations in advance.
KA
Our favorite thing about the MGM was definitely the Cirque du Soleil show KA. I had never seen a Cirque du Soleil show before. I was only familiar with the world-renowned circus through The Simpsons parody. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it, but seeing a Cirque du Soleil show just felt like a Vegas thing to do. We decided to watch the show that has kicking in it and the presence of KA did steer us toward staying at the MGM.
Boy, was I happy we watched this show. It was fun and exciting and breathtaking. And it had punching. And archers. And a shadow puppet section that I unironically loved.
I would love to see every Cirque du Soleil show on the Vegas Strip and rank them, but I don’t have that kind of time or money. No one should have that kind of time or money. Instead, I will just recommend KA or any other Cirque du Soleil show.
Shanghai Plaza
This is a shopping center not far from the strip that Jon and I visited everyday. There’s a Kura Sushi, a Miniso, a cute K-Pop store, an anime figures store, a bakery with the best breads and desserts, the best Korean hot dog place, and so much more. If you live in Vegas or are around the area, go to Shanghai Plaza and make sure to go to the second floor.
Rolling Quartz
My sister, partner, and I got to see Rolling Quartz in San Francisco this year. Rolling Quartz is a great K-Rock band that needs more attention. They put on a great show and I can’t wait for them to return. I said it last year and I’ll say it again: if you have the opportunity to see a K-Pop concert, go without hesitation. If you’re interested in the band, check out the K-Pop Korner later in this blog.
Also, I Made This
Yes, I want to flex this thing I made with a kit, Mod Podge, and twelve hours.
Words To Read
The Amityville Horror
I read the original book by Jay Anson, published in 1977. It was a pretty good read. Goes by quickly and is a detailed and interesting account of the Lutz family’s time in the house. Now, whether the Lutz’s were actually haunted or it was something else is left up to the reader. Still, if you enjoy stories about hauntings, this is the progenitor of many of the tropes. It is a classic for a reason, after all.
Oresama Teacher, Volume 29
I finally got around to reading this final volume in this series from the same mangaka of Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. While I can’t say I loved the ending, it was an appropriate and typical ending for a manga. This series is more about the journey than the destination. I recommend the series as a whole, as opposed to specific volumes.
Murdle: Volume 1
This creation from G. T. Karber combines puzzles, murder, and humor. This was a fun and challenging read. When I say “challenging” I mean the puzzles. Some of them are downright diabolical, and I found myself flipping to the hints section on more than one occasion. Thankfully, the book eases you into the more challenging puzzles, and the story and humor is enough to keep you engaged. And no one is going to judge (or know) if you peek at the answers for some help.
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun 14
Every volume of this manga series is a welcome surprise. This one features the conclusion for a simmering romance for two of the side characters, proving that we can have some love in this parody of a shoujo manga.
The Theater Experience (at Home!)
Once again, I did not see too many new movies this year. In fact, I will discuss the three new movies I saw this year, two of which are from last year.
M3GAN
This was a fun romp. It’s like the younger, less mystical sister of Chucky. I look forward to any subsequent sequels. And honestly, if you don’t see the brilliance in this scene, I don’t have any way to convince you to watch this movie.
X
Not to be confused with the recently renamed social media platform, X is an offering from A24 that is an homage to 1970’s exploitation films, particularly The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s brutal, well-acted, and fantastic.
Pearl
The next day I watched the prequel to the previous film. This movie features a powerhouse performance from Mia Goth, my new favorite scream queen. I adored this film. While X is a hot, loud, and fast-paced slasher, Pearl is a quieter, slow character study more akin to classics like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Rebecca, and Eyes Without a Face. This is easily my favorite in the triumvirate of films I saw for the first time this year. It’s a safe bet that I will be first in line for Maxxxine.
Shorter Stuff to Watch (Usually)
Bob’s Burgers
This show continues to be my go-to show and that hasn’t changed this year. The antics of the Belcher family give me comfort and that’s something I’ve needed this year. However, there was a change to their usual format in this latest season.
“The Amazing Rudy” is the second episode of season 14 and it focuses on my favorite side character - Regular-Sized Rudy. This jarring change from the usual focus on the Belchers could be construed as a writer’s room running out of ideas. Instead, it expounds on a deserving side character - an underdog with a heart of gold you want to root for. I don’t think every character in this show needs their own episode (the less I know about Jimmy Pesto, the better), but if this episode is any indication, then we can trust that the writers can come up with an episode worthy of our beloved characters.
This episode is the thesis statement of Bob Burgers. It’s funny without being mean and sweet without being schmaltzy.
Chris James
My new favorite discovery is Chris James, a guy who recaps trash television from the 2000’s to the 2010’s. This is the only way I want to watch anything from that era now. The highlights in his oeuvre are his videos about Criss Angel, an inescapable bottle of Drakkar Noir come to life and bane of my 2010 existence.
My Brother, My Brother, and Me
One of my favorite podcasts, My Brother, My Brother, and Me has been a staple in my life for over a decade now. In this clip, oldest brother Justin McElroy introduces a little guy hoping to become your new favorite chocolatier, because we all have a favorite one of those.
Watcher
My favorite ex-Buzzfeed employees/ghost hunters are now playing horror video games, and I am here for it.
Defunctland
I didn’t realize how much YouTube I watch instead of conventional television until this year. I’d like to highlight a great documentary that came out last year about the Disney Channel Theme, courtesy of one of my favorite YouTube channels.
Hbomberguy
Edit: I added this. I finally watched his video on plagiarism this weekend. I’m always late with this stuff. His magnum opus should be on this list.
Why Yes, I Will Create-A-Character
I played a good amount of games this year, and I will be discussing each one, going from least liked to most liked.
Final Fantasy I
My dream finally came true this year: a remaster of the original Final Fantasy games. Unfortunately, I had to contend with the fact that some of these original games aren’t great, and, sometimes, they are punishing for no other reason than to piss you off. The first entry into my favorite video game series is one of these games.
Final Fantasy II
This one improved on the first, but not by a lot.
Fashion Dreamer
If it weren’t for the next game, this would be the biggest disappointment of the year. I’ve been a dedicated Style Savvy fan from the first entry on the Nintendo DS. I was looking forward to this game ever since I heard that the same studio is making a new fashion game. Unfortunately, there is no real game here.
Style Savvy had stakes. You had to manage a business. You had to buy smart. You had inventory to worry about. This game has none of that. You just run around dressing people up. While that’s fun, it’s not enough to justify a $40 price tag and a six-year wait.
Starfield
Easily the biggest disappointment of the year. I like Bethesda games. I’m fine with the Bethesda jank that comes at launch. Somehow, the jank here wasn’t fun.
Everyone looks weird and static. The characters were flat. And if you did like them, they are killed off and you can’t do anything about it. What’s the point of playing if you don’t do anything to help those around you?
And your parents don’t even go to your wedding. I know you can travel, I just saw you in the same city where I got married, Dad, so I know you leave your apartment.
Maybe I was soured on this game because I played Baldur’s Gate 3 (more on that later) before this game. Baldur’s Gate 3 made me feel like I was in control. Starfield snatched that control away from me.
And they’ve never added my name to the various robots who can say names. Does Todd Howard have an ex-girlfriend named “Amy?” He was all, “I hate her so much no robot will say her name!”
Now it seems like Bethesda is relying on the modding community to fix their game. Bethesda needs to learn from Larian and fix their mistakes themselves.
Final Fantasy III
The series gets better with each entry.
Persona 3
Let’s me honest, Persona fan to Persona fan: Persona games are kind of the same. There’s a protagonist with no personality. There are some party members with fucked up backgrounds. The games tackle issues that other JRPGs won’t touch. There’s a few uncomfortable scenes. Also, monster fusion.
Persona 3 is different in that it has a female protagonist. That makes this one superior. They even found a clever story-reason to have her there.
It’s a shame that they won’t have the female protagonist in the remake. I guess I’ll be skipping the new remake until they add her, because really, I can just wait for a brand new, shiny Persona that will inevitably release.
Final Fantasy IV
The story of two men secretly in love with each other and their beard. If you know, you know. It’s one of the best Final Fantasy entries.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
I have always liked Cyberpunk 2077 - even in the beginning when the game gave people seizures and cars didn’t move. I didn’t care. It was fun. There was something here. Sure, the dialog was weird and the game was a bit xenophobic, but overall, it was interesting and the combat was fun, and Keanu Reeves does a great job as Johnny Silverhand. When Keanu Reeves is used correctly, he’s a revelation.
As the game has gone through patches and updates, it’s just gotten better. Phantom Liberty is the culmination of those fixes and the realized potential that I saw in the beginning. Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that I keep returning to, and I’m glad it’s getting a reevaluation.
Final Fantasy XIV
Since 2020, this is the game I’ve played the most, and this year is no different. I’m still running around with my best-friends the Scions and with the new expansion coming out next year, I can’t imagine anything changing.
Baldur’s Gate 3
This is definitely my favorite game of this year. Baldur’s Gate 3 is an advanced dating sim with a complex combat system, deep story, and the freedom to play the way you want.
I guess you don’t have to date any of the characters, but how could you not when all the characters are charming and good looking. There’s someone for every taste.
All jokes aside, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the game when it came out, but my partner already had it. Turns out I loved it. I joke about how my favorite thing about the game is the dick physics, but truthfully, my favorite thing about the game is that it gives me wish fulfillment. My wish is to make the lives of the people around me better, and I can have a happy ending if I work at it.
K-Pop Korner
A Moment
Sometimes, it feels like being a K-Pop fan is more difficult than being a part of other fandoms. This year, it hit me pretty hard when my favorite member (or bias) of Astro, Moonbin, passed away. Here is my favorite Astro song. Moonbin is the one with the light blue hair. R.I.P.
BIBI
Now on to more happy topics, BIBI had a great year and I particularly liked this song. Also, all her music videos are like movies, and BIBI conveys so much emotion. Is there a category for Best Actress in a Music Video?
AKMU
This brother and sister duo always put out bangers.
The Rose
The Rose is back and, goddammit, they’re still one of the best bands.
TXT
I love power pop. I especially love power pop with ‘80s undertones. And a riff that is adjacent to one of my favorite songs of all time, “Take on Me” by A-Ha.
Misamo
This is my favorite Twice side project.
Nayeon
Speaking of Twice side projects that I liked…
Stray Kids
Speaking of Felix of Stray Kids…
Somi
I loved mid-2010’s dance music. Give me that Zedd/Disclosure/Lady Gaga sound, I’m a sucker for it.
SHINee
Ride or die Shawol here. My first K-Pop group. Get better, Onew.
Billlie
Billlie is severely underrated.
Oneus
Another underrated group.
Seventeen
They are rated. They deserve all the hype and success they receive.
XG
They were definitely one of my favorite groups this year. And speaking as someone who actually lived through that era, XG are the best representation of the Y2K sound. I like what they’ve done with it.
Dreamcatcher
Of course Dreamcatcher is going to release a song I loved. Did you think I was going to have a favorites list that didn’t include my favorite girl group?
Rolling Quartz
This was easily my favorite song of the year. They need more attention so everyone can enrich their lives. And everyone should go see them in concert. They’re even better in concert.
Not K-Pop But…
SB19 aren’t K-Pop, but I listened to this song so much, I have to include it.
Parting Words…
This year has been about trial and error. I have been attempting to come up with a system to keep me productive while avoiding the existential dread that periodically renders me inert. I need something that will keep me in equilibrium. I think I have figured out that system, but it’s too early to recognize any results.
So here’s to a more productive and positive 2024. And I wish hope, abundance, and happiness to anyone who has gotten this far. Both in this blog and in life. See you next year!