Category: Features

There was a dance unit in PE during my eighth grade year that was vehemently required. I was ready for a month of square dancing and line dancing, especially since PE was split by gender so I’d just get to dance with my friends. But no. There were other plans.

Our bald PE teacher told a mainly excited group of 13 and 14-year-olds that they would be split into groups of six that they had already pre-selected. These groups would then collaborate to create an original dance that lasted more than two minutes with music that we had to put together. As an anxious child that had no graceful limb in my body and barely passable social skills in a grade dominated by dancers that found this assignment to be a breeze, I was absolutely horrified.

That is, until the last snippet of our music included the song “Brass Monkeys” by the Beastie Boys. I hated this song. I couldn’t understand how these men could rap in such an annoying way and everyone around me was completely into it. It distracted me so much that I didn’t even care that I had to do the dance in front of everyone. 

The dance unit ended and yet I would still hate-listen to more and more Beastie Boys songs, until one day, I was just regular listening. Eventually, I would listen to it just because I liked it. 

That started my long and secret love for ‘80s-‘90s hip hop that I kept close to my chest. None of my friends liked when I played it or recommended anything like the Beastie Boys and so it remained my little secret. My mom gets mad if we play music that has curse words in it or if it’s a sad song, so it’s safe to say she didn’t like anything about my attempts at playing this genre in the car. As this music morphed into a guilty pleasure, there were nights of Tupac and Biggie on my headphones while I listened under the covers, Beastie Boys while I cleaned my room, and when I was in a silly-goofy mood, Snoop Dogg on my headphones in our carpool to school in the mornings. 

‘90s hip hop is one of the most unique and intricate genres to ever grace American music and I can’t help but feel nostalgic for a time I wasn’t even alive for. I understand how it might not be for everyone, but hey, it’s for me! Now I listen a little more openly and search for more artists that bring to life the addictive sound that defined a decade, and thank goodness I found Joey Valence and Brae.

This duo has several duets to be enjoyed with their latest release being “Hooligang.” They both bring a massive presence to their music that successfully makes them feel larger than life with a palpable enthusiasm that lets any hesitation to sing along fly out your car windows. There are so many ways in which these artists are unique in their interpretation of ‘80s-‘90s hip hop that make their duo an excellent balance of what the genre has to offer.

Joey Valence embodies that insufferable, polarizing, and addictive voice that originated in the ‘90s and was popularized by the Beastie Boys and Eminem with playful lyrics that invite a new era of pop culture to have its place in music like referencing Obi-Wan Kenobi or the Autobots from Transformers, both hallmarks of the ‘90s as well as the 2000s making for a wedding of generational references that invites several people to appreciate and perhaps laugh at fun lyrics, no matter their age. His rhythm is creative and volatile leaving the listener silent during their first listen just to see where the yarn he’s weaving will end. Above all, he’s fun to listen to!

Brae brings the deep and soulful delivery that counters that of Valence’s tenor with a charisma that reflects more of Biggie than that of the Beastie Boys. His cadence and diction reek of zeal for his lyrics that molds your mood into hip pop’s characteristic bravado. For example, my sister and I like to joke that we feel like child prodigies answering a math equation on a chalkboard Good Will Hunting-style whenever we listen to their song “Punk Tactics” because we feel like we know exactly what we’re doing despite the fact that I have never been a prodigy in anything and had to drop out of AP Calc AB. 

When these two are on a track together, it just makes everything exponentially more fun. As a fan of the artists that they openly take inspiration from that have been mentioned throughout this article, it feels like an Olivia Rodrigo moment where I am excited to see the qualities about an artist that I previously loved (in Olivia’s case, it would be Taylor Swift) and use their own youth and generation to invite new content to such an iconic form of of their respective genres that can now be retrofitted to the 21st century. I am optimistic about their future in music and hope to see them releasing more duets soon!

You can check them out individually on TikTok, Spotify, and YouTube if you’re a fan of ‘80s-90’s style rap and are curious about their sound. They’re only a few in the group of artists bringing new life to this genre, and I hope that they can open a door to a new world of modern hip hop for you!

I dabble in writing angsty teenage poems from time to time with my only known influence being Shel Silverstein as I have read almost no other poetry that I remembered. I kind of remember some of Tennyson, and I liked “Ozymandias,” but that’s all I remember from sophomore year English class. I do like Romantic Era poetry, but I like Romantic Era anything. 

What I’m getting at is that for someone that writes poems for this blog, I don’t actually read much poetry. I’ve decided to change that recently so that I could try write good angsty poems instead of teenage ones, but I was at a loss. Where do I start? There are so many movements and writers and styles and formats– how am I supposed to find inspiration when everything’s been done before?

Epiphany: I see poetry on TikTok literally all the time. It’s normally those really corny ones that are written all lowercase on a GoogleDoc or something and all the comments are making fun of the fact that it’s stolen almost word for word from a John green book, but for the past 3 or 4 months, I’ve been getting poetry that I actually like. I know that the syntax doesn’t do this revelation justice, but trust me, that is truly a feat. In the infinite content of that app, the algorithm brought me Nico Demers, aka Buck-knife.

I fell in love with the way he read his work with emotion and earnest, because when I read my work, I can’t help but turn on some kind of voice or accent as a coping mechanism for the fact that I simply cannot hear my own writing out loud without cringing. 

Demers’ diction ebbs and flows with the cadence of someone telling a story to a friend after a long time apart. I feel like he’s confiding in me when I hear his videos, and it makes me nostalgic for a time that I didn’t experience. When I saw that he had a book, it wasn’t even a question. It could have been a virus for all I knew, but I stuck my credit card information into that sketchy plugin like it was a little cheese toastie in a wee toaster oven, guv’na. And then I bought another one, just in case. You never know. 

I tore through this book with a smile on my face for each poem. His concise structure leaves the naive and earnest word choice feeling intentional and infinitely descriptive about exactly what feeling he’s trying to convey. Even the epilogue on the last page brought me genuine, child-like joy. When I read his work, I feel like a kid discovering poetry for the first time: suddenly, a space between words, a selectively placed comma– even an expletive before a specific word has such a youthful effect on the message of the poem, and his vocal delivery makes it so much more genuine. 

Within the pages of his book, he’s growing up and shrinking down a million times over. Demers leaves none of this imagery to the imagination because in his eyes, everything he’s ever seen is an organism teeming with life and agenda. Flesh tears, animals consume, throats swallow: personification runs rampant in his work and I personally feel it never gets old. This device’s repetition makes the reader feel like an atomic David in a world of molecular Goliaths: alone and simple against a world built of other worlds.

I truly recommend at least checking out his TikTok, and if you have the same positive experience as me, I also suggest that you buy his new book, Guts. His poetry is honest and relatable, but it’s vulnerable enough to make anyone turn inward and apply his words to themselves. We all feel like spilling our guts to anyone that’ll listen and forget, but Demers lets his guts rot on the pages of his books and in videos for the world to peruse, and I commend him greatly for spreading his poetry to young and insecure writers like me that have no idea what their voice is yet. 

I’ve made an oath to read more poetry from the beat movement of the ’50s and some surrealism, but any time I hear the name Kerouac, I just think of Freaks and Geeks. It’ll be an uphill battle to not get distracted by the thought of Linda Cardellini, but I figure the more I read, the less angsty and pretentious I’ll seem. That way I can just be good and pretentious. It’s all worth it to build consistency and confidence in my writing until I can read my poetry out loud like Demers rather than panicked like Hailee Steinfield in Pitch Perfect 2. No one wants to be Hailee Steinfield in Pitch Perfect 2. That riff-off was wack. 

His TikTok can be found at bucknife__ and you can purchase book at his website. Nico Demers (aka Buck-knife) has started my journey to find my voice in poetry, and I hope you find the same hope in his words that I did.

As we are neck-deep in changing seasons and weather that is awkwardly not hot but still makes you sweat around lunch time, one thing is clear: fall has arrived!

Don’t get me wrong, I love fall as much as the next gal— pumpkin-flavored things, oversized sweaters, random and unwelcome reminders that our climate is heating up. What’s not to love? All jokes aside, I do love fall. However, can I call myself a true autumnal fan if I have never tried a single seasonal fall drink from Starbucks?

Over the course of September, I systematically tested a few of these fall drinks that Starbucks has to offer, and boy oh boy, did I learn a thing or two. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

The latte, the myth, the legend. And extremely underwhelming. It was sweet to the point I choked the first time I sipped it, and though it still tasted pretty good, there is no way I could ever finish a size larger than the kids’ cup.

It was way too thick as a hot beverage, and I don’t think I would ever get this beverage again. Though I feel like I’ve forsaken autumn as a season, I can’t help but slander this infamous drink.

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

This was definitely much easier to drink than its hot and more popular counterpart, and its overwhelming sweetness needed the crutch of the ice. With the water entering the drink over the time it took me to muster another sip (and therefore putting myself one again at high risk for high cholesterol), it was much better and I might actually buy this drink before the winter drinks enter the playing field. 

Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato 

This drink made me think I was allergic to apples. My throat closed the instant I took my first sip and I welcomed my death, only praying that when they found me in my Catholic school uniform that they’d spare me the embarrassment and put me in something cool for my open-casket funeral. As the sugar blocked the passage of air through my larynx, I contemplated asking my sister though a scrambled text if she could hire Emma Chamberlain to style my corpse, Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato still in hand.

I recently learned that there is a hot version of this, and I think getting within a half mile radius of that drink would stop my heart instantly. I won’t be getting this drink again, despite my massive sweet tooth making me biased every other time but now. 

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is by far the best autumn drink that Starbucks has to offer. I think the cream and the bitterness of the pumpkin spice balance out the sweetness of the drink and makes for the perfect, refreshing fall beverage. I will get this again, but I will wait for a day where I have no tests or energy so that my hands don’t shake while I have another caffeine-induced panic attack. It’s kind of worth it, though!

***

This experience made me come to a conclusion that I didn’t believe to be true until I tried these drinks myself: Starbucks’ fall drinks are completely overrated. I asked a few of my friends if they genuinely enjoyed any of these drinks, and though I heard a few compliments of the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, one motif remained prominent: the drinks themselves were overrated, but the vibe was appropriately hyped.

How can this be true? This thought crossed my mind instantly as I thought of all the half-drunk fall beverages that sat on my desk during this past September. I agreed that it was fun to have pumpkin spice drinks for the vibe of autumn, but at what cost? Fall is my favorite season, but I find myself pining for the winter drinks and aching to escape the choking sweetness of their autumn menu. 

One of my closest friends confronted the problem with precision, simply stating, “Starbucks fall drinks are all too sweet and taste like a Bath & Body Works candle puked. It’s time to stop pretending they’re good.” Though I had a few friends protect the integrity of the classic PSL, one fact remains: I will be waiting out the next couple of months filled with pumpkin-scented lotion lattes so I can reach the peppermint oasis of winter’s flavors.

Will you, or will you stay present in the annual PSL pilgrimage? Though it’s up to you, know that I recommend the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (But only if you’re willing to feel like you can move everyone of your cells at will while your eyes can see ultraviolet light waves. That caffeine doesn’t mess around.). 

After a year of off-and-on online learning, entering my junior year (which is widely considered to be the most challenging year of high school) felt ridiculously difficult. Unsurprisingly, nothing has changed after being in school for about two months; however, I now have more frustration than ever towards the format of education that America has adopted in the face of competitive build-up in academics. 

Mixed with the disaster of the recent pandemic, I feel like people are forgetting the consequences of what has been done versus what should be done. Specifically, the widespread implementation of online academic organizers like Canvas, Google Classroom, (or in my case) Microsoft Teams, has manifested into an expectation of most schools. During the pandemic, these platforms carried remote learning in order to maintain some sort of normalcy surrounding deadlines. I even regularly used Teams for my freshman year math, religion, and ceramics classes, and this was before COVID had reached the United States. But I am neither in remote learning nor a freshman: I am a junior in six AP/honors classes, and I feel the full effect of Teams’ downsides. 

I believe that online deadline platforms are an invasion of students’ time and privacy. Just from this year alone, I could not count the number of times where I have had dreams of or have woken up from fears that I may have forgotten to turn something in on Teams. Why should any of these classes have the right to bleed into the only time of day where I am able to manage my time based off of what I need? This means extracurriculars, hobbies, other homework, and time with my family and friends– not fighting to finish a worksheet that I forgot about before midnight. Assigning work that is due in class allows for a better sense of time awareness rather than forcing people to finish work before a restrictive deadline. I find that being able to choose from which of my assignments to work on in a specific order allows for a more fluid working experience that Teams takes away. 

Academic platforms served their purpose in the pandemic, but I am a firm believer that not every single aspect of school needs to be digitized. I do appreciate that harboring the content of the class through platforms is efficient and eco-friendly, and I think that the rise of Quizlet, Powerpoint, and Google Docs have made information more accessible and organized. These platforms serve a greater purpose than deadlines that I am so grateful to have ready at the tips of my fingers. 

That being said, having a deadline outside of school completely undermines the overall purpose of homework. Homework elaborates on ideas introduced in class time and allows for building upon skills that need honing; however, as school has become more competitive, it has become a challenge of time management. Within this deviation of purpose comes the greater mutation of seeing how efficiently students can sharpen their skills or process information rather than actually seeking effective education. I’m already on the fence about homework in general, but to bring in the question of a ticking clock that is present in my own home? I find it to be a pervasive interpretation of education.

My teachers know near nothing of what I or my classmates do at the times they assign homework for outside of school hours. When asking a fellow honors student in my classes of their opinion on out-of-class deadlines, they said,

Sometimes it’s nice to have some time outside of school to get it done; however, most of the time, it feels like I’m taking school home with me. It kind of sucks.

I am aware of the convenience factor for teachers, as I understand how it would be more organized and easier to keep track of absent work. I interviewed a high school administrator of over 20 years, and they agreed that there are definitely pros and cons. They started by mentioning that extended deadlines are in fact a benefit for students, explaining,

If teachers are going to allow for additional time or extended deadlines by using Canvas then I could see the benefit.

However, they quickly followed up saying,

“What I would not support is creating deadlines that are in addition to the normal school week. For example, having a quiz or homework assignment due on a Saturday/Sunday or during a holiday defeats the idea of getting rest and only adds to stress and mental health issues. If there is not enough instructional time during the week, then that school needs to look at its daily schedule and make adjustments there. Often times, teachers create these ‘out-of-bounds’ deadlines because they do not want to take away class time. This phenomenon is more prominent in college because classes meet 1-2 times a week.”

There may be exceptions, there may be kind teachers. But a majority of the time, students face the consequences of unforgiving clocks, no matter the reason for their tardiness. I spend all of my time from the time I get home to the time I fall asleep doing homework, and whether it’s doctors’ appointments or extracurriculars, I often feel like anything preventing me from finishing my homework should be removed. Teams should not have the power to evolve into a governor of my priorities, especially when my physical or mental health is at stake. 

Using Google Classroom, Teams, or Canvas is an efficient form of organizing content for in- and out-of-class resources; however, using the turn-in feature for out-of-class deadlines is a gross and invasive application of an otherwise useful platform. I agree that there are some benefits, so if you disagree, leave your opinion in the comments (respectfully, I’d hope). This topic is heavily nuanced and different for each student, so different opinions are completely expected and valid for the different types of schedules possible in a world as competitive as high school academics.

I played Poptropica nearly every day of my life from ages 6-10, and they are some of the happiest memories of my early childhood. I’d like to consider myself a Poptropica expert, even in terms of lore, such as Think Noodles (only real ones know). Though it’s on the fritz at the moment, I know they’re starting to bring back some of the old islands, and once that happens, I will be playing full time and go full pro, maybe even climbing the speed-running ranks. For now, though, I will reminisce on what I believe to be the indubitably most fantastic 10 islands ever to grace the magical website of Poptropica.

10. Shrink Ray

This is one of the most playable and complex islands out of the batch, with so many mini-games and creative levels. The fact that the majority of it takes place within the house and it becomes your playroom once you shrink is so creative, and I always find it so charming to think about the writer’s room in a situation like that, where planning something as adorable and wondrous as being little in a lived-in house could make so many kids feel so small and love it.

9. Nabooti

Similar to Shrink Ray, I love the creativity behind the journey that this island takes you on, and to have it centered around the beauty of various African cultures and ecological environments is an excellent choice for the wonder of the island’s plot. I always loved the art of this island, and it feels more like an adventure story than a island full of menial tasks

8. Wimpy Wonderland

Like any other child of the 2000s to 2010s, I loved all of the DOAWKLU (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Literary Universe) and absolutely loved the cameo islands; however, the boardwalk one was way too hard, and this one had such a an interesting play with colors in tandem to the mood of winter. I loved the way they brought the beloved “Wimpy” characters to life with dialogue, and the plot of the island felt true to the books and filled younger me with joy, as I was a nerdy little reader.

7. Zomberry

I love zombie content, and the different levels and mini-games were so exciting and interesting to me. I loved the plot, and it seemed like everyone involved put in so much genuine effort to make it kid-friendly and yet still pretty eerie and skill-required. Overall, it was one of my starts to loving sci-fi/zombie stories, and it remains one of my favorite islands to this day (and is way too underrated in my opinion).

6. Mystery Train

I love a good mystery, and when you throw trains into the mix, you’re bound to get some drama. If you also love this enthralling island, I highly recommend possibly consuming a train mystery meant for people above the age of 15, “Murder On the Orient Express” (it’s best consumed in audiobook form, but that remains to be judged my you). It’s a genuinely fun and exciting plot, and when I was younger, I always loved the itchy feeling of a building whodunnit.

5. Escape From Pelican Rock

I really love the whole story of the Alcatraz escape (as does everyone that has ever lived), and the exhilaration of watching the plot progress the closer you get to the end of your escape was so addictive to me. I used to play it over and over again, and though I love the mini-game-based islands, I always loved the story-based ones a little more. This website just endlessly fed the little nerd in me.

4. Poptropolis

I know I just said I loved the story ones more, but this island was so addicting and I would give anything to do the volleyball, diving, and archery mini-games for hours on end without doing the godforsaken weightlifting challenge. I always chose the black and white jersey, and if you did anything else, you’re a dork. 

3. Survival Island

I LOVED this island. I loved the fact-based clues and levels, I loved the plot inspired by a timeless short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” I loved the progression of surviving in the woods to escaping the mansion to capturing the eccentric millionaire. It was so immersive and well thought out, and it portrayed such effort on the devs’ and the writers’ parts to get everything right while also being interesting for the player. I would play it again just to experience the plot as a teenager.

2. Reality TV Island

The mini-games on this island are unparalleled. The champion of all mini-games: the fishing game. Close predecessors: the one where you had to catch coconuts, shuffleboard, and throwing the coconuts into the turtle shells. The rage I would experience at getting voted off by the character I would try to vote off on the previous round was unmatched. Also, if you ever play this island, before the voting round when you’re on the instructions screen, make the person you plan on voting talk so that by the time you can vote and you click on them, their mouth is open on the voting slip and you can chuckle a little bit.

1. Skullduggery

I know this is polarizing, but this is the best island in Poptropica. My favorite part was going island to island, building up your money until you can upgrade your ship, maybe hire a couple of extra workers, battle other ships and sea monsters, and pick up treasure. So basically, the whole island. This island is genius. I used to play it obsessively during my Computer class in eight grade, where there were no blocked sites on the computers for me to curse. I played it beyond what was necessary to achieve the most maxed out ship and crew possible, and then started over once it was done. Maybe it was dumb, maybe it was necessary to get through that class. This is the best island because it’s meticulous, it’s story-based, and it has consistent mini-games: it’s perfect. Skullduggery is the best island, hands down.

I’m sure you disagree with me, so feel free to share your opinions and takes in the comments (kindly, I hope!), and no matter my opinions, I genuinely loved playing Poptropica when I was younger and I commend it for providing quality and educational entertainment for millions of kids around the world. Its art is unique and recognizable, and its stories live on in the youthful hearts of its players into their growth as the future’s storytellers.

I absolutely love animation as an art form. It provides a medium of story-telling only achievable through the skill and imagination of the artists, ultimately leading to the impossible manifesting itself in frames of sketches. Whether it’s for unrealistic challenges in a show like “Total Drama Island,” aquatic narratives like “Fish Hooks,” or mythical creatures in a story like “Gravity Falls,” animation has and always will bring to life the unthinkable. 

One of my favorite hobbies is exploring the growing world of amateur animation, and one of my favorite finds is the YouTube channel “cuptoast,” operated by a sixteen-year-old artist that goes by the name of Crumb. Her animations typically feature her characteristic orange and black cat, or perhaps the box-mask inspired by said cat that she uses to protect her identity. I absolutely love all of her animations, but I’ve narrowed it down to three animations to dissect and analyze (and compliment endlessly). I would also like to mention that she animates by drawing with her finger on her iPad, and I find this absolutely insane as I can barely draw a coherent stick figure with a normal pencil and am also a (debatably) fully-functioning sixteen-year-old.

• Cats On Mars

This animation tells the story of a cat pioneer: a true space cadet! This cat arrives on Mars to complete a mission from Earth with a smile on their face and visible excitement, and it’s clear that this is a vacation, not an expedition. However, our poor cat narrator watches as Earth explodes, leaving escape out of the question and survival in question. 

One of Crumb’s biggest strengths is music choices. For this video specifically, Crumb utilizes a slightly sped up version of a song entitled “Cats On Mars,” so her inspiration tends to stem from the titles of the songs she chooses. The pace and rhythm of the song allows for a more cinematically framed approach to the progression of the story line, and the off-kilter accidentals of the backing song accurately depicts growing cabin fever. Her style is so consistently heartwarming in a way that contrasts nearly every theme surrounding the selected animation that leaves you wanting to see our poor space cadet safe on Earth with endless tuna cans.

• Cupid

This has to be one of my all-time favorite shorts I have ever seen in my entire life. I know I’m a hyperbolic gal, but let it be known that I am not being dramatic. “Cupid” recounts the modern tragedy of our protagonist cat getting their favorite baked good: a few chocolate-chip cookies— but alas! All three cookies are gone! The cat must learn to live with the loss of the light of their life with the support of their friend and cookie benefactor. To no avail, it seems! Sorrow consumes our resident cat friend in lieu of some cookies to snack on, and they find life unbearable— that is, the cookie-providing friend offers to buy some more!

There are many reasons why I am obsessed with this animation. One of them is the melodrama that couldn’t feel a smidge overdramatic in the moment, something I am very familiar with. Sure, the absence of cookies may not seem like the end of the world— until it is!

Another aspect that makes this video so addicting to me is her innate sense of timing in both plot progression and humor. I laughed out loud several times within the one minute length of this video, and the several people I have forced to watch Crumb’s animation find themselves letting a surprised chuckle slip out at the unexpectedly expressive face of the cat. This video is hilarious, and her song choice only bolsters that spur of the moment remorse that ultimately leaves the viewer feeling closure at the thought that this poor starved cat might get another shot at their cookie dreams. The melancholy tone of the song combined with her expert expressions make for an emotive journey, a love for a cookie-driven cat, and a hankering for some baked goods.

• Pad Thai

This animation depicts Crumb’s tumultuous relationship with being dependent on the internet to share and consume content with millions of unblinkingly anonymous eyes on you. Falling into the spotlight and under the inspection of numerous strangers is terrifying, and is certainly isolating for anyone— especially for someone as young as Crumb. Her usage of neons in tandem with the disarrayed synths at the splurge of blaring chords within the first forty seconds of the video creates an electrically-charged atmosphere, filled with palpable stress and terror. 

It’s an interesting depiction of an uncontrollable perception of yourself in which you start to fear other people’s ability to see through the self-curated image people often attempt to perpetuate. Interacting with and consuming other people’s opinions can feel inescapable, and the ability to distance your own self-validation from the comments of others feels further and further out of reach.

Her illustration of an evilly escalating version of yourself is terrifying, and the choppy screams of Jack Stauber’s keen production match the inward protests of a self-imposed attempted escape from the watchful faceless eyes that the internet provides all too kindly. Crumb is a master of efficiently and carefully using specific frames that run accurately in the parallel flow of the music, often resulting in an engrossing animation that takes your breath away and makes you forget the reality outside of her bold lines and warm tones.

***

Crumb is a rare talent, and her ability to mold her rounded and soft line work to the harsh and distressing topics she chooses to animate is uncanny. Her talent will take her far, but her skill and acute sense of timing will take her all the way. With a loveable personality and an excellent hand in situational comedy, Crumb is an inviting creator and has worked diligently to earn her deserved following. 

You can check out more of her animations at her YouTube channel or her art streams at her Twitch, and she regularly posts on Twitter, Tik Tok, and Instagram.

***HUNGER GAMES SPOILERS AHEAD***

One of my best friends in the entire world is named Emma. And that relationship nearly came crumbling down the horrible day I learned of her alignment regarding the two most sensationalized love interests in young adult dystopia (apart from Edward and Jacob of the “Twilight” series). Emma is Team Gale instead of Team Peeta.

For those of you that don’t understand, Peeta and Gale are featured characters in Suzanne Colin’s series of novels, “The Hunger Games.” The main character, Katniss, finds herself torn between the idea of being with her hometown situationship, Gale, and her onscreen beau, Peeta, after being sent to compete in a battle to the death against fellow children from the twelve districts of Panem.

When confronted with an issue that could single-handedly cause the death of a friendship, what else do I do but try to understand (and then attempt to use that understanding of her psyche to reverse her opinion)? However, this would be no small feat. I had to bring in one of the most argumentatively intellectual gorgeous amazing girls I have ever met: my other friend, Chloe. She is Team Peeta.

Dominating the English class debates and making our teacher wish he never brought the topic up, Chloe and Emma have more discussion ammo than the US armory, and even if Emma never sees the error of her pro-Gale ways. 

They typically agree, so a debate between the two of them on opposite sides had the potential to cause the structure of our very culture to topple over like a heavy, dead houseplant. Both of them agreed to defend each man’s honor, and I stepped back from my role as a Peeta supporter to proctor what could be the most heated discussion to date.

Here is their story…

I began with asking each of them why they were on their respective teams, Emma answering first: “I truly think he is the best fit for Katniss! He understands that Katniss puts her family above all else.” 

A fair sentiment. A true sentiment. But was it enough? Chloe followed, stating, “Peeta and her grew as people together, he knows what she needs and is there for her.”

Both answers were well-said, and the atmosphere was relatively respectful, each staying quiet during the others’ turn. That was about to change. I asked why they did not agree with the other side.

Emma immediately rose to the occasion:

“At her core, Katniss is two things: family-oriented and rebellious. Peeta plays it safe, you know…” She paused, collecting her thoughts. “If ‘Mockingjay: Part 2’ didn’t happen, she could cope better with Gale to help her recover without Peeta as a reminder of everything she’d been through.”

Chloe simply would not stand for this slight jab at Peeta’s role in Katniss’ life, firing back, “Peeta understands her trauma. Gale knows her past, Peeta is her present. He helped her cope, he was her crutch until they were equals. She needs stability, you know, she’s a wild spirit.”

Emma widened her eyes in indignation, fighting back by saying, “I would argue the same for Gale! He reminds her where she came from, her roots. Gale could never understand her trauma, but it’s not fair to ask him to do that. Peeta doesn’t know her as a person, he knows her trauma.”

Chloe cocked her eyebrow, rejecting the Peeta slander: “But you’re operating under the guise that the Games didn’t happen, she’s not going to be the same person after such a traumatic experience, he got mad at her for being different after her first Games!”

Chloe had unknowingly opened a can of worms. Emma retorted, “But that’s why he’s better! A person is not made of their trauma: he loves her whole self— when she is happiest and saddest. She was more sad after the games, and he knew that.”

Chloe didn’t skip a beat: “But Peeta ended up knowing her more than Gale ever could, he was more flexible. There are years in between ‘Mockingjay: Part 2’ the epilogue, there was time.”

The next transcription of their debate happened simultaneously, despite my attempts to get them to slow down and let each other speak. This is the clearest translation I could attempt:

EMMA (Team Gale)

Katniss needs Gale to remind her what it was before, to be removed from the entire separate life after the game!

CHLOE (Team Peeta)

If we don’t let our crutches swallow us whole, then we can move on with the knowledge that nothing will be the same— WHICH IS WHAT KATNISS DID! He wasn’t a constant reminder of what she’s been through, she also sees the ability to prosper in Peeta. ‘We were able to overcome all of that,’ you know? After the games, their friendship grew in not knowing one another outside of the games.

EMMA (Team Gale)

Okay, listen. Gale is actually the scum of the earth and deserved the bottom of my boot. I’ll be the first to say that. After ‘Catching Fire,’ I am team Peeta. But those two movies/books (that make up the majority of the series!) prove his potential for me. I honestly don’t like either guy after Mockingjay, I think Katniss is/should have been a lesbian. I don’t think I’m Team Gale, I’m just not Team Peeta.

CHLOE (Team Peeta)

It’s fair to say that Gale knew her better, you know, she was still innocent. But at the beginning, we see hints of him not wanting to change, like when she comes back, he’s like, “I’ve been taking care of your family, like why don’t you love me?”

Gale wasn’t necessarily tarnished by the games, he wasn’t as beaten as much as Peeta. But his character isn’t as strong as Peeta’s reconstruction of his own identity and growing as a person. Him overcoming what he went through helped her overcome what she went through and it provided a backing for them to grow. Katniss and Gale were too similar, both were prideful and wanted to provide, Peeta knows when to step down.

EMMA (Team Gale)

No, no, listen. Gale and Katniss both have severe savior complexes, and it’s not Peeta’s fault, he’s strong, he can take care of himself. However, Katniss allows herself to be taken care of by Gale whereas she can’t trust herself in Peeta’s hands.

CHLOE (Team Peeta)

Honestly, I have a hard time believing she ever loved Gale romantically. Gale liked her more romantically, and Katniss liked him more platonically and trust-wise, and then Gale got the wires crossed: She thought he was taking care of her family because he cared about her as a person, but he asked for more than she bargained for.

Ultimately, Chloe’s last comment was the final straw. The debate became unintelligible, and I had to cut it off after a couple of rude comments attacking each other’s characters. I commend Chloe for her diplomatic approach and I congratulate Emma for standing her ground. But the main draw from this argument is clear: Emma isn’t even Team Gale, she just doesn’t like Peeta. So my final message to anyone that chooses to be Team Gale is this one sentiment: Get help.