The Pop Culture We’re Thankful for Getting Us Through 2021

Being grateful doesn’t solely have to use to the large stuff. Each day we’re all grateful for our well being, buddies, household, and extra. As we ought to be. But typically it’s simply enjoyable to consider the much less apparent stuff we’re grateful for and there’s no higher time to try this than Thanksgiving. That’s why annually, io9 writes about popular culture creations we’re grateful for. The issues that, throughout 2021, helped make us a little bit happier, a little bit wiser, a little bit higher contemplating… every thing.

That doesn’t essentially imply these are the perfect issues we’ve seen or achieved. Nor have they got to be new and even that thrilling. They simply must be private, from the center, and have resonated in a means that makes us wish to say “Thanks.” You can take a look at our 2020 picks right here and, beneath, learn the 2021 version.

We’re Thankful For: Bob’s Burgers

I can’t keep in mind the place it was however I noticed any person the opposite day say that Bob’s Burgers isn’t humorous anymore and I truly mentioned out loud: “How DARE you.” Suffice to say, I’m nonetheless very a lot having fun with the animated sequence which is now in its—checks notes—twelfth season! This ridiculous household brings me a lot consolation and pleasure; I activate previous episodes commonly to relive the gags which someway by no means get drained. Bob’s love of speaking to meals. Linda’s impromptu songs. Tina’s obsession with butts. Gene’s fully inappropriate conduct in any scenario. Louise’s every thing. The finest are the vacation specials which you’ll be able to run via in the course of the season. I’ll be watching plenty of bizarre turkey motion this week, you possibly can wager your candy puns. – Jill Pantozzi

We’re Thankful For: Dune

When Warner Bros. first introduced it was making a new model of Dune, my first intuition was to purchase the e-book. And so I did. I received about 30 pages into it, stopped, and put it down for a number of years. Dune’s density made it each a fantastic paperweight and all however not possible for me to get into with out some context. Sure, I might’ve watched the David Lynch film, however I made a decision I’d wait just a few years for Denis Villeneuve to complete his film so I might study all about Paul Atreides and sandworms.

Fast-forward to 2021. I noticed Denis Villeneuve’s film, I cherished it, and like a lot of you, I needed to know what was subsequent. So I dusted off my copy of Dune and was immediately transported to Arrakis. I completed that e-book, I completed the second e-book, and I’m at present studying the third. Frank Herbert’s creativeness has change into my go-to place to flee up to now few months and regardless that it’s been out there to me actually my complete life, that I’m simply now discovering it absolutely has been a blessing. – Germain Lussier

We’re Thankful For: Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty aired its Thanksgiving episode (or reasonably, “Thanksploitation Spectacular”) again in July, odd timing that works with the present’s irreverent angle but in addition offers followers a handy excuse to re-watch the episode—during which a plan to sneakily receive a Presidential pardon backfires in a riot of grotesque human-turkey hybrids—and even the entire dang fifth season. For a present that usually offers off the impression of being overhyped and, even worse, over-commercialized, Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s animated sensation continues to ship constantly intelligent snark whereas dreaming up adventures each intergalactic and intimate for Rick, Morty, and the remainder of the forged to get snarled in. Not unhealthy for a present that’s been on the air, albeit sporadically, since 2008. – Cheryl Eddy

We’re Thankful For: Mobile Suit Gundam

Last yr’s nonetheless ongoing, nonetheless horrible world pandemic introduced me nicely again into the Gundam fold because of a legion of plastic mannequin kits I spent my free time constructing. While I did dip again into the anime final yr—principally Gundam Wing, which I found doesn’t maintain up because it did after I was a tween first seeing it many years in the past—it wasn’t till 2021, and the discharge of Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway on Netflix, that I actually determined to re-examine considered one of my favourite animated sequence of all time. Starting from the very starting, I’ve plowed via acquainted reveals and movies like 0079, Zeta, ZZ, Char’s Counterattack, Unicorn, and The Origin in my free time thus far this yr, watched OVAs I’d by no means seen earlier than like F91, and began previous favorites once more in Victory and Turn A. Revisiting them for the primary time in years, particularly alongside the wonderful watch alongside/evaluation podcast sequence The Great Gundam Project, rekindled what I really like most about Gundam, from its incisive views of not simply struggle however the imperialist and capitalist forces that drive battle, what it has to say about humanity’s future, and maybe considered one of my favourite sci-fi ideas round: the advanced spacenoids which might be Gundam’s Newtypes, empaths compelled to make use of their powers as instruments of battle as an alternative of common connection. And yeah, the robots are fairly cool too. – James Whitbrook

We’re Thankful For: Modern Pokémon Cards

Something that hasn’t gotten almost sufficient consideration within the ongoing protection of the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s renewed recognition is how a lot of an emphasis current units have placed on turning chase playing cards into intricate little items of artwork. When Pokémon playing cards first hit the streets again within the ‘90s, a card’s rarity image and whether or not or not it was holographic have been two huge metrics that the majority people used to find out whether or not or not a card was precious. While assessing playing cards that means would possibly make sense from strictly Collecting™ and financial views, it’s by no means been one which lent itself to an appreciation for the illustrations themselves.

Over the previous 25 years, because the recreation’s mechanics have modified and advanced, the playing cards too have taken on new varieties that put much less emphasis on textual content and extra on the dynamic scenes of the monsters they function. There’s one thing distinctly thrilling about ripping right into a pack of playing cards and catching sight of a full-bleed picture peeking out of the stack of cardboard. It’s not simply that there’s a uncommon card inside, however that usually, these playing cards depict scenes meant to evoke the concept of stumbling throughout a wildly magnificent, sudden creature, and being so greatly surprised that each one you are able to do is stare at it. It’s a cool means of translating a component of the Pokémon videogame expertise to a bodily medium, and one of many higher concepts that the Pokémon Company’s had lately. – Charles Pulliam-Moore

Well, that’s us! Leave a remark beneath and share one thing you’re grateful for this yr—doesn’t essentially must be pop-tradition associated.

Wondering the place our RSS feed went? You can decide the brand new up one right here.