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Let’s start with the most pressing issue: the overwhelming and often useless information flooding in through the international asylum exchange program. This situation is so frustrating that Eidra almost wishes she’d lost her job after Roylin’s death. She’s experienced a lot, but the sheer amount of unbelievable and worthless intelligence her team is receiving has her considering a meeting with Hal to see if she’s been sidelined long enough to be reassigned to meaningful work. One particularly ridiculous claim she’s heard is that Americans were involved in the attack on the HMS *Courageous*.

The series *Boots* realistically portrays the intense process of joining the Marines, focusing on an 18-year-old who enlists before the implementation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Adapted from Greg Cope White’s memoir, *The Pink Marine*, the show follows a young man (played by Miles Heizer, known for his teen roles) who spontaneously joins basic training with the friend he has a crush on. *Boots* feels like a comedic take on summer camp – our main character endures tough drills, forms close bonds with his fellow recruits, and learns to persevere. The show suggests that the harshness of military training can actually improve a person, which is a bold claim. I kept watching hoping the series would challenge this idea, but after finishing the season, I’m still unsure if it does.

The saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” might seem like an excuse for copying, but there’s still something to it. In horror movies, it’s common to see films inspired by earlier works, as the genre constantly evolves by building on what came before. Sometimes this results in uninspired copies, but films like *Scream* and *Get Out* successfully build upon and improve the movies that influenced them. Ideally, a great horror film both honors the past and tries something new, creating a dialogue with the genre’s history.

Everything is looking good for Netflix, except they still haven’t won the Academy Award for Best Picture. They’ve been close many times – films have been early frontrunners, critically acclaimed at festivals, and gained momentum late in the season. In fact, Netflix films have received the most nominations overall four times in the last seven years. However, they haven’t actually won the award yet, while newer competitors like Apple, Neon, and A24 have. Will next year finally be their year?