Movies and TV Shows
Little Women (2019) tells the story of Jo March and her sisters as well as their various life paths. The main character becomes a writer, her older sister Meg; a mother, her youngest sister Amy; a painter, and younger sister Beth; a memory (spoiler: she dies). What makes Greta Gerwig's Little Women (2019) so poignant is that it's told nonchronologically and leaves the last act open to interpretation, with tongue-in-cheek meta-commentary. I particularly enjoy the use of color in the cinematography; pale to show the future or bleak times and bright, vivid colors capturing flashbacks of their youth, and the screenwriting. You get to spend a decent amount of time with each of the characters that makes them feel more real. Two of the main characters get separate sets of monologues that hammer home their internal struggles. For Jo, it would be feeling left behind and lonely in her pursuit of a career during a time that values a woman's role as a domestic servant and ornament to society. For Amy, it is her older self's pragmatic approach in viewing marriage as an economic proposition, in stark contrast to her romanticized youth lens.
Avatar the Last Airbender (2005-2008), or ATLA, follows Aang, a last-of-his-kind airbender as he embarks on a journey to master the other three elements (water, fire, and earth) to complete his training as the Avatar. It is a masterclass in storytelling and animation. Set in a post-100-year war led by the Fire Nation, it shows various cultural influences from Tibetan Buddhist, monarchial China, Imperial Japan, Inuit and other indigenous Artic cultures. Beginning with being discovered frozen in an iceberg by waterbender Katara and her brother and strategist Sokka, they venture throughout the kingdoms to find elemental 'bending' teachers so that Aang can fight and defeat the Fire Lord. They are being pursued by various bad actors, mostly by shunned and exiled Prince Zuko and his peaceful Uncle Iroh. Each character goes through an arc that adds to their complexity. I particularly enjoy Zuko's arc, which I feel, is the heart of the story, as he uncovers the true history of the Fire Nation and works through his personal definitions of revenge, honor, and forgiveness.
Parks and Recreation (2009-2015) captures government employee and optimist Leslie Knope as she fights through the red tape of bureaucracy, with often lazy and unmotivated co-workers who develop into a cohesive team to make the world a better place for people starting with the Pawnee, Indiana in the Parks and Recreation Department. She could be described as a golden retriever, in what she lacks in support she more than makes up for with her determination and enthusiasm. Her boss, Ron Swanson, is a libertarian that is truly anti-government and often shoots down her ideas in the name of government efficiency. The antagonists of the series range from disgruntled everyday citizens who either disapprove of her initiatives or various higher-ups that seek opposing initiatives. My favorite part of the series is when she runs for City Councilor and wins. While she was happy to start at the Parks and Recreation Department I like the upward mobility and ambition she has because she understands the capabilities and skill set she offers to helping at an even larger scale.