deerstalker
https://blackgirlnerds.com/the-best-part-about-euphoria-isnt-the-actual-episode/
Written by: Kailynn Johnson
On Sunday, February 13, we gathered around our favorite streaming devices to watch what was believed would be one of the most explosive match-ups of 2022.
Sides had been chosen, and many had hoped that their chosen player would reign supreme.
The face-off in question wouldn’t have the setting of a football field accompanied by a halftime show, however. This match-up would be set in one of the most cutthroat and brutal places out there.
High school.
A new episode of HBO Max’s Euphoria was set to air at 9 p.m., and we were all waiting to see what was anticipated as the culmination of the Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) vs Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) drama.
In the week prior, an on-the-run Rue Bennett (Zendaya) had exposed one of the biggest secrets this season during a drug intervention. Cassie had been sleeping with her then best friend’s ex-boyfriend, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi).
The tension around this episode was intense, and a showdown seemed inevitable. After all, a Twitter user pointed out that for Episode 6, Maddy wasn’t wearing any nails.
Y’all notice in the trailer for episode 6 maddy aint got no nails on
pic.twitter.com/0XJXbaLGvM
— NANAS WIT THE ILL NANA
(@nanasofficiall) February 8, 2022
Such a keen eye is needed for a Euphoria stan. How else would you know that Rue’s signature crimson hoodie was worn by her dad? Or that Labrinth’s “All For Us” was used throughout the show’s first season to artistically narrate Rue’s drug addiction?
Fan theories are nothing new, and neither is the anticipation for a new installment in our favorite TV sagas. On November 21, 1980, 350 million people tuned in to the hit television drama Dallas to solve the mystery of one of the most historic cliffhangers in TV history: Who shot J.R.? Fans had eight months to comb through theories, using remnants from reruns to try to piece together answers.
The phenomena of social media apps have made this guessing game a little more fun, giving us the opportunity to digitally connect with other fans to see how their theories line up with ours. One user will have picked up a tiny detail in a character’s room, while another would spend hours analyzing Maddy’s body language in the hot tub weeks before. Everyone wanted answers, and this seemed like the perfect way to put our AP kid skills to the test.
So when we dimmed our lights and opened the HBO Max app, it seemed like a girl fight was inevitable. Not only had someone created a mock Super Bowl flyer featuring Maddy and Cassie, but after a week of circulating fan theories, this seemed to be the only logical move.
Then, it didn’t happen.
It seems as if we were collectively let down after clinging on to the meticulous calculations of our fellow Euphoria fans.
And while everything seemed to fit together so perfectly, there was no time to waste over a wrong prediction. There are now four more episodes in this season, meaning there’s still time for our showdown prediction, amongst others, to come true.
And yes, there are many.
In what has cemented itself as one of the most explosive episodes so far, Season 2: Episode 5, also leaves us wondering more about one of the scariest women in the Euphoria universe, Laurie. Several dark rumors loom around Rue’s experience with the drug lord, after having her stash flushed down the toilet. It’s still a waiting game, but fan theories tend to get more complex the longer they go unanswered. Next week’s episode promises to address another major plot point, the play with Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow).
To viewers, it seemed as if Lexi’s play had gotten lost behind likes of the Rue, Elliott, and Jules’ love triangle and the explosive Cal Jacob (Eric Dane) episode. However, with a trailer including a healthy mix of draw drops and audible gasps, we can guess that major bombs will be dropped in this high school production.
Lexi has become a fan favorite in this episode, with many not only excited to see her directorial debut but also to see if she ends up with the loveable drug dealer Fezco.
Shortly after the season premiere, fans were already shipping “#Fexi,” with fans hoping that as an additional episode drops, we get closer to closer to the two finally being together.
However there’s no dominant conspiracy theories that keep this fandom going, nor are there any easter eggs (yet) that indicate their fate. In fact, this demonstrates another aspect of Euphoria fandom that many can appreciate, and it’s the idea of rooting for your favorite character.
Underneath a tweet that predicts the fallout of Lexi’s play to be synonymous with that of Regina George after printing out the Burn Book, a user picked up on the fact that Rue looked like she was clean, which was accompanied by a meme of a dog and a user smiling. Underneath this tweet, you’ll find many more users sharing their excitement that Rue seems to be committing to sobriety.
Lexi’s play about to be a mess but Rue looking clean
#Euphoria pic.twitter.com/eAVGbebymX
— A (@_freezetxt) February 14, 2022
There also seems to be a collective backing for Maddy as she continues to deal with abuse from Nate, while also dealing with betrayal from her best friend. Others are keeping their fingers crossed for more screen time for Kat, the show’s only plus-size female character.
Fans may have found a place for us to cultivate our fan theories, but it’s also a way for us to voice our hopes for our favorite characters and to share our excitement when they experience positive character development.
While your main hope for the show may be for Rue to become a part of the 5% or to finally see Lexi and Fez together, you can guarantee there’s a fan theory or hive of hope that helps fuel your curiosity until next Sunday.
Euphoria airs Sunday nights at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Written by: Kailynn Johnson
On Sunday, February 13, we gathered around our favorite streaming devices to watch what was believed would be one of the most explosive match-ups of 2022.
Sides had been chosen, and many had hoped that their chosen player would reign supreme.
The face-off in question wouldn’t have the setting of a football field accompanied by a halftime show, however. This match-up would be set in one of the most cutthroat and brutal places out there.
High school.
A new episode of HBO Max’s Euphoria was set to air at 9 p.m., and we were all waiting to see what was anticipated as the culmination of the Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) vs Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) drama.
In the week prior, an on-the-run Rue Bennett (Zendaya) had exposed one of the biggest secrets this season during a drug intervention. Cassie had been sleeping with her then best friend’s ex-boyfriend, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi).
The tension around this episode was intense, and a showdown seemed inevitable. After all, a Twitter user pointed out that for Episode 6, Maddy wasn’t wearing any nails.
Y’all notice in the trailer for episode 6 maddy aint got no nails on
— NANAS WIT THE ILL NANA
Such a keen eye is needed for a Euphoria stan. How else would you know that Rue’s signature crimson hoodie was worn by her dad? Or that Labrinth’s “All For Us” was used throughout the show’s first season to artistically narrate Rue’s drug addiction?
Fan theories are nothing new, and neither is the anticipation for a new installment in our favorite TV sagas. On November 21, 1980, 350 million people tuned in to the hit television drama Dallas to solve the mystery of one of the most historic cliffhangers in TV history: Who shot J.R.? Fans had eight months to comb through theories, using remnants from reruns to try to piece together answers.
The phenomena of social media apps have made this guessing game a little more fun, giving us the opportunity to digitally connect with other fans to see how their theories line up with ours. One user will have picked up a tiny detail in a character’s room, while another would spend hours analyzing Maddy’s body language in the hot tub weeks before. Everyone wanted answers, and this seemed like the perfect way to put our AP kid skills to the test.
So when we dimmed our lights and opened the HBO Max app, it seemed like a girl fight was inevitable. Not only had someone created a mock Super Bowl flyer featuring Maddy and Cassie, but after a week of circulating fan theories, this seemed to be the only logical move.
Then, it didn’t happen.
It seems as if we were collectively let down after clinging on to the meticulous calculations of our fellow Euphoria fans.
And while everything seemed to fit together so perfectly, there was no time to waste over a wrong prediction. There are now four more episodes in this season, meaning there’s still time for our showdown prediction, amongst others, to come true.
And yes, there are many.
In what has cemented itself as one of the most explosive episodes so far, Season 2: Episode 5, also leaves us wondering more about one of the scariest women in the Euphoria universe, Laurie. Several dark rumors loom around Rue’s experience with the drug lord, after having her stash flushed down the toilet. It’s still a waiting game, but fan theories tend to get more complex the longer they go unanswered. Next week’s episode promises to address another major plot point, the play with Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow).
To viewers, it seemed as if Lexi’s play had gotten lost behind likes of the Rue, Elliott, and Jules’ love triangle and the explosive Cal Jacob (Eric Dane) episode. However, with a trailer including a healthy mix of draw drops and audible gasps, we can guess that major bombs will be dropped in this high school production.
Lexi has become a fan favorite in this episode, with many not only excited to see her directorial debut but also to see if she ends up with the loveable drug dealer Fezco.
Shortly after the season premiere, fans were already shipping “#Fexi,” with fans hoping that as an additional episode drops, we get closer to closer to the two finally being together.
However there’s no dominant conspiracy theories that keep this fandom going, nor are there any easter eggs (yet) that indicate their fate. In fact, this demonstrates another aspect of Euphoria fandom that many can appreciate, and it’s the idea of rooting for your favorite character.
Underneath a tweet that predicts the fallout of Lexi’s play to be synonymous with that of Regina George after printing out the Burn Book, a user picked up on the fact that Rue looked like she was clean, which was accompanied by a meme of a dog and a user smiling. Underneath this tweet, you’ll find many more users sharing their excitement that Rue seems to be committing to sobriety.
Lexi’s play about to be a mess but Rue looking clean
— A (@_freezetxt) February 14, 2022
There also seems to be a collective backing for Maddy as she continues to deal with abuse from Nate, while also dealing with betrayal from her best friend. Others are keeping their fingers crossed for more screen time for Kat, the show’s only plus-size female character.
Fans may have found a place for us to cultivate our fan theories, but it’s also a way for us to voice our hopes for our favorite characters and to share our excitement when they experience positive character development.
While your main hope for the show may be for Rue to become a part of the 5% or to finally see Lexi and Fez together, you can guarantee there’s a fan theory or hive of hope that helps fuel your curiosity until next Sunday.
Euphoria airs Sunday nights at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Documentary films elevate important stories often set aside by dominant culture. The film American Reckoning bravely tells an often ignored narrative of Black self-defense and the multiple consequences of resisting white supremacy.
Wharlest Jackson Sr. was a husband and father of five who worked three jobs to support his family and was treasurer of his local chapter of the NAACP. In 1967, while driving home after working overtime from his factory job, he was murdered. Someone took his life by placing a bomb on the driver’s side of his car.
As the story of the NAACP coming to Mississippi to protest Wharlest Jackson’s death is told, the audience is taken on a familiar journey: Black folks organize to vote and white Southerners organize to shut it all down with terrorism. Footage of members of the Ku Klux Klan brazenly parading around town in their hoods and robes, faces exposed, and openly threatening Black people at their Klan rallies is jarring, but in American Reckoning, the audience witnesses Black Southerners with guns ready to protect themselves and their property unapologetically. Directors and producers Yoruba Richen (The Killing of Breonna Taylor, The Sit In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show) and Brad Lichtenstein (When Claude Got Shot) show viewers a side of Black resistance not often seen. American Reckoning takes the audience on a civil rights emotional roller coaster that thankfully ends with a sense of hope.
Three years before Jackson’s murder, his friend, co-worker, and NAACP local president George Metcalf was severely injured when a bomb was placed under the hood of his car. As the Black community organized to peacefully protest the murder attempt, they also armed themselves for protection. A high point in American Reckoning is when the film turns its lens to the Deacons of Defense and Justice. A group of Black men travel from Mississippi to Bogalusa, Louisiana, to meet with the Deacons to learn how to organize themselves to protect their community by openly practicing armed self-defense.
Black people arming themselves to protect their families in the South is not a new phenomenon. There’s a wonderful montage of historic paintings and photos of Black resistance in America from the 1600s to the 1960s as professor Akinyele Umoja (author of We Will Shoot Back) shares that Black communities taking up arms to protect themselves with force was not an unusual notion. The notion of non-violent protest was unusual. Your usual civil rights documentary from this time period would show Black people stoically sitting at lunch counters while screaming white people pour hot coffee on their heads or Black people getting beaten and knocked over by fire hoses while bitten by German shepherds. There is none of that here. Nah. We see brothers with shotguns ready to protect their families against the Klan. We see Black women, children, and elders peacefully protesting while protected by Black men. Seeing the footage of Black men in this time period organizing in barbershops and in Black neighborhoods prepared to defend themselves is inspiring. I wish there could have been more about the Deacons. I really loved this part of the film.
Hillary Bachelder’s expert editing blends never-before-seen archival footage from the 1960s with interviews from the 1990s and current day that connect the 21st-century civil rights uprising with the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. The directors don’t shy away from showing the sexism that existed in the civil rights movement back then, giving a multifaceted nuance that humanizes the movement.
American Reckoning is also a heartbreaking chronicle of the continued injustices faced by Jackson’s family who, for over fifty years, have tried to get the American justice system to find and prosecute the men responsible for their father’s death. The Jackson family is just one of thousands of Black families who dealt with the consequences of their loved ones being murdered for just wanting to live head held high with human dignity during Jim Crow. According to the documentary, in the late 1960s in that area of Mississippi, there were over 46 unsolved murders of Black men, women, and children. The documentary alleges these were possibly at the hands of a select club within the KKK. John Lewis has a meaningful cameo appearance late in the documentary, which makes this family’s journey even more compelling.
American Reckoning is a part of FRONTLINE’s Un(re)solved initiative, a series of documentaries that showcase the federal government’s investigation of over 150 cold cases from the civil rights era. Un(re)solved includes a podcast, a web-based interactive experience, and a live traveling augmented reality installation.
American Reckoning reminds viewers of Black communities’ unstoppable ability to protect themselves and advocate for justice. This way of life has always been how Black people have lived in America — connected to resilience and authentic power no matter what. Although American Reckoning is very tough to watch at times, the end left me feeling inspired, ready, and able, knowing that Black resistance lives in our bloodlines.
American Reckoning opens theatrically Friday, February 11, 2022, for a one-week exclusive engagement in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica Film Center. American Reckoning then premieres on PBS’s FRONTLINE February 15, 2022, 10PM ET/9PM CT streaming on PBS.org/frontline and in the PBS video app February 16, 2022.
Activate your child’s motor skills with our list of the best activity cubes, toddler activity centers, busy boards, and more!
How many of you remember playing with a bead maze activity cube at the doctor’s office? It seemed those delightful toys were a waiting room staple of every pediatrician or dentist I had the “pleasure” to visit. There’s just something so satisfying about pushing wooden beads along a twisting wire rollercoaster. All this time, I thought activity cubes were nothing more than toys, but it turns out they offer so much more, especially for babies and toddlers!
See, activity cubes, activity centers, and busy boards are great ways to develop your little one’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as well as improve critical thinking and teach cause and effect. Certainly, there are many kinds of activity cubes on the market, so we did the work and found the ones that struck the right balance between cost and features. For the most part, our goal was to stick with non-electronics, but we couldn’t help ourselves and also threw in a few items that require batteries. We’re all geeks here at GeekBaby, after all.
It’s crucial to develop your child’s fine motor skills, but just as important are their gross motor skills, and swings are proven to strengthen a child’s balance and coordination. So, for the perfect compliment to an activity cube, check out our list of the best baby/toddler swings indoors or out!
All right then, let’s do this. Read on for fifteen cute, cool, geeky activity toys for your baby.
Wooden Activity Cubes
Ever played the app Cut the Rope? It’s a simple but engaging puzzle game enjoyed by not only kids but parents alike. So, the first item on the list brings Om Nom and friends to life with many puzzles, hooks, and doorways to interact with. In short, this large activity cube is big enough for older toddlers, small enough for barely standing infants, and something even parents themselves will enjoy!
This activity cube is adorable and filled to the edges with fun activities. In addition to a zigzag track and spinners, there’s also bead mazes and animal puzzles, to name just a few of its features. Not to mention, this cube helps with hand-eye coordination and teaches cause and effect. For me, it’s all about those cows and ducks. So cute!
How can one make an activity cube more active? Add wheels! This cube has it all, including a learning clock and a side that helps teach numbers, colors, and shapes. However, it should be pointed out that this is not a training toy for walking and should be used by experienced walkers only. Otherwise, holy cats, is thing awesome!
Wooden Activity Centers
Tree Top Adventure Activity Center
In addition to being toddler-sized and filled with interesting and adorable activities, this activity center makes for excellent nursery decor. I mean, look at how cute that snail and ant are! Even the bumblebee is delightful, and I’m deeply afraid of bees (real ones anyways). Plus, this table is sturdy enough for toddlers to pull on without tipping, making it great for strengthening their standing skills.
Looking for more ways to decorate your nursery? Hop on over here for some baby nursery themes and decor ideas!
Deep Sea Adventure Activity Center
On the other hand, perhaps you prefer the ocean over the forest. Well, we got you covered! Loaded with fun activities and ultra cute sea creatures (that crab is giving me life!), this activity center is another great choice for the nursery, especially for an underwater themed one. Above all, this bright, colorful, and highly detailed activity center is sure to capture your child’s imagination!
From the tree tops, to the deep seas, and now to outer space, this activity center is ready to send your child’s imagination to the moon and back! Filled with features that develop your child’s fine and gross motor skills, this rocket would be a fantastic addition to any space-themed nursery. Even more good news, absolutely no ego-driven billionaires had a hand in making this rocket!
Travel Activity Cubes
Designed for infants to develop and enhance their senses, this plush cube is perfect for entertaining your little one while on the go. We recommend keeping one of these cubes with your stroller and/or in the car, so you always have it when you’re out and about with your child. However, if camping isn’t your thing, hop on over to the seller’s full Etsy shop for lots of other options!
Everyone loves Lego. That’s a fact. Okay, maybe not a fact but you get my meaning. This cube is perfect little builders ages 2 and up. The string-attached Lego pieces mean no missing pieces or painful footfalls in the dark. In addition, this tiny cube will keep any toddler entertained for on-the-go brain stimulation and learning. Fine motor skills will be honed right before your eyes with this touch of throwback. Another perk, it’ll easily fit in a purse, pocket, or pouch, making this a great option to bring along on any trip.
Not only is each of these cubes tiny and adorable, but they’re also unique due to their variety of designs and colors. Options include Hello Kitty; planes, trains, and automobiles; underwater; and a sweet, tactile sheep friend. These cubes are made for a learning baby on the go, perfect to battle the road trip blues for baby and you.
Busy Boards
This wooden “iPad” for toddlers uses hands-on and visual stimuli to keep kids interested. As they grow, they can practice their letters or drawing skills with the individual light-up buttons to create and learn. The on/off switch flip switch, light-up buttons, and easily stowed design make this a great option for long car trips or adventures through the grocery store.
Maybe you want all of the fun activities a proper activity cube offers but don’t have the space (or you just prefer flat rectangles over cubes). Well, this customizable busy board is the perfect solution for you. Hang it on the wall, or tuck it under the bed, if that works better. Wherever you decide, just know, your little one is going to all about this!
Personalized Outer Space Busy Board
How about a personalized busy board with an outer space theme? Add your child’s name and, if any of the attachments don’t suit your child’s interests, the seller is willing to work with you to build the ideal busy board perfect for your child. And, if space isn’t your thing, the Etsy shop has loads of other themes to choose from, so check them out!
If soaring across the galaxy is your jam, be sure to check out our list of Star Wars nursery decor recommendations!
Unique Activity Toys
Gosh, this is cute. It’s also got some really fun features. Press the nose for pig sounds. Rotate the gears to build fine motor skills. Pound the top for fun effects. There’s more, of course, but really, it’s all about that adorable little piggy. charming and delightful, what’s not to love? I suppose if you don’t love pigs as much I do, you could always go with cow option.
Focusing on helping your little one to learn by having fun, this learning cube lands in the middle of busy toy and educational toy. Each of the big, colorful buttons sends kids on a learning journey. They can count to ten, practice the alphabet, learn colors, and even develop rhythm and musicality. Seriously, this thing’s won loads of awards and accolades, so you don’t have to take our word for it. Check it out!
While not a cube, this activity toy will keep your baby or toddler engaged while introducing them to the world of math early! You can try calculating the amount of fun you and your toddler can have, but the limit simply does not exist. Your child is sure to love the brightly-colored shapes, numbers, and counting disks, but really it’s all about that magnetic fishing rod for some dexterity fun! In a nutshell, this is an excellent choice for starting off your little one’s math journey right.
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