ARTS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, OPINION Regis Highlander ARTS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, OPINION Regis Highlander

Netflix Series, Cobra Kai, Shows the Power of Friendship

Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer 

The show Cobra Kai is based off of the events in the movie The Karate Kid. It was made in 2018 by Josh Heald, John Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg in hopes for the Karate Kid saga to live on. The show begins thirty four years after Karate Kid. The dojo name “Cobra Kai” is taken from The Karate Kid, and there are many returning faces including John Kreese, Paul Dugan, and Terrance Silver. This show explores many different forms of relationships and how they can teach us to be better people.

Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer 

The show Cobra Kai is based off of the events in the movie The Karate Kid. It was made in 2018 by Josh Heald, John Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg in hopes for the Karate Kid saga to live on. The show begins thirty four years after Karate Kid. The dojo name “Cobra Kai” is taken from The Karate Kid, and there are many returning faces including John Kreese, Paul Dugan, and Terrance Silver. This show explores many different forms of relationships and how they can teach us to be better people.

Robby Keene is the main character in season one. Miguel Diaz is the main character in season two. They become friends throughout the show as you get to know the differences and similarities between Miguel and Robby and how their bond is formed. They both want the same things, but have different paths to get there. At first, they don’t like each other because Robby is jealous that Miguel starts to have a father figure to look up to. Throughout the seasons, they have their problems, but they grow up and move together towards achievable goals that bring them together. 

In one memorable event from the season two finale, Miguel ends up in a coma because Robby kicked him off a high staircase. However, later in the show Robby and Miguel fight again and resolve their conflict. Eventually, they find common ground after the fight and become best friends. They are able to unite because they both didn’t have male role models growing up. I feel like the lessons that are being taught to the viewers are that people can have conflict at first, but it is important to know and understand their side of the story. This also shows that the two people who once didn’t get along can always move on from the past, and grow into more mature people.

Another character, Tory Nichols is also similar to Johnny Lawrence. Both of them miss father figures, and resort to isolating themselves. Tory and Johnny never really got to know who they really were as they both grew up without knowing who their biological father is. Many have speculated online about rumors of Mike Barnes possibly being Tory’s father. I disagree, but I think her father could be either Dutch or an unknown man. Both Dutch and Tory had difficult lives and both ended up in juvie. That is revealed when Johnny’s buddies from high school mention that he was up in Lompoc County.

While learning under Sensei Johnny Lawrence, Miguel starts to become close to a girl named Samantha, and eventually starts a relationship with her. They find things in common and they share chemistry together as their relationship grows stronger each season. Miguel struggles in this relationship because Sam feels like she doesn’t know and understand him anymore after a few weeks. They eventually break up and Miguel gets into a short relationship with Tory Nichols to try something new in an attempt to get over Sam. Tory points out that this is unfair for her. Eventually Miguel returns to Sam when she finds an octopus necklace in the dojo and realizes that Miguel still likes her more than a friend. They get back together again because they spent some time on their own trying to find out more things about themselves but they end up realizing that they love each other romantically. This shows how willing Miguel was to communicate and understand his love for Sam from the very beginning of the show, all the way to the end. Their relationship can show us how to communicate in romantic relationships, and everyone should be able to do this in their own lives.

Throughout season one, Robby gets hired at LaRusso Auto and works there helping a character named Daniel fix and sell cars. Daniel later becomes a father figure for Robby. Both of them had demons in their past and fought them. Daniel sees the potential he had in himself and decides to help Robby use it in his life. Robby struggles against his opponents in tournaments. Robby knows the sorts of struggles that he faces are inevitable. He makes lots of mistakes throughout every season. but he wants to take responsibility to show Daniel that they are alike in many ways. Daniel learns how to trust himself throughout this father-son relationship as he helps Robby. There are times where they argue, but they eventually put their differences aside to come back together. Robby and Daniel are very much alike and they have always found ways to win in various situations.

Many people struggle with bullies in their life. Yet, in the end, it is always important to remember what you’ve been taught. Even if that is fighting for your purpose or love. I have most certainly dealt with a whole lot of bullying and I do not like it. It is because of bullying and the things I dealt with in my early life that I began to watch this show Cobra Kai. I feel like if I get better at fighting for what is right, then maybe I could pass down my knowledge as a sensei one day. While I hope that everyone lives their lives full of happy memories and experiences, they should also be ready for unfortunate events to happen. However they can overcome those difficulties by remembering to spend the most time you can with the people that you love and care for.

Click here to watch Cobra Kai

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ARTS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, OPINION Regis Highlander ARTS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, OPINION Regis Highlander

Hit TV Show, Stranger Things, Highlights A Variety of Human Relationships

Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer 

Stranger Things is a TV Show set in the 1970’s through the 1980’s that was introduced to Netflix in July of 2016. It was made by the Duffer Brothers, as a multi-genre series including science fiction, horror, drama, and action. The show quickly gained a lot of popularity and views, making many of its young actors famous. In the beginning of the show, the character Will Byers, played by actor Noah Schnapp, goes missing in the town of Hawkins. The past of Hawkins is uncertain in the beginning of the film but then, the cause behind tragedies in this town are revealed. 

Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer 

Stranger Things is a TV Show set in the 1970’s through the 1980’s that was introduced to Netflix in July of 2016. It was made by the Duffer Brothers, as a multi-genre series including science fiction, horror, drama, and action. The show quickly gained a lot of popularity and views, making many of its young actors famous. In the beginning of the show, the character Will Byers, played by actor Noah Schnapp, goes missing in the town of Hawkins. The past of Hawkins is uncertain in the beginning of the film but then, the cause behind tragedies in this town are revealed. 

The show often centers around the character, Eleven. She grew up inside a mysterious lab and eventually made an attempt to run away. She escapes through the underground tunnels leading out into a forest away from the lab. When she escapes, she is found by three boys— Micheal, Dustin, and Lucas— who help her learn about the outside world. As she starts to explore this new world, she starts to learn how to form meaningful relationships and love the people around her. You can learn about love through Eleven’s journey of discovery. She explores different types of relationships in her life. Those types of relationships are friendship, romantic, self, and parental love. 

She experiences friendship and love through the relationship she has with Max. At first, Eleven doesn’t like Max because she is jealous over a boy, but when Max asks her about him, they learn about their likes and dislikes. Max gives Eleven relationship advice, and allows her to discover her taste of who she wants to be. This is how she finds happiness with Max. Later on in the show, they understand each other better as their friendship grows. Throughout the show, they support each other through difficult and even violent times as they face issues with both friends and supernatural forces. Their friendship teaches us how we can rely on friends through hard times.

Eleven experiences romantic love in the show with her boyfriend, Mike. Mike and Eleven become friends during her time when she first escaped the laboratory. They become closer as they both struggle with bullies in their lives. Throughout the show, they are both willing to stand up to these bullies for each other. As she defends Mike, Eleven learns that she wants to use her powers for the greater good rather than showing them off or hurting others. As he finds safety in Eleven, he discovers that he can always have someone to rely on through tough times. This relationship teaches us that our partners are supposed to be people who always have our backs. 

Eleven learns about self love throughout the show as she tries to figure out who she is. At the beginning of the show, she had been stuck in a lab for her entire life and therefore, had never been able to discover herself. Once she breaks out and is able to explore the world, she starts to gain a sense of independence. She starts to be able to make her own decisions, including who she hangs out with, how she dresses, and what her values are. This teaches her about herself as she is no longer just a tool for someone else. She also takes time to discover her past and meets her sister, Kali and her mom. From her journey of self discovery, we discover that no matter how bad our pasts may be, it is always okay to keep moving forward and make our own decisions about how our futures shape us.

This show also models parental love with the characters Hopper and Eleven. Hopper adopts Eleven when she escapes from the lab and quickly becomes her father figure. The beginning of their father and daughter relationship is a bit tough as Hopper becomes controlling of her. Hopper wants to protect Eleven as she fights the evil in Hawkins, but at one point ends up pushing her away as she tries to find independence. Eleven returns to him once they both open up about how they have lost important people in their lives. Hopper has made mistakes but his relationship with Eleven allows him to reflect on this, move forward, and become a better person. Hopper helps her understand what parental love is and what it means to be unconditionally supported. Their relationship shows us that parents are supposed to love and support us even through disagreements.

Character based storytelling is important because it allows us a new way to learn about ourselves and how to navigate the real world. Stranger Things shows how people love each other and what that is like. I like to relate some of my writing to this show, as I like to tell stories and express different relationships between characters. The beauty of stories is that they can show how everyone deserves to be loved.

The 5th and final season of Stranger Things will premiere later in 2025 on the streaming platform, Netflix. 

Click here for more information

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BUSINESS, NEWS Regis Highlander BUSINESS, NEWS Regis Highlander

The History of AI: Part 1

Gabriella Sandoval, Events Liaison and Manager 

Although it may seem as if artificial intelligence (AI) is a new form of technology, it has actually been proactively developing for many decades; with the earliest groundwork dating back to the early 1900s. It’s quite compelling because learning about the history of robots, technology, and AI is important in understanding where AI is at now, and what it may be like in the future. 

Gabriella Sandoval, Events Liaison and Manager 

Although it may seem as if artificial intelligence (AI) is a new form of technology, it has actually been proactively developing for many decades; with the earliest groundwork dating back to the early 1900s. It’s quite compelling because learning about the history of robots, technology, and AI is important in understanding where AI is at now, and what it may be like in the future. 

The History of Robots and AI

The overall idea of a machine being able to function on its own is ancient. It dates back thousands of years when inventors first made mechanical automatons (a machine that can move by itself). Among the earliest references of an automaton is of a wooden model of a pigeon constructed by a Greek friend of the philosopher Plato around 400 BCE. Many years later, one of the most famous automatons of a mechanical robotic knight would be created by Leonardo da Vinci around the late 15th century. Knowing this information allows us to better grasp the technological advancements and changes of modern day AI.

The groundwork for modern day AI concepts centered around the idea of artificial humans which came into fruition in the early 1900’s. Many expert scientists began forming curiosities as if it was possible to create an artificial brain. This brought on a new variety of different ideas. 

Robot Facts

  • In 1921, Czech playwright Karel Čapek released a science fiction play called Rossum's Universal Robots which introduced the idea of artificial people, which he named robots. This was the first known use of the word “robots.”

  • In 1929, Japanese professor Makoto Nishimura built the first Japanese robot, named Gakutensoku which included features such as changing its facial expressions and moving its head and hands.

The Early Stages of AI

By the 1950s, the idea of AI was beginning to become more realistic. Mathematician and computer scientist, Alan Turing, published his work, Computer Machinery and Intelligence which eventually became The Turing Test. It was then used by experts to measure computer intelligence. To this day, the Turing Test is still heavily renowned in the field of AI work in terms of measuring the success of current AI systems. By the mid 1950s, the term “artificial intelligence” was coined and gained popularity. 

1950s Facts

  • In 1952, a computer scientist named Arthur Samuel developed a program to play checkers, which was the first machine to ever learn the game independently.

  • 1955: John McCarthy held a workshop at Dartmouth on “artificial intelligence” which is the first use of the word, and how it came into popular usage.

The development of AI technology is a fascinating area of topic to be further discussed; and it truly unlocks questions about how such possible advancements can even exist. However, one thing is for certain,  AI is rapidly growing with every day that passes by. Stay tuned for part two of this AI series!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, OPINION Regis Highlander ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, OPINION Regis Highlander

Top 5 Halloween Sitcom Episodes

Austin Price, Editor in Chief

With Spooky Season in full swing, I have taken the liberty to re-watch, review, and report 5 of the best sitcom Halloween episodes ever created. While I know everyone’s TV preferences vary, I have listed the following episodes based on the plot, characters, Halloween spirit, and overall spooky sense that the episode provides. I have also listed places to watch each of these episodes, so you can all fully indulge in these sitcom specials.  

Austin Price, Editor in Chief

With Spooky Season in full swing, I have taken the liberty to re-watch, review, and report 5 of the best sitcom Halloween episodes ever created. While I know everyone’s TV preferences vary, I have listed the following episodes based on the plot, characters, Halloween spirit, and overall spooky sense that the episode provides. I have also listed places to watch each of these episodes, so you can all fully indulge in these sitcom specials.  

5. "Costume Contest” from The Office  

Season 7, Episode 6  

First aired on October 28th, 2010 

At the bottom of our Top 5 is the episode, “Costume Content” from the American sitcom, The Office. While The Office has several notable Halloween episodes, this is my personal favorite because of the sheer irony of Halloween celebrations and the corporate view of this overly styled holiday. This episode features each character in costumes that match their personalities, some even making fun of the employee’s flaws and quirks in a fun, good-natured way with the goal of winning a costume contest with a book of coupons as the unassuming prize.  

Click here to watch “Costume Contest” from The Office  

 

4. “Halloween III” from Brooklyn 99 

Season 3, Episode 5  

First aired on October 25th, 2015 

Next in line is “Halloween III” from Brooklyn 99, a sitcom based around detectives in New York City. Obviously, prior to this episode are “Halloween I” and “Halloween II” but I chose “Halloween III” for this list because of the major plot twist at the end. After a night of Halloween haunts and silly shenanigans, an unlikely suspect is revealed to be the brilliance behind the mayhem of the night, resulting in an unexpected loss, and a magnificent victory for one of the precinct's top detectives.  

Click here to watch “Halloween III” from Brooklyn 99  

 

3. “Halloween” from Modern Family  

Season 2, Episode 6 

First aired on October 27th, 2010 

Smack in the middle of our Top 5 Halloween episodes is the simply named earlier Modern Family episode, “Halloween”. As a personal lover of all things spooky season, I can safely say that I strive to be as successful as a decorator and Halloween hostess as the matriarch of the family, Claire Dunphy. This episode is filled with family fun, and signature style. Phil tries to keep up with his ever-enthusiastic wife, Claire, as she prepares the Dunphy home for epic Halloween experiences, transforming a suburban house into an iconic haunted mansion.  

Click here to watch “Halloween” from Modern Family  

 

2. “The One with the Halloween Party” from Friends 

Season 8, Episode 6  

First aired on: November 1st, 2001 

As a diehard Friends fan, it’s obvious that this episode would make the list. Set in Monica’s apartment, the group comes together to celebrate Halloween with a costume party. While several of the characters have well thought out costumes and clear intentions for the evening, others attend with a less prepared option, showcasing the differing personalities, and the inner workings of the group. The characters are also presented with a plethora of typical Halloween challenges including being guilted into giving too much candy to Trick or Treaters, and finding a costume that’s both culturally relevant and physically flattering.  

Click here to watch “The One with the Halloween Party” from Friends 

 

1. “Epidemiology” from Community 

Season 2, Episode 6 

First aired on October 28th, 2010 

It’s time for the top sitcom Halloween episode ever made. An episode I have watched repeatedly, and one that is nothing short of haunted perfection. I give you, “Epidemiology” from Community as the number one choice. Centered around a ragtag group of 7 students at a community college, “Epidemiology” is the ultimate homage to various zombie and horror movies. Set to legendary hits from ABBA, the “Greendale Seven” must face their very own “Walking Dead” scenario. Students ingest a biohazardous substance at the college’s Halloween party that turns them into zombies. This leaves the group to save themselves and the school, when they are locked in with infected students,  

Click here to watch “Epidemiology” from Community 

 

That’s a wrap for our Top 5 Halloween Sitcom episodes. Even if you haven’t watched the full extent of these shows, I personally recommend you dedicate a night to solely watching Halloween episodes. Each episode has its own plot, independent from other scenarios in the series, making them easy to follow and popular to rewatch. 

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OPINION Regis Highlander OPINION Regis Highlander

Consuming True Crime Intentionally: What to Follow and What to Avoid

With an endless supply of true crime content, I personally believe it is both moral and necessary to understand where you are getting your true crime content from, and how that content is affecting the real-life people involved. 

Choose your true crime content wisely. There are certain programs and producers of true crime content looking to benefit from horrific stories without proper consent from the victims, causing additional grief and inappropriate attention towards the victim’s families. Fans of true crime often forget they are listening to stories that happened to real people in this real world and in turn, lack sympathy and respect for all involved in a case. 

Because the plethora of true crime content can become overwhelming and confusing regarding victim exploitation instead of victim advocacy, I have put together a list of true crime content to follow, and a list of true crime content to avoid. 

By Austin Price, Staff Writer

With an endless supply of true crime content, I personally believe it is both moral and necessary to understand where you are getting your true crime content from, and how that content is affecting the real-life people involved. 

Choose your true crime content wisely. There are certain programs and producers of true crime content looking to benefit from horrific stories without proper consent from the victims, causing additional grief and inappropriate attention towards the victim’s families. Fans of true crime often forget they are listening to stories that happened to real people in this real world and in turn, lack sympathy and respect for all involved in a case. 

Because the plethora of true crime content can become overwhelming and confusing regarding victim exploitation instead of victim advocacy, I have put together a list of true crime content to follow, and a list of true crime content to avoid. 

Often, the true crime content creators that fight for victim advocacy and basic human decency are smaller entertainers with a smaller audience base. Here are some of my personal favorites to check out: 

Podcasts

  • RedHanded – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala

https://redhandedpodcast.com/home-1

  • Murder With My Husband – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Payton and Garrett Moreland 

https://murderwithmyhusband.com/

  • True Crime Couple – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Kay and John 

https://audioboom.com/channels/4914727

  • Killer Queens – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Tyrella Slemp and Tori Tobi 

https://www.killerqueenspodcast.com/

Documentaries

  • Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) - A documentary focusing on the wrongfully convicted individuals in the triple homicide of three eight-year-old boys

Where to watch: Spectrum TV, Prime Video or Apple TV  

  • At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (2019) - A documentary exploiting the sexual abuse of female gymnasts by Dr. Larry Nassar. 

Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max, Sky NOW

  • Children of God: Lost and Found (2007) - A documentary covering the cult “Children of God” and its crimes. 

Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Video

  • For Heaven’s Sake (2021) - A compelling documentary featuring the members of the victim’s family. 

Where to watch: Paramount Plus, CBC Gem

Books

  • Playing Dead – A memoir of terror and survival by the victim herself, Monique Faison Ross.

Where to purchase: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble

  • Dead in the Water – A forty-year long search for my brother’s killer by Penny Farmer

Where to purchase: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble

AVOID

Now on the other hand, here are some true crime sources to avoid due to their exploitation and disrespect of victims and their families: 

  • Stephanie Soo – True Crime Youtuber and Mukbang Fanatic 

Stephanie combines her two loves, gruesome murder and the overconsumption of food together in this warped YouTube channel, based on disrespect and ignorance. 

  • Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – A Netflix series nominated for four Golden Globes and winner of one. 

This series shows the murders of Dahmer's victims graphically with no remorse or sensitivity for those affected by these deaths. The families of the victims have spoken out since the show's release, after many of the family members have been portrayed on screen without their consent.

  • Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness – A Netflix docuseries that rose to fame amidst the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. 

While advertised as a docuseries with murder plots, arch nemeses, exotic animals, and larger than life characters, whereas the series is actually a story of labor trafficking and sexual exploitation. 

  • Crime Junkie – A True Crime podcast designed to be a money maker without following basic human rights. 

A true crime podcast that has become a central place for victim shaming and produces a revenue-generating podcast that has been downloaded millions of times without the consent of victim’s families leading to skewed stories and countless misconceptions. 

  • Making A Murderer – A Netflix docuseries centered around the gruesome murder of Teresa Halbach. 

The docuseries focuses on the killer and their history, rather than honoring the victim herself, Teresa Halbach. 

In conclusion, if you’re like me and true crime is your thing, go for it. Enjoy the content through respectful platforms giving honor and dignity to the victims while recognizing the impact this content is having on your personal health. Real true crime enthusiasts listen/read/watch to better understand the human mind, and the impact of death and murder on the lives of so many. They do not enjoy shaming or blaming victims or survivors and they do not target hatred or inappropriate exposure towards the prey in the case, but rather they shine a light on the predators and hold them accountable for their sins. Approach true crime the same way you approach academic research, keep your options open, choose sources you both agree and disagree with, allow variety in your search, and most importantly, show some respect. 

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