THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
STORY TIME WITH: A COMMUNITY OF STORYTELLERS
The Story Time With Club enters its third year of programming since it was founded by Sarah Fisher ‘27. The club offers an outlet for Harvey students to volunteer without having to travel far.
The first Friday of every month, members gather and go to Mount Kisco Elementary School, where they read to the students to increase literacy rates in children who speak English as their second language. This program helps support under-resourced children in the community in a way that's accessible
The bonds formed between club volunteers and the children are strong. The children enjoy the company of older students who can help them to grow as individuals In return, volunteers take on the responsibility of being leaders and adapt to challenging scenarios when they are presented.
By Dylan Coughlin
Volunteers take part in art projects with the students, helping them to create memories and masterpieces they will never forget. During an interview with Sarah, who is not only the founder but also the club’s president, she recalled one of her favorite memories of Story Time With, stating, “When we put together an art project, I was able to see the vibrant atmosphere of us coming together and sharing ideas. The club has a collective sense for doing good for others.” The volunteers enjoy guiding the children to express their creativity
Vice presidents Mikayla Neave and Arabella Serfilippi help guide the club in the right direction. Mrs. Cris Alexander, the faculty advisor, provides tremendous assistance to the group Secretary Chloe Campbell records the names of future book series to read to the children, club plans, art projects, and bake sale information for the members to look back on.
The club also features other positions such as social media coordinator, treasurer, and more The club is like a well-oiled machine kept running by the motivation and strong work ethic of the members. Besides the different club positions, the group also emphasizes its main themes of kindness, compassion, and community
Why join Story Time With? Well, to answer that question, The Pulse spoke to the members. “I joined because I wanted to make a difference in the community, and helping children is a very important cause to me,” noted club member Lexi Vaughan-Johnson Arabella Serfilippi said, “I joined the club because I really like reading and want to help children who share that passion ”
When The Pulse spoke to Sarah, she gave the inside scoop on all things Story Time With. Sarah enjoys spending time with her club members, putting great emphasis on community rather than a formal or divisive club structure Sarah said, “I like being club president because I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and a leader, and over the course of my life, I have done things to accomplish that goal. Bringing this to Harvey as a club has been really great and rewarding ”
Along with her commentary on friendship, community, and volunteerism, Sarah shared her plans to continue to expand the club to more kids in the community through bake sales and social media
When discussing students who aren’t in the club but want to know more, Sarah said, “I love seeing those who are not in the club still showing interest in it I love it when more people want to join, and I think it is a really great thing to bring people together, regardless of whether they are in the club or not.”
Sarah also said that she is considering “people who can take over the club and continue it once we are gone ” Sarah wants the club to have a lasting legacy The club that Sarah has created is truly innovative, helping enlighten young minds and changing the world one story at a time.
Members of the Story Time With Club at a meeting. Photo taken by Mrs. Alexander.
HARVEY NEWS
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
SPOTLIGHT ON THE HARVEY DANCE PROGRAM
Ms. Olsen, who teaches dance, is in her second year at The Harvey School. The Pulse interviewed Ms Olsen to gain insight on her experiences and learn more about the programs under her direction
Ms. Olsen explained that she’s been dancing since she was 10 years old, but the moment when she knew she wanted to teach came in college. Ms. Olsen has a background in physical education, and when she started taking classes related to dance, she knew she could do it as her job Ms Olsen loves to perform and choreograph, but she mentions that she enjoys teaching students more than anything else.
Harvey offers several different dance classes, two of which were created by Ms. Olsen herself. While Dance Concert Company, Dance Lab, and Choreography were already established as a part of Harvey’s dance program, Strength Training as well as Mobility and Stretching were created by Ms. Olsen. The goal of these classes is to include students who may not enjoy the typical dance class but would still benefit from movement during the day to aid their after-school sport or activity.
Those who may not be able to take a dance class during the school day can still participate in dance during the after-school program. The Pulse asked Ms. Olsen about this option, and she said, “After-school dance is great because there's no pressure of a grade, and you can spend longer in the studio ” Students who would like to experience dance could also join the fall musical, which Ms. Olsen also choreographs
By Lexi Vaughan-Johnson
The Harvey dance program requires no prior dance knowledge or skill, and it provides a great opportunity to learn something new Students of all experience levels are welcome, and the styles practiced include jazz, contemporary, ballet, and hip-hop
Dance is not only about learning routines, technique, and performing; it also teaches students how to work together, build confidence, and develop strength and endurance As someone who dances here at Harvey, I can say that the dance classes have been a great addition to my day and provide a supportive, encouraging environment that has helped me improve.
Dancers are able to perform in a variety of ways here at The Harvey School with the many showcases put on throughout the school year Ms Olsen will arrange smaller showcases with students in the Dance Concert Company, Dance Lab, and Choreography classes to display the dancers’ progress and what they have learned in the class The dance concert in January is a one-night, large production that presents dancers in the Dance Concert Company, the afterschool dance program, and Middle School Dance The Dance Concert consists of both the students and Ms Olsen’s choreography, and Mr Alexander helps with the lighting
Ms. Olsen has many hopes for the dance program, and when interviewed by The Pulse, she said, “Harvey is a small school, but the dance program is very tiny I hope to get more people involved in the program.” Ms. Olsen also would like to put more performances together all around the campus.
The environment in Ms Olsen’s classes is always positive and encouraging, and her philosophy on the program is to “make the experience enjoyable and fun for every student.” She aims to “create an environment where they can grow and improve ” She always strives to build confidence in her students, and, in her words, her goal is to “show students what they're capable of and exceed their own expectations.”
A photo of Ms Olsen taken by Quincy Britt
HARVEY NEWS
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
THE 3 P.M. DISMISSAL ATHLETES: THE EQUESTRIANS OF HARVEY
While we tend to focus on the sporting events we see happening in the gym or on the field, there are plenty of athletes at The Harvey School who are dedicated to their sport and put in hours of work outside of the Harvey walls. Located in prime horse country, Harvey is home to a number of competitive equestrians
Having 3 p.m. dismissal every day, Harvey equestrians leave school and head straight to the barn. Rain or shine, practice is still on, other than Monday, which is widely considered a day off from practice for horses These athletes stay at the barn past daylight hours, working toward whatever goal they are aiming to reach.
I understand that this sport is unfamiliar to most, as a question we often get asked is, “How did your race go?” While, yes, racing is one discipline in the horse world, it is not typically what you would see from an equestrian in this area
Riders at Harvey compete in what is called either hunters, jumpers, or equitation. To summarize the difference between the three: hunters are judged on the conformation and movement of the horse itself over a series of fences, jumpers is a timed course with results determined based on time and number of rails knocked down from the jumps, and the equitation riders are judged on their position and precision over a course of fences.
By Ana Failla
Equestrian athletes work year-round to gather points for whatever national finals they might be trying to qualify for Whether this is Junior Hunter Finals or the National Equitation Finals held in the fall of each year, our athletes are dedicated to their sport, working toward goals and wins just the same as you would expect of the athletes participating in sports in school
Some equestrian athletes even choose to continue their riding career in college at the Division 1 level. One of our own Harvey community members, Dylan Bazaar, who graduated in 2024, committed to the University of Charleston's equestrian team. For many, competition will continue to be a part of their life well beyond high school, whether it is at the college level, in the amateur ranks, or even into the professional level
I have been competing in the sport since the age of 8. I have spent nearly half my life working to improve at the sport itself, and I’ve learned numerous life lessons along the way Competing in the 3'3" Equitation Medals, I have attended their respective national finals in the fall for the past two years, and I look forward to working toward more goals in the future. Being a part of this sport for as long a time as I have been, I’ve been able to learn the value of hard work, patience, and perseverance.
Harvey junior Sofia Solares says she got into the sport when sitting in a car with the window rolled down, and a horse licked her face; from that moment on, she was hooked! Sofia remarks that while the sport is traditionally seen as an individual one, she has never felt that way, as your entire success depends on your partnership and trust with your horse For Sofia, riding has shaped who she is far beyond the barn; she says the sport has given her an abundance of confidence that has impacted how she approaches school, leadership, and challenges.
Harvey senior Eden Modell, who has been riding for 12 years now, says the sport has made her a more well-rounded and driven person, both in and out of the show ring. Eden says her favorite part of the sport is the animals themselves; she loves the experience of creating a bond between horse and rider, working as a team to accomplish a goal In the future, Eden plans on becoming an equine veterinarian, and she hopes to continue showing in the amateur ranks of equitation and show jumping
To quote Eden, this sport is “an experience and community unlike any other.” Each individual in this sport works toward their own goals, setting their stride and developing skills that will serve them well beyond their time in the sport itself
Photo of Ana Failla '27 competing at The Hamel Foundation 3,3 National Finals at the National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky Photo credit: Unbridled Media Eq
TRAVEL
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LINDBLAD GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS EXPEDITION
By Ana Failla
The Galápagos Islands, located in the country of Ecuador, is a truly awe-inspiring destination where the animals are the ones who do the peoplewatching The Galápagos Islands are home to a number of unique animals This special compilation of animals has been fostered by years of evolution with some animals being endemic to one single island in the Galápagos, meaning they are only found on that island and nowhere else in the world
To travel to the Galápagos Islands, one has to fly to mainland Ecuador, either Quito or Guayaquil, then fly to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. Once arriving in the Galápagos Islands, guests can either stay on Santa Cruz Island or journey through the islands on an expedition cruise. Even though it might be tempting to want to stay in the Galápagos Islands forever, you can only live there if you have gained residency from a parent or have been married to a resident for 10 years.
In regard to housing on the Islands, you can either stay on Santa Cruz and do day trips or go on an expedition ship that sails around the islands I stayed on the National Geographic Lindblad Gemini Ship, which was a weeklong stay, as we sailed from island to island going on multiple expeditions a day Expeditions included hikes to see land wildlife, snorkeling trips to swim among an abundance of Galápagos ocean life, and zodiac rides to see the Pacific Cownose Rays in the everglades
When visiting the Galápagos, one must be accompanied by a naturalist guide The naturalist guides aboard the National Geographic Gemini have an immense amount of knowledge on all of the animals of the Galápagos By the end of my trip, the whole ship had become one big family, including the naturalist guides The Galápagos Islands are known for their rich history and exemplification of evolution National Geographic’s naturalist guides did a phenomenal job at feeding such information to their tour groups in engaging and entertaining ways
While the naturalist guides aboard the Gemini were filled with accurate and engaging information, it is their job to make sure people are entertained on their trip, too, which is why my family, wherever we travel, fact-check information we hear even if the source is as reliable as National Geographic
Crew members truly became a part of the ship's family dynamics On the Gemini, bartender Anita learned the name of everyone on the ship by the second day! The whole experience, down to the little details, felt extremely thoughtful
Every morning aboard the Gemini began with a delicious breakfast, always including traditional Ecuadorian options, which was most often followed by a morning hike. Hikes on the Galápagos were no short of amazing; there was not a single hike without a wildlife sighting. To name a few: bluefooted boobies, Darwin finches, land iguanas, marine iguanas, Galápagos hawks, and, of course, sea lions, which were seen on the daily.
Two loving Galápagos Sea Lions with the National Geographic Lindblad Galápagos Gemini ship in the background. Taken by a fellow Gemini traveler
CONT. ON PAGE 10
Faculty Advisor: Ms. Holmes
Special Thanks: Mr. Del Campo
FEATURES
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
NETFLIX’S WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY DEAL SIGNALS A NEW ERA OF STREAMING
Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, TV, and streaming assets, with a deal valued at $82 7 billion
The deal was officially announced Dec. 5 following a bidding war with other large streaming services such as Paramount and Comcast.
“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos stated in a company news release
“By combining Warner Bros ’ incredible library of shows and movies from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we'll be able to do that even better ”
Sarandos said, “Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”
By Logan Kreisberg
While this deal has not yet been finalized, reports indicate that Warner Bros is favoring Netflix’s offer According to the BBC, Warner Bros. advised its shareholders to reject a Paramount deal where the service would take over for $108 4 billion Despite being the smaller offer financially, Netflix’s bid was viewed as more stable The BBC reported that Netflix’s proposal includes, “a clearer funding structure and less regulatory risk,” factors that reportedly play a key role in Warner Bros ’ decision
If approved, the acquisition would give Netflix control over Warner Bros Pictures, HBO, and the entire HBO Max content library, bringing together two of the most influential entertainment catalogs in Hollywood This consolidation would provide access to decades of film and television content that spans genres and generations
For consumers, this merger may have consequences for subscription pricing By reducing competition in the streaming market, the deal may lead to higher monthly costs or fewer affordable options. Netflix has raised prices multiple times in recent years, with its current ad-free standard plan priced at $17 99 per month, and the addition of Warner Bros.’ expansive content library could provide more incentive for another increase
The merger also could significantly alter how content is produced and distributed For example, Netflix has reportedly pushed for a 17day theatrical window for future projects, having the newest movies become accessible on the little screen far sooner than traditional releases, according to the AV Club
In terms of the future of specific franchises, one of the most central aspects of Warner Bros Discovery’s portfolio is its ownership of DC Comics The studio is currently in the early stages of building a new DC cinematic universe under filmmaker James Gunn, who was appointed co-head of DC Studios in 2022.
According to Screen Rant, when asked about the possible acquisition, Gunn responded, "Do I have hopes? No, I really don’t because everything’s unknown ” The “Superman” director added, “I think it’s all really exciting, frankly. So I hope and pray for the best "
While many questions remain unanswered at this stage in the deal, such as whether productions will operate independently or be overseen by a single parent company, the combined Netflix and Warner Bros catalog on one streaming service would give audiences an unprecedented range of content It would allow viewers to move from Hawkins to Hogwarts with a single click.
If the deal is eventually approved, it could reshape the way that media is consumed and set a precedent for how entertainment companies adapt in a continuously changing industry
Graphic that includes Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery logos, courtesy of Dado Ruvic of Reuters
FEATURES
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
EVERYONE HAS THEIR EYES ON KATSEYE
KATSEYE is a six-member, global girl group jointly managed by South Korea’s HYBE and American record label Geffen Records KATSEYE consists of members Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sofia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeong The group debuted June 28, 2024 following their formation on “The Debut: Dream Academy,” a reality survival show Even though they are relatively new to the music industry, the group has developed and changed a lot since their initial debut.
The members of KATSEYE were first introduced in Netflix’s documentary series called “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE,” which followed 20 girls training to be a part of the girl group now known as KATSEYE Only four of the six girls were introduced in the beginning of the series, with Manon and Yoonchae being brought in farther along in the process
Although it started as a training program, the process became a survival show with fan voting once the number of girls were narrowed down This change came as a surprise, since the trainees were not anticipating the competition aspect, and it caused drama between the girls
The goal of the group was to create a diverse group of girls from a variety of different cultures. Daniela is Venezuelan‐Cuban from Atlanta, Lara is Indian‐American from Los Angeles, Manon is Swiss Italian and Ghanian from Switzerland, Megan is ChineseSingaporean-American from Honolulu, Sofia is Filipino from the Philippines, and Yoonchae is Korean from Seoul.
By Lexi Vaughan-Johnson
In many ways, KATSEYE is similar to other Kpop groups because it is managed by the popular South Korean record label HYBE, and they trained in the same way many K-pop groups do, but the group members do consider themselves to be a global girl group, not strictly a part of Kpop
Although KATSEYE has yet to announce a full album, the group has released two EPs: “SIS (Soft is Strong)” in 2024 and “Beautiful Chaos” in 2025. Both EPs only have five main tracks, but they are both vastly different from each other
“SIS (Soft is Strong)” falls under dance-pop with many K-pop elements included, as well, giving it a soft and fresh feel to it Songs such as “Debut” and “Touch” became major global hits for the group early in their career due to their catchy lyrics, memorable dance, and social media promotions. The official music video for “Touch” has reached 226 million views on YouTube, and the group won the “Push Performance of the Year” at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards
KATSEYE’s second EP, “Beautiful Chaos,” is completely different in terms of sound and aesthetics “Beautiful Chaos” is more mature and grungy, with a wide variety of different genres including hyperpop, electronic, and Latin pop. KATSEYE’s hyperpop song “Gnarly” is definitely their most well-known and controversial track on the EP, and it garnered mixed reviews when it first released However, this song became a huge hit for the group and was their first chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100. “Gabriela” is the Latin pop track on “Beautiful Chaos,” with Daniela having a captivating Spanish verse, and it reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group's highest-ranking song to date
KATSEYE is most known for their allout dancing and performances The girl group showcased their songs “Touch” and “Debut” at the 2024 Mnet Asian Music Awards, and they executed new choreography with an added dance break during “Debut.” Also, during August 2025, KATSEYE was featured in a Gap ad which became a viral hit that reached 59 million views on YouTube with many people recreating the fun choreography to Kelis’ 2003 song “Milkshake ”
Most notable is their 2025 performance at the Chicago music festival, Lollapalooza, in which they had a record-breaking crowd of more than 85,000 people attending their daytime set They performed tracks such as “Gabriela,” “Debut,” and “M.I.A.,” showcasing their live vocals, powerful dancing, and captivating stage presence
CONT. ON PAGE 10
The members of KATSEYE, photographed by Julian Song
FEATURES
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
MOTHER NATURE VERSUS MACHINE LEARNING
By Aiden Tarpey
The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) has been discussed long before people were able to make it a reality However, one part that gets constantly overlooked is how AI affects the environment. While AI currently is not the largest issue for the environment, as it develops, it requires larger amounts of energy and data to function properly, which further damages the natural world.
With AI, the biggest problem with how it impacts the environment are the newly constructed AI data centers, with larger ones still in production These data centers cause multiple different issues, with one of the most apparent being their carbon emissions Many of these emissions come from training the AI models, and according to the East Carolina University, “Training can produce about 626,000 pounds of carbon dioxide- the equivalent of 300 round-trip flights between New York and San Francisco, or nearly 5 times the lifetime emissions of the average car ”
The funding for these centers is beyond expensive, and Virginia Tech states, “Globally, companies are predicted to spend $375 billion in 2025 on AI infrastructure a 67% surge from last year, according to an estimate by bank UBS ” This means that artificial intelligence could potentially hurt the economic environment as well as the natural environment
AI centers also consume substantial amounts of water, as according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, “A medium-sized data center can consume up to roughly 110 million gallons of water per year for cooling purposes, equivalent to the annual water usage of approximately 1,000 households Larger data centers can each ‘drink’ up to 5 million gallons per day, or about 1.8 billion annually, usage equivalent to a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people ”
These high levels of water consumption can cause problems for the environment such as disturbing any nearby habitats and water provisions. MIT News states, “Beyond electricity demands, a great deal of water is needed to cool the hardware used for training, deploying, and fine-tuning generative AI models, which can strain municipal water supplies and disrupt local ecosystems ”
When it comes to the amount of energy AI is taking for itself, the main electricity-using aspect of artificial intelligence comes from training new models and updating current ones This is due to the lengthy process of ensuring that the AI works properly.
According to the Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment, “AI model training involves training, or adjusting, billions of parameters through repeated computations that require immense processing power ” The institute also states,“This process demands high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure, consisting of thousands of GPUs and TPUs (tensor processing units, a specialized chip that improves the speed of machine learning tasks) along with CPUs, all running in parallel. Each training session can take weeks or months, consuming massive amounts of electricity ”
While artificial intelligence has multiple problems when it comes to handling the environment, it has been used to help find ways to prevent some of the other environmental predicaments. One of the largest issues that nature is currently facing are the melting icebergs that are a result of climate change.
The World Economic Forum discusses how AI can help with iceberg research, stating, “AI has been trained to measure changes in icebergs 10,000 times faster than a human could do it This will help scientists understand how much meltwater icebergs release into the ocean – a process accelerating as climate change warms the atmosphere. Scientists at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom say their AI can map large Antarctic icebergs in satellite images in just one-hundredth of a second, reports the European Space Agency.”
These fast processing and measuring speeds can help in rapidly informing researchers about any melting icebergs This allows scientists to learn more about how quickly an iceberg can melt and the amount of water it produces
More water and energy efficient data centers, and less carbon dioxide emitting model training, could lead to AI becoming one of the biggest helpers when it comes to taking care of the environment Overall, though, while artificial intelligence does have the potential to be a force of good for the natural world, its current resourcehogging state prevents it from being entirely beneficial
Small City-sized Stargate AI Data Center in Texas - Image Credit: Kyle Grillot / CNBC
FEATURES
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
Every year, millions of people turn on their televisions on Thanksgiving Day to watch the Macy’s Parade. However, many of them are missing out on what comes right after, which is The National Dog Show
The National Dog Show is a yearly tradition hosted by David Frei, Mary Carillo, and John O’Hurley. The show was originally known as The Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show, and it aired for the first time in 1879, according to ParaMount Pet Care
Soleil, a 5-and-a-half-year-old Belgian sheepdog, was the winner of The 2025 National Dog Show. Her handler is Daniel Martin, and he had been working with her since early December 2024 She also won in the category for being the best at herding
Daniel Martin, stated, “Soleil has a great temperament, and she loves to please us. She stands out with her attitude, and she loves the crowd ”
President for NBC Sports, Jon Miller, came up with the idea of putting The National Dog Show on NBC after seeing the film “Best in Show,” placing the program after the Macy’s Parade on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 2 p m
There are some strict guidelines to enter a dog in the show. The biggest one is that the dog must be a purebred.
DOGS ON DISPLAY
By Aiden Tarpey
NBC states, “Dogs eligible to compete must be 6 months or older on the day of the show and they cannot be spayed or neutered They must also be in good health and up to date on their vaccinations, and cannot have any ‘disqualifying faults’ for their breed, meaning any physical traits or characteristics that fall outside their breed’s standards ”
This has raised concerns about animal cruelty, as many of these standards promote unethical practices such as inbreeding to create a dog that perfectly fits the judges’ criteria According to Wag, “As handlers and groomers prepare the dogs for competition, the dogs are sometimes treated badly. Hair-pulling for styling or to position a dog’s head, applying various makeup products, and tight tethering to prevent movement are just a few of the alleged grooming behaviors activists see as cruel ”
There are multiple sub-categories aside from the “Best in Show” award. The dogs that win in these sections are the ones that end up competing for the final prize These different areas range from the hound group, which judges the dogs’ hunting abilities, to the toy group, which are small pets that are simply meant to be a friend for their owner.
On Nov 27, 2025, the 146th National Dog Show took place, and there were a variety of winners for the sections below the top dog.
For the hound group, the winner was a 3year-old American foxhound named Georgie The other victors in their respective areas are Baby Joe, a 3-year-old miniature schnauzer for the terrier category, and a 5-and-a-half-year-old bichon frise named Neal who won in the non-sporting section
The dog that took the spot for the best in the toy group was Comet, a 5-year-old shih tzu, 7-and-a-half-year-old English setter Tyler was the winner for the sporting area, and last but not least Dino, a 5-and-a-halfyear-old giant schnauzer, was the head of the working classification
These animals were the winners out of almost 2000 different dogs, and among those, there were around 200 different breeds being displayed
NBC’s National Dog Show has been around long before it aired on the platform, with their record for viewers being 24.6 million people tuning in this past November. Over the years, this competition of man’s best friend has been broadcast and has been slowly integrating itself into the Thanksgiving holiday as a tradition across the country.
Winner of 2025 National Dog Show, Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog - Image Credit: Bill McCay / Today
REVIEWS
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
THE STRANGEST THINGS: SEASON 5 OF ‘STRANGER THINGS’
“Stranger Things” released the first volume of its fifth and final season, ending the decade-long run of a groundbreaking television series. For this season, Netflix put out new episodes in increments, with the first four episodes hitting screens Nov. 26. 2025.
Spoiler Alert! Episode 1, titled “The Crawl,” begins with a flashback to 1983, when the demogorgon first took the character Will. The audience learns that Vecna was behind Will's capture, foreshadowing that Will will be a more vital character this season The audience is then transported to 1987, eighteen months after the events of Season 4 We see the characters going on “crawls” to the Upside Down in an attempt to find Vecna, while their town is under military quarantine During one of these excursions, Hopper is separated from the rest of the group
At the start of Episode 2, “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,” a nerve-wracking feeling is evoked in the audience when Holly and her parents are attacked in their home, leaving her mother and father in critical condition and Holly being taken to the Upside Down The episode revitalizes the character of Holly Wheeler, establishing her as a more important contributor to the plot By the end of the episode, we learn that Holly has been taken by Vecna, yet his reasoning remains unknown
Poster for ‘Stranger Things 5,’ featuring the main characters of the season, courtesy of Netflix
By Dylan Coughlin
Episode 3, titled “The Turnbow Trap,” begins with Hopper and Eleven together in the Upside Down, and it is revealed that Eleven has a weakness that can be exploited by the military. Later in the episode, Will discovers that he has visions of Vecna's victims, seeing through the eyes of Holly and then through the eyes of Derek Turnbow. This leads the group to kidnap Derek in an attempt to save his life and devise a stronger plan. Meanwhile, Holly explores a new realm that she's been taken to and is met with Max, who was previously thought to be incapacitated in Season 4.
Finally, in Episode 4, which is titled “Sorcerer,” Derek joins the group in trying to stop Vecna, and they work to kidnap more of Vecna’s possible targets from the military base they’ve been taken to While Holly and Max talk in the strange new dimension, Max explains to Holly that they are inside Vecna’s mind, which Holly then labels as Camazots, a reference to the book “A Wrinkle in Time ”
Later, Hopper and Eleven infiltrate the military base located in the Upside Down to try to uncover the secrets hidden there While stealing the children from the military base in Hawkins, the main group is caught by the military, but before they face any repercussions, Vecna passes through into Hawkins, taking the remaining children to Camazots Lastly, Will unearths new powers, saving his friends from Vecna’s vicious monsters, ending on a jawdropping cliffhanger
After the release of Volumes 2 and 3 of Season 5, it is safe to say that the first volume was the best and most well-written of the three The first four episodes started out strong, staying consistent with the other four seasons while also introducing captivating new plot lines.
The first volume featured a few scenes with the core group of Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and Will all together, yet it is nowhere near as many as the earlier seasons. I wish they had focused even more on this group being together, just as they did in Season 1, so that the start and finish of the series come full circle. It would have been a bittersweet addition, but it feels necessary for the series' conclusion.
Volume 1 could have focused more on the individual characters or building stronger relationships between characters, but it served its purpose, providing entertainment for the general audience Overall, the volume did a good job of easing the audience back into the lives of the characters
Contrary to Volume 1, the following volumes lacked cohesive writing They focused little on character relationships and felt less immersive than the other seasons In Season 3, the viewer felt like they were part of the group, experiencing the events that the characters were going through, but Season 5, as a whole, felt disconnected, especially the second and third volumes
Adding to the feeling of disconnection, the main group of adults and teenagers seems to have grown too large With the addition of Vickie, Kali, and Mr Clarke this season, the group seems too broad The secrecy of the Upside Down and all of the oddities discovered by the teenagers in Season 1 seem lost, taking away the mystery and intrigue of the other dimension.
Altogether, the three volumes tell a story that can satisfy the average viewer, but the season lacked depth and required better writing to match the previous seasons.
REVIEWS
THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE
GALAPÁGOS CONT. FROM PAGE 4
Afternoons were usually our time for snorkeling expeditions Zodiacs were taken out to one of the numerous snorkeling destinations in the Galápagos where we had no shortage of sea life sightings. Snorkeling highlights included sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, starfish, all different kinds of fish, penguins, and, of course, lots of playful sea lions
One of my favorite animals was the swallow-tailed gull; this bird is known for having night vision and can be seen hunting during the night hours. This bird is also considered endemic to the Galápagos. Whenever we saw animals who were classified as endemic, I always had a true fascination toward them How cool is it that such species can be found nowhere else in the world and have adapted to live on these particular islands!
There was no shortage of Ecuadorian traditions aboard the Gemini. Whether it was daily local options every morning at breakfast, Loroco De Papa soup at lunch, or Galápagos-caught fish at dinner, every piece of food on the ship was sourced from local Ecuadorian or Galápagos producers
On New Year's Eve, the crew members hosted all the traditional Ecuadorian festivities. One of the most interesting traditions entails creating paper-mâché figures called "Años Viejos" (Old Years) of crew members. The figures are traditionally burned at midnight. This true Ecuadorian New Year’s tradition represents turning over a new leaf and having a fresh start Though of course we did not burn the Anos Viejos on The Galápagos Islands, having them on the ship and seeing how they were made throughout the week was a very interesting experience
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The Beautiful Chaos Tour was a huge milestone for the girl group, as it was their firstever concert tour. This concert featured music from “SIS: Soft is Strong,” “Beautiful Chaos,” past performances from the survival show “Dream Academy,” and new music, such as their latest song “Internet Girl.” The tour started in Minneapolis and ended in Mexico City, making stops in Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and more Although the tour lasted for only about one month, from Nov 15 to Dec 16, it sold out completely, making it a huge success
If you are more of an adventurous eater, cuy, more commonly known as guinea pig, might be the option for you While cuy was not offered aboard the Gemini, my family ventured out during our last day in Quito in search of a true traditional plate of guinea pig. To my surprise, when the plate came out, a whole cooked guinea pig was presented to me; it was not what I was used to, for sure, but it was a culinary cultural experience I will never forget
This trip to the Galápagos was a true bucket-list place to see. The National Geographic Lindblad Gemini Ship gave me and my family the experience of visiting a truly awe-inspiring place filled with unique wildlife in an incredibly untouched and well-kept environment.
Despite only recently debuting, KATSEYE has quickly proven to be a powerful force in the music industry. Through their diverse lineup, compelling personalities, and mesmerizing performances, the group has managed to stand out in the highly competitive global pop sphere From viral choreography to sold-out tours, KATSEYE has already made a lasting impact, and it is clear that the members are driven to work even harder as their careers continue As the group evolves and experiments with their music and performances, KATSEYE is undoubtedly a group to watch, with a future that promises even greater success than they have already achieved
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