The Royal News, December 2020

DECEMBER 2020

THE R O YA L NEWS FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 5 6-7 8 10 12 14 16 18 19 20-27

EDITOR’S COMMENTS HOLIDAY TRADITIONS CHEATING THE SYSTEM OPINION: SOCIAL MEDIA’S DAMAGE OPINION: FIXING HIGH SCHOOL OPINION: MANDATORY FIREARM CLASSES OPINION: ENDING RACISM IN THE BURBS OPINION: LGBTQ+ IS = OPINION: DON’T JUDGE MY HOBBY ENTERTAINMENT COVER PHOTO: HAILEY LANGFORD INSIDE COVER PHOTO: DYLAN SAUNDERS

SAVEA BRINEGAR HAILEY LANGFORD

S TA F F

Writer

Writer

PETER CARAM

DYLAN SAUNDERS

JARET GOLD

HAILEE SEKERES

NORAN KHANFAR

CASSIDY WOODMANCY

Writer Writer

Writer

Writer Writer

Writer

Photo by Savea Brinegar 4

|

T H E ROYA L N EWS

NOT E FROM THE EDITOR

S

ocial media and the comment stream of any online news article reveal we are a population with opinions. The unregulated and often-times anonymous manner in which people are able to spout off on any topic they choose has exposed many of the flaws of simply saying how we “feel” at any given time about any given topic. In the heat of the argument, we may type out words that are reactionary, hurtful, or simply untrue. We make hasty grabs at unchecked information to make quick jabs back at someone else’s thoughts.

For this issue, in addition to our regular news articles, the students spent a great deal of time reading well-written, published columns, where they learned the art of presenting one’s opinion in an intellectual manner and supporting these statements with facts to bolster their cases. They then embarked on writing their own columns to hopefully give our readers the chance to consider a world view different than their own. They also had some fun reviewing various forms of entertainment. Regardless of the stance these student journalists took, they

succeeded in keeping their biases tightly bound in truth and logical thought.

Also, it is with great regret that I must point out that this is our final issue of the first semester, which means this talented group of students will be attending a new class at the end of the day instead of journalism. It was such a pleasure to watch them grow over the past few months, as they transformed from students unsure of how to even construct an article to real writers. That is one of the many joys of being a teacher: witnessing exponential growth in a relatively short period of time.

Next semester The Royal News switches to a “club,” which allows for any student at the high school to submit work for consideration. Although I am saying goodbye to this class, I hope the students will continue to amplify their voices through journalism, and I cannot wait to see the amazing heights these students will reach.

-Mr. Hemery December 2020

T HE ROYA L N EWS

|

5

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY

T

By: Savea Brinegar

he child’s eyes flutter NRHS freshman Savannah Pratt describes her open sleepily, prompt- ideal Christmas as the one you can see in movies. ing a series of stretches. “There’s snow on the ground and everyone is in Their eyes widening, the their pjs,” she says. “We hand out presents to each child rushes to their window to be greeted with other, and afterwards we get ready to visit other delicate snowflakes falling to the snowy ground. family members.”

The trees were coated with icicles and snow, tru- To Pratt, Christmas represents a time to be with ly resembling the ideal winter wonderland. A grin family. With busy schedules, her extended family forming on the child’s face, they rush down the doesn’t get to see each other often. On this day, she stairs, taking in the scene before them. Dozens of gets to see all of them and give gifts to the people presents lie under the she loves. tree in golds, greens, From a differand reds, with the ent perspective, Pafaint aroma of peptricia Constance is permint and freshly a mother as well as made coffee. Their a grandmother. She siblings come up beexpresses how gratehind them, and they ful she is to have all exchange a single family in her life. “I glance before taking love to wake up surseats on the floor, parounded by family tiently awaiting their with snow outside,” parents to hand out Constance says. “I’ll their gifts. then light a fire to The ideal Christwarm us up, and we mas morning can eat some hearty food mean something diflike a sausage and ferent for everyone, egg casserole. Maybe and it can be fascicinnamon rolls for a One family features ornaments on their tree that represents bonus.” nating to see how memories and what family means to them. other people celebrate Although Constance’s this one day of the year. children have moved Joann William, a high school student, said the out, she prides herself in knowing that every year staple to her ideal Christmas morning is break- on this special day, her children will bring her fast. “My mom usually makes scrambled eggs with grandchildren over to celebrate. bacon, tomato green chilis and onions,” William All of these people, whether they are a student says. “She also makes tea and biscuits to go with it, in school or an adult with a job, have similar ideas which is always delicious.” of what Christmas means to them, whether Christ William said that the smell of breakfast cook- mas is about being in the presence of family, giving ing wakes her up in the early morning. After her gifts to others to ignite joy, or even just eating a family eats, they then open presents. She spends warm meal together. The ideal Christmas can be her Christmas with family the whole day and relax- different for everyone, but it all centers around the es with her newly-opened gifts. basic idea of spending time with family.

6

|

T H E ROYA L N EWS

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DARK

T

By: Jaret Gold

o the residents of North Royalton and all of Northeast Ohio, Dan Hoag’s Chandler Commons Christmas decorations in Strongsville are as much a part of the holiday season as candy canes and caroling. His amazing light display is not just a local attraction, but it was featured on the nationally televised “Great Christmas Light Fight” back in 2015. The display features an incredible 65,000 lights, holiday music, a visit with Santa, and a blend of the old-fashioned and modern technology to bring the season alive.

This year, however, his home is dark.

The Hoag house at sunset. Dan adds more displays every year, and over the past three decades, his neighborshave joined in the holiday spirit.

Dan’s daughter-in-law, North Royalton High School counselor Mrs. Hoag, explained that he was diagnosed with lymphoma, which prevented him from putting up the decorations in 2020. When Cleveland residents heard about his condition, they brought the lights to him by organizing a Christmas parade in his honor. “They had cars decorated with lights and Christmas trees placed on top,” Mrs. Hoag said. “There was also someone who dressed up as the Grinch. I think the best part, though, was a sign that read ‘Mr. Ho-Ho-Hoag.’”

Dan loved the kindness and spirit of the community and is glad his work has had such a positive impact on people. However, he wasn’t surprised by the celebration. “He knew in advance that it was being held,” Mrs. Hoag revealed. He found out about the parade while watching the news. Not wanting to be completely left out of the festivities, he put up a few small decorations on his house as a gesture of

thanks.

A veteran at decorating, Dan started the now-annual tradition back in 1988 while participating in a neighborhood Christmas lights competition. After winning, he didn’t look back.

“He’s been doing it for as long as I’ve known him,” Mrs. Hoag said. “And it got more and more elaborate every year. All the while, more and more neighbors began their own impressive displays.” The Crown Point neighborhood has become a must-see destination during the holidays.

My family has visited the Hoag display every Christmas that I can remember. When my cousins from Hawaii visited in 2010, we took them to see the house. It was the first time they ever saw snow, and they had never seen Christmas lights like Dan Hoag’s.

All donations from the Christmas experience at Dan’s house have gone to families in need, a practice he’s been doing for as long as Mrs. Hoag can remember. Despite not putting up much this year, Dan still has people he’d like to help out and is using gofundme.

One woman needs a kidney transplant but can’t pay for it, and the other is a mom of three battling cancer.

The good news is that Dan is recovering from his illness and prognosis looks good, so it is his intention to bring back the full light display next Christmas. Just like everything else this year, things are different this holiday season. But the new year brings hope. We can all look forward to seeing the Hoag display in all its glory next Christmas.

Back in 2012, my uncle from Texas came to visit us for Christmas, and we took him to see the Hoag house.

T HE ROYA L N EWS

|

7

Page 39 in the 2020-2021 North Royalton High School student agenda provides the district’s policies on cheating and plagiarism. For those who haven’t been bored enough to read through the “Student Conduct” portion of the agenda, cheating could mean any of the following: 1. Copying homework from another student 2. Securing answers in a dishonest manner 3. Allowing one’s work to be copied by another student 4. Transmitting answers from one class to another 5. And obtaining digital copies and images of a test without permission Cheating in class is nothing new. Academic dishonesty has probably been around since the creation of formal education. The prevalence of technology in North Royalton High School has led to an arms race of sorts between high school staff and students, where teachers must take measures against new tech in the hands of students to ensure academic integrity (imagine explaining to a school teacher in the 90’s that her students might have a copy of her test hidden on their smart watches).

With classes online, cheating has become easier than ever. Teachers face an uphill battle when it comes to catching cheaters in the virtual classroom.

Prior to the COVID outbreak, catching cheaters wasn’t very difficult for Eva Teague, who has been teaching mathematics at NRHS for 18 years.

“I am in the room with the students when they are taking a test or quiz and can see if they are attempting to use resources not allowed or look off another’s paper,” said Mrs. Teague.

Aaron Garman, another NRHS teacher, has been teaching various English classes since 2003.

In the past, Mr. Garman referred to NRHS’s plagiarism policies when it came to cheating. Howev-

CHEATING YOUR FUTURE BY: DYLAN SAUNDERS

8

|

T H E ROYA L N EWS

er, he also tried to explain the difference between learning and getting a grade to his students as a preventative measure.

“I’ve dealt with cheating by trying to motivate my students and have them see school in a different light. It doesn’t work with all students, but I’ve had success with some,” said Mr. Garman. “If a student is motivated to cheat, a student will find a way regardless of the subject area.”

Unfortunately for NRHS teachers like Mr. Garman and Mrs. Teague, students don’t have to try very hard when it comes to cheating. They can switch tabs, send each other answers, and make video calls during tests.

“Even though they are not supposed to be using any notes or online help, it is hard for me to monitor that, even when watching them on Zoom,” said Mrs. Teague.

Other than watching the Zoom calls during asStudents can easily switch between sessments, Mrs. Teague checks over her As Mrs. Teague mentioned, teache when students are cheatin students’ work to make sure their answers make sense. In light of a recent cheating scandal, Mrs. Teague now plans on making multiple versions of assessments to prevent answers from being shared between class periods. She noted that her current students seem to be doing better than previous classes, which she said could be due to current students cheating on tests.

“Just because cheating is a lot easier in a remote setting does not change the fact that it is wrong, dishonest, and reflects the kind of person [students] are and will be.

Today’s decisions affect who they will be in the future,” Mrs. Teague said about the cheating.

Because academic dishonesty has become so easy and appealing, teachers are left to quesB Y C A S S I DY tion whether students are receiving quality instruction in the online setting.

Mr. Garman believes that this question boils down to the individual student. In his experience, Mr. Garman finds that each student adapts to changes at their own pace.

“However, to be sure, many students are not ‘learning’ the same amount or with the same depth that they would during a non-remote class environment,” said Mr. Garman. He doesn’t blame students for shortcomings in virtual school. He maintains that students and teachers are adapting to this situation at the same time. Teachers face a unique challenge; they have to redesign their classes and apply those changes immediately.

Mrs. Teague believes that she and her colleagues are doing their best to provide students with a quality education.

“Of course in person is best, but I still think we are doing a n tabs during an online test. great job of interacting togethers have a hard time telling er, and I still can assess my students’ ng on a Zoom call. understanding of the material,” said Mrs. Teague.

As Mr. Garman said, the concern over cheating is “not about the small reward of getting a grade now; it’s about the habits you’re building for your future.” Mr. Garman and Mrs. Teague are both setting a positive example for their students by continuing to build their own teaching habits. Online tools like Screencastify, Peardeck, Quizizz, Edulastic, and Google Classroom could see use in Mr. Garman’s classroom when NRHS eventually returns to in-person learning. Mrs. Teague plans on implementing a similar set of online tools in her normal classes. She might also offer Zoom meetings to students who cannot get to class in-person but would still like to attend the lesson.

A NEW HOPE

WO O D M A N C Y

D

espite the dissension in the world, people can collectively agree it’s time for 2020 to end. Individuals really hope that next year will be a new start in the right direction. In North Royalton, many people have plans and wishes for the new year, including resolutions to begin again.

One of the primary wishes from people is for COVID to be gone. NRHS freshman Peyton Bunsey has dreams that “COVID will semi get better and we get to go to school.” With the successful vaccine being shipped to states, this is definitely a wish that could come true.

Also, many people think 2021 will be a new start in a good way. Freshman Avery Justice said, “I think 2021 will be better than 2020.” Many hope 2021 will bring many good things to get us past this despair-inducing year. The new year will definitely bring hope to the world.

Lastly, many people have new year’s resolutions that they hope they will achieve. Freshman Vanessa Vadovski said, “I want to try to do better in school and just get a grip and start being more responsible.”

She said she wants to achieve these resolutions and become better. Having new year’s resolutions helps people know how to improve themselves, and they hope that they can become better.

Many people have big hopes for a COVID-free new year. Many people will be trying their best to fulfill their resolutions. This new year will bring everyone hope in this time of despair.

People are hoping for less of a need for masks in 2021.

T HE ROYA L N EWS

|

9

As social media continues in 2020, teens and tweens continue to not use caution.

BY PETER CARAM

C

OPINION: SOCIAL MEDIA: FRIEND OR FOE?

an Royalton teens successfully navigate the rough waters of social media that even many adults struggle with?

“Please put your phone away during dinner.”

“That song you are dancing to on Tik Tok is totally inappropriate for someone your age.”

“No, you cannot have an Instagram account.”

There are times that I think that 90% of the conversations my mom has with my 12-year-old sister are about social media. I thought about this constantly when I recently watched a movie on Netflix called The Social Dilemma, a doc-

10

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

umentary-style film that shined a light on the dangers of social media. The theme of the documentary is that while all of the major apps Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Google - appear to be “free” to the user, they actually are far from it. “If you are not paying for the product, you are the product,” said Andrew Lewis.

All of these apps are constantly gathering information on all of their users, which they can sell to advertisers trying to reach consumers meeting a specific profile. In effect, all of our social media actions - our “likes” and “shares” and “clicks” - assist these multi-billion dollar companies in

fine-tuning our personal profile to be more specific. “At the same time, these apps use our profile against us,” feeding us more and more of what we have already shown - through our actions - that we love in order to keep us engaged.

It is precisely this feature of all of our favorite social media apps that is dividing our country into two very different nations. My news feed may look nothing like my neighbor’s news feed, and as more and more people rely on social media to consume their news and engage in discussions on current events, we are finding that we are living in a world that knows no common truth. The Social Dilemma also paints a picture of how dangerous social media is to teens like myself and my classmates. The world we are growing up in is consumed by social media and its effects - both positive and negative.

Unlike our parents, we do not have a point of reference - memories of a world without social media - to give us perspective on the constant rush of information in front of us. Without this knowledge, will it be possible for my generation to effectively find the good that social media offers, without being consumed by the bad? I believe we can, if we utilize our high school years to “dip our toes in the water” as mostly spectators before becoming more active and creating a defining digital footprint.

We do not have the benefit our parents did of growing up in a time with a Tom Brokaw or a Dan Rather that could be looked at as an objective news anchor reporting widely-accepted facts.

These people gave their generation the chance to form their own opinions over years as they became adults. Today, as my dad has pointed out, you cannot tell your Alexa sitting innocently behind the kitchen sink to “tell me news from Fox News” or “tell me news from MSNBC” without unintentionally communicating our political beliefs and telling our friendly Smart App to feed us more of the same.

Gina Stabile, ELA teacher at North Royalton Middle School, believes “teens need to learn social media while living under their parents’’ roof so they can engage their parents for guidance. “I think there’s always a certain level of danger when you put

yourself out there,” Stabile said. But what if we don’t “put ourselves out there?” What if we just watch what’s out there?

My parents took two different approaches to social media during the divisive election season. My mom sometimes “blocked” people for 30 days at a time when they posted opinions or articles she did not agree with.

My dad was careful not to “like” or share any opinions or articles because he has dozens of friends on both sides of the political divide and he found it educational to be able to see thoughts and commentary from different viewpoints as he was trying to make up his own mind. There is a lesson to be learned by teens in both of these approaches.

Teenage life is famously full of drama.

Rather than friending and unfriending our classmates through the drama, my mom’s use of the “pause button” seems like a wiser move to me. And instead of diving headfirst into the drama, my dad’s choice to sit on the sideline and keep an open mind rather than participating in the drama would seem to provide a steadier journey through the choppy waters of teenage life.

The irony of social media is it gives us the opportunity to connect with people from all over the globe giving us access to hundreds of diff`erent beliefs and unlimited knowledge - the world as an open book.

But the more we engage with this world, the more we “write the book” on who we are, the smaller that world becomes as the algorithms that drive the profits of these billion dollar social media companies limit the scope of what we see in our own individual news feeds. I strongly believe that choosing to leave as small a digital footprint as possible during our teenage years is the best way to use social media to our benefit - why be in a hurry to write your own book when there is a library as big as the universe that is just one click away?

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

11

U

nder the immense pressure of conformity within society today, the foundation for education has continued to change. Students learn the basic skills of literature, mathematics, historical periods, and sciences. Children go through thirteen years of schooling to learn the necessities, and then they are pushed to choose a career path for the remainder of their lives.

By late high school, teens are expected to know what they desire to pursue for, ultimately, the rest of their lives. High school should provide students with practical skills that will guide them into making decisions towards their future career path.

“I feel like I’ve put all this work into a future I know nothing about,” Julia Kelley, a North Royalton High school student said.

How could this be changed? The simple way is to have mandatory classes that require students to actually apply the things they learn for their futures. For the majority of the time, in the core classes students are required to take, they are not learning anything of directly-applicable importance. Learning about five different ways to do a single math problem is not going to High school Student Kate Lankford working i prepare them for their future careers. neering class, furthering her progress in her fu In economic classes, students learn about taxes and how to do them, but these classes still do not teach a student everything they need to know.

Most of the class is spent doing book work, and then taxes at the end with additional classes students can take to follow up with more information.

Schools should offer classes that teach students exactly what they need to know, instead of making them learn about things just to satisfy the curriculum.

Due to the lack of learning practical skills, students are left clueless on how to go about their futures. When high school students graduate, they are expected to go to college and choose a major based on their career. This can be a difficult decision because there has been little preparation previously. The student’s job was to get good grades and learn; but what exactly did they learn?

According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, 80% of students in the United States change their major at least once. Can this be avoided? Once again, the simple answer: yes. If more classes were offered in high school to prepare teenagers

OPINION: DOES HIGH SCHOOL ACTUALLY PREPARE FOR LIFE? SCHOOLS NEED A PUSH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BY SAVEA BRINEGAR

12

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

for future careers, there could be a drop in the percentage of changed majors. While schools try their hardest to offer as large as a variety as possible of different career paths, there still is not much offered. There are classes like wood-working or engineering, but overall there are many electives that students just choose to take for fun or simply get credits.

Actual helpful electives should be offered, and if this is not possible within the school, then schools should be trying to provide more opportunities for students. For instance, if a student wants to be a veterinarian, there is no class preparation for this career path.

Even with dual-enrollment between a college and a high school, veterinary medicine is not offered for students. This is only one example out of many. While it may be difficult to offer electives or classes for every single career path, schools should make more of in her engian effort to try to access more uture career. career driven opportunities.

There is so much potential for the schooling system in regards to this country’s future. If a change was made to the way children are taught, there would be more success evident in their future lives. More preparation and teaching of practical skills would save teenagers the humiliation of not knowing how to do things they believe they should. Along with becoming more experienced in a career of their choice, this would save young adults from spending thousands of dollars because they had no idea of what career to pursue.

WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN THE PAPER? As the weather warms and sunnier days approach, there is a great opportunity coming for NRHS students. Beginning spring semester, The Royal News becomes a club. That means all students are welcome to write for the paper and have a chance to be published. Beginning in January we will meet to establish the staff. We need writers and photographers to continue this long-standing tradition of reporting news that matters to the NRHS community.

Please stay tuned to the announcements for details.

The Royal News: For student. By students.

Photo by Savea Brinegar

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

13

OPINION: MANDATORY FIREARM SAFETY CLASSES AT NRHS B Y D Y L A N S AU N D E R S

W

hen I was in sixth grade, a young woman drove to North Royalton High School with her dad’s pistol on her rear bumper. Without knowing or meaning to, the high schooler brought a firearm onto campus and put lives in danger. I remember huddling in the NRMS locker rooms, wondering if my brother would live through his honors biology class. Thankfully, the students who spotted the firearm knew what to do, and nobody got hurt that day. However, those events left me with an unsettling mental scenario: what if it wasn’t those students who found the gun?

My family doesn’t own firearms, and we have no interest in them. This hasn’t prevented me from coming across unsecured guns over the course of my life. In many places, especially schools, guns are a taboo subject. No one wants to associate themselves with firearms because they are attached to violence, danger, and death in general. Herein lies the problem: fearing firearms does not prepare one to handle a firearm situation. An uneducated person around a loose firearm is a danger to themselves and others. For this reason, firearm safety should be a graduation requirement for high school.

To be clear, this isn’t a statement piece on the Second Amendment, gun violence, school shootings, or any related issue. This is an argument for

14

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

a public health and safety program. Guns are a major part of American culture. Experts from the Small Arms Survey estimate that Americans civilians own 393 million firearms, used for recreation, hunting, sporting, and defense. It is highly unlikely that legislators will completely ban firearms in the near future, so finding an unsecured firearm remains a very real possibility for civilians.

The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services report on unintentional firearm injuries found that males in the 15-24 year-old range were most

Data provided by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services illustrating fatal firearm accidents by age group from 2012-2014.

prone to unintentional firearm death. This is roughly the age group of most high school and college students. Officer John Karl of the NRPD said that improperly storing a firearm, “followed by uneducated people handling something they don’t know anything about,” typically causes accidents and injury.

“The North Royalton Police Department deals with some type of firearm-related call on a very regular basis. Sometimes daily,” said Officer Karl. Calls range from a person with what looks like a gun, a person with a gun making threats, gunshots heard, or a suicide by gun. Firearms are not uncommon in North Royalton.

Firearms are prevalent in our community and pose a threat to uneducated citizens, particularly teenagers and young adults. High school is meant to prepare students for the real world, whether that be the workforce or college. It should also prepare students to deal with a firearm situation. Officer Karl already leads a firearm safety class within the Lifetime Activities phys-ed class.

“The purpose of the class has always been to raise awareness and educate people. The prevalence of firearms in our society and around the world demands a basic understanding of what they are and how

“THE NORTH ROYALTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DEALS WITH SOME TYPE OF FIREARMRELATED CALL ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS. SOMETIMES DAILY.” - OFFICER KARL they work,” said Officer Karl. With every class, he aims to educate students enough so they will not hurt themselves or others by mishandling a firearm.

Not every student takes Lifetime Activities, so Officer Karl’s firearm safety portion of the class should be incorporated into the required health class. After all, firearm safety is a public health and safety issue.

Students would have the opportunity to learn the basics about handling guns from a trained professional. Those who have completed hunting classes or other qualifying firearm safety courses would be exempt from this portion of the class. Ideally, students would leave health class with enough knowledge to keep them safe should they encounter a loose firearm. If just one high schooler’s injury, suicide, or accidental death is prevented by these classes, they will have been worth it. In the meantime, Officer Karl shared two very important tips for firearm safety.

First, “treat all firearms as if they are loaded,” he said. No gun should ever be played with or pointed at anything that one isn’t prepared to shoot.

Second, “if you are not familiar with it, don’t touch it and call someone who knows what they are doing.” The North Royalton Police Department is always available to help with any gun-related situations and can be reached on their non-emergency number at (440) 237-8686.

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

15

OPINION: The Bottom Line of Redlining: Activists Call for Reform, not Abolishing Suburbs

C

By: Jaret Gold

leveland is a city of suburbs. Our own suburb, North Royalton, has a reputation for peaceful neighborhoods, clean streets, excellent schools and general lack of crime, which has made it a desirable location for families to live. However, if you listen to the news, it can seem like the suburbs are under attack. Many prominent Republican lawmakers have accused progressive activists of trying to “abolish the suburbs.” This might seem frightening to many in North Royalton and suburbs across the nation; I myself was concerned about whether the attacks had any merit. However, the allegations are highly misleading. Calls for “abolition” refer not to the suburbs themselves, but to undo the effects of racist redlining laws from decades ago. The suburbs are not under attack, but the problem of redlining is a real issue and must be addressed.

In order to understand redlining, one must know a little about the history of suburbs. Suburban areas around cities really began to develop in the 1940s and ‘50s. Fueled by a rapidly growing population as war vets returned home to start families, as well as rampant consumerism that defined the era, people flocked in the millions from the crowded cities to the newly-developed countryside. Fifty years ago, North Royalton was still considered a country town. Today, it is a city with a growing population. This growth is evident here in Royalton: it was in 1956 when the high school was transferred to its current location and greatly expanded as the population of kids grew too large. However, the expansion of the suburbs was also 16

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

The above map of Cuyahoga County from 1940 shows redlining in action.

The red zones received the least amount of aid and home loans for buyers, while the blue zones received the most, through the now illegal practice.

Predictably, the red area was mostly made up of majority African American neighborhoods. According to a study done by Case Western Reserve University, there is a strong correlation between poverty and levels of crime today with racist zoning from 80 years ago. The study found that the areas that received the least amount of aid are the same areas with the highest amount of poverty and violent crimes. Dr. According to Ronnie Dunn, a Cleveland State University professor, “If you were to graphically map and overlay those various socioeconomic indicators, they would pretty much parallel those areas where blacks were redlined and racially segregated.” (credit: Ohio State University Library)

marred and shaped by racism.

The nation’s very first suburb, Levittown, New Jersey, was founded on a charter that specifically prohibited non-whites.

An excerpt from the charter reads, “The tenant agrees not to permit the premises to be used or occupied by any other persons than members of the Caucasian race.” And this wasn’t just some lone occurence of discrimination; these laws were embedded into the founding of suburbs across America, including those around Cleveland.

Before the Civil Rights Movement outlawed overt racial discrimination, realtors and local government officials still tried to dissuade African Americans and other minorities from moving into the suburbs by raising house prices and making mortgages hard to get. The association of minorities with lawlessness and crime has allowed people to continue racist policies in the name of “law and order.” This association is unfair, and untrue. According to the 2016 national FBI crime study, crime rates have more to do with income level and education rather than race. The study found that a poor The southwestern corner of Royalton has developed rapidly since the area was white high school dropout is just as likely to commit a violent suburbanized in the 1980s. crime as a poor black high school dropout. By keeping poorer minority blocks in a constant cycle of poverty, it maintains the status quo, preventing them from moving to safer, better served suburbs.

North Royalton City Council President Paul Marnecheck agrees that we need to make neighborhoods open to everyone. He thinks that the government should “make sure the playing field is level and that everyone has the same access to opportunities.” He also lauded the progress our city has already made. “We have several first-generation immigrants to North Royalton mixed in with families who can trace their North Royalton lineage back generations,” Marnecheck said, regarding the city’s influx of migrants, including a large number of Eastern Europeans. As North Royalton only began suburbanizing in the 1980s, long after racist zoning had been deemed unconstitutional, our city does not have the same redlining issues that plague inner Cleveland. However, the economic result of redlining has contributed to North Royalton being more than 93 percent white, according to Data USA, which is significantly higher than Ohio’s 81 percent. Even if it isn’t institutionalized in our city, North Royalton is still affected by redlining.

We should feel good that our suburb, North Royalton, is such a great place to live and raise a family.

However, we must also acknowledge that, in the past, racist zoning and redlining have left an ugly mark on not just this community, but cities and towns across America. No one wants to see the suburbs demolished.

But many people are pushing to see them more integrated, and I think that is something all of us should want. Redlining is a real problem, and its effects are seen in cities across America. Hopefully, we can come together and make sure that the suburbs can be enjoyed by Americans of all backgrounds.

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

17

OPINION: LGBTQ+ IS = B Y HA I L E Y L A N G F O R D

K

ids walking down the halls of North Royalton High school are different from one another in many ways. Even though we all know people are different, some students that walk down the hall hide who they really are, and that’s not how it should be. Students should be able to express themselves without feeling ashamed of who they are or what their sexual orientation is.

LGBTQ+ students are just trying to be the best selves that they can be. Nobody from the LGBTQ+ community should feel like they need to pretend to be someone else or have their rights taken because someone has opposing religious beliefs or hateful world views. The LGBTQ+ community has a strong voice, and they will use that voice to get their rights back in America.

In 2017 when Trump took office, the administration rolled back an Obama-era memo directing schools to protect trans students from discrimination.That July Trump decided to go forward and essentially ban trans people for seving in the military. Those actions reveal Trump is homophobic to transgenders and has alot of discrimination on the LGBTQ+ community.

People shouldn’t have their rights taken away because of their sexual orientation. Even further, trans people are being told how they should identify because of their “assigned gender” at birth. No one should tell someone else how they should feel. Further, in 2018 the officials told trans prisoners that they should be assigned to thier assigned sex at birth in thier cells, bathrooms etc.

Trans people aren’t making a choice; this is who they are. According to findings to be presented in Barcelona in 2018 at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, the differences in brain function can occur early in development, causing the brain to imagine the opposite gender that they are. Trans people can’t control nor is it a choice to be trans; they were 18

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

Love is love and the LGBTQ+ community sh born identifying with the opposite gender and many queer people have been attacked and had their rights taken away for just being who they are.

Queer people also have been attacked as others try to take away gay marriage. The White House has taken steps to limit or undo gay rights in certain areas by giving religious agencies the right to refuse same-sex couples.

What makes this worse is not only is the White House trying to take away gay rights, but they are also trying to pass laws that allow doctors and insurance companys to refuse the LGBTQ+ community care. What does health care or insurance have anything to do with someone loving the same gender? Absolutely nothing. Just because someone is attracted to the same sex doesn’t mean that they should get their insurance or health care taken away. People let their

O P I N I O N : WO R D S H U RT B Y C A S S I DY WO O D M A N C Y

M

hould be able to love who they want. homophobia cloud their vision from seeing amazing human beings that pay taxes, help the community etc.

In fact, some of the most famous celebrities are apart of the LGBTQ+ community like Miley Cyrus (gender fluid), Drew Barrymore (bisexual), Lili Reinhart (bisexual).

The LGBTQ+ community should have their rights and have the same advantages as straight/heterosexual people. Sexual orientation shouldn’t have anything to do with insurance, healthcare or the military. The LGBTQ+ community is the same as heterosexuals, and sexual orientation shouldn’t change the right of all American citizens to be equal.

any people think it’s okay to judge people based on their hobbies, coping mechanisms, and things that make them happy.

Although some people have become more accepting of others, in North Royalton, and other places, people still constantly bully others based on things they like. It can really hurt someone’s feelings if another person acts like that.

For example, many people make fun of people who cosplay, watch anime, etc. Hobbies are things people enjoy; it helps them be happier in life. It also helps them escape from reality, which everyone needs to at least once in a while. Hobbies like cosplaying don’t harm others and is just a way for people to express themselves.

Judging people based on what they like isn’t nice. It can hurt them a lot. For example, Vanessa Vadoski, a student at North Royalton High School said, “That may be your opinion, but it doesn’t matter to me. They are my hobbies, not yours.”

So, people should watch what they say to other people about what they enjoy to do. For some people their hobbies are a way for them to cope with disorders, mental health, or just life in general.

Avery Justice, a student at North Royalton High School, said, “If it’s my coping mechanism, and it works, then it works.” So, it shouldn’t really matter what others think about what works for each person.

Hobbies like cosplay are usually for people’s own enjoyment, it doesn’t harm others, and it helps people escape reality for a while.

Another thing that Vadoski said was, “It’s a way for people to enjoy themselves and become this character in a fictional world that they love.” It’s just something that makes life enjoyable.

If a person doesn’t like cosplaying, anime, etc. that’s completely fine; everyone has their own opinions. But, just know that words really hurt and all actions have consequences. People should just try to be as nice as they can to others and take the time to understand someone else’s perspective.

People shouldn’t be judged for hobbies, like cosplay, that provide them with peace.

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

19

L E G O B R I N G S T H E F O R C E T O T H E H O L I DAY S

BY PETER CARAM

L

ucasfilms has rewarded Star Wars fans who made the “nice list” with its amusing new holiday entry into the Star Wars Universe - The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, currently streaming on Disney Plus. The Force is strong enough in this one to entertain both die hard and casual fans.

“Hello there,” said young Obi Wan Kenobi. This holiday entry into the universe takes place after The Rise of Skywalker, but it is in Lego animation-style, where the characters are Lego mini-figures instead of real life. The plot of the story is centered around Rey Skywalker training her friend, Finn, to be a Jedi because the final film of the last trilogy foreshadowed Finn being Force Sensitive. Rey begins to question her teaching methods as Finn struggles to learn the Jedi way. Meanwhile, Poe Dameron, Rose Tico, Chewbacca, C-3PO and the other droids are preparing for “Light Day,” which is Christmas in the Star Wars Universe.

As her frustration grows, Rey embarks on her own journey - accompanied by BB-8 - to go to an old Jedi temple where she finds a crystal that travels back to previous events that have happened in the saga. All is well until she crosses paths with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine from the past. Palpatine sends Vader to catch Rey in a time traveling journey. The question is will Rey make it home in time for Light Day with her friends or will Darth Vader catch her and destroy all reality?

Nothing from the past has significantly changed, but we do see Vader humorously sporting an ugly Christmas sweater. The animation helps to move the farce along almost winking at the viewer as a reminder to not take things too seriously.

I thought this film was enjoyable, not just for kids to enjoy, but for Star Wars fans to enjoy and watch as well. This surprised me because I’m not as big of a fan of animated movies as I was when I was younger, but I am a big action and sci-fi movie guy and this movie spoke to that part of me. My 20

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

ENTERTA

overall score for this film is a solid 8.1/10 because it honors the history of the Star Wars saga, which has been a big part of my life, having seen all nine films from the Skywalker Saga, plus the spinoff films, the shows and the current entry The Mandalorian. I did find myself wishing at times that the film was live action because I think the sequel trilogy deserved a spin-off film like this after Rise Of Skywalker. I really enjoyed the humor, action and sly references in this film. I would recommend this to any Star Wars fan because although it appears targeted to kids, it ties in well with the Skywalker Saga, the TV shows and everything in the Star Wars Universe. “Do or do not, there is no try,” Yoda famously instructed Luke. For casual fans and diehards alike, seeing this fun-filled holiday entry to the universe should be a “do.”

Everyone should be “forced” to watch the Star Wars Holiday Special

AINMENT

T

A M O V I E T O K E E P YO U “ S P E L L” - B O U N D B Y S AV E A B R I N E G A R

he majority of the time, people watch horror movies because they relish in the adrenaline and fear they receive after a jump scare. It can be enjoyable to yell at the TV saying “No! Don’t go in that door,” knowing that they can’t hear you. The movie, Spell, isn’t an exception. This movie invokes reactions from the watcher that lets them live vicariously through their experiences and feel emotions the characters would be feeling.

The beginning of the movie follows a man named Marquis (pronounced Markus) and his family flying to his father’s funeral. A storm results in Marq losing control of the plane and crashing in the middle of nowhere. He awakens in a home, owned by a woman named Ms. Eiloise. She tells him that his family died in the crash, but she can nurse him back to health using Hoodoo magic. Later on it is revealed that Ms. Eiloise’s intentions are not as pure as they seem, resulting in Marq trying to save himself and others.

The movie captures the theme of a thriller as well as providing an actual storyline, quite well. While horror movies sometimes focus more on the element of jump scares, this movie doesn’t do that. Instead, it focuses more on foreshadowing and keeps the watcher thinking about how this is all going to end. There are some parts that are a little difficult to watch, so if someone has a weak stomach then they probably should just skip this one. If you are able to stomach quite a bit of blood and overall violence, then you should be fine. Yet, it was very apparent from the start that this movie would feature those elements since it is about Hoodoo or VooDoo magic.

Similar to all horror movies, there are moments the watcher is thinking, “Seriously dude? What are you doing?” but surprisingly this is kept to a minimum. While there have been some movies that a character ventures out alone knowing they’re going to die or just making questionable decisions, Marq seems to have quite a bit of common sense, which makes this movie enjoyable to watch. An annoyance about movies is when the main character is intolerable with every decision they make, making the viewer, in turn, want to stop watching. Thankfully, this movie does not make one want to turn it off and forget anything ever happened.

Some other elements of the movie that made it amazing were the audio and quality. A truly annoying aspect is when all the characters are mumbling so I turn up the volume, and then a big scene happens causing my eardrums to split. Even worse is when everything is dark and I can’t even tell what is happening. This movie is truly the opposite of that. All of these scenes were filled with vivid details and colors of what was happening. Everyone’s voices were crisp

and clear, preventing any confusion for the watcher. The soundtrack of the movie was also amazing.

The songs were very fitting to the scene it was playing for, whether that was “scary” or lighthearted.

What makes this movie fall under the thriller category is the realistic feel of the characters and scenes.

The watcher can sympathize with the characters and witness the pain they’re put through. With the graphics and special effects makeup, it truly does look and feel real in comparison to movies with poor quality effects. It can be very unsettling and uncomfortable, but these details truly make it scary to watch.

The only issue evident with this movie was the lack of closure. The watcher can’t help but have a few remaining questions about the ending. The big one being, is there going to be a second movie? The ending makes you believe that there will be a second one, but at the same time, it is just a thriller movie tactic to invoke questions about the plot. The amazing storyline and scenes override this issue though, and it is worth a rewatch. If you’re looking for a thriller movie that isn’t downright scary but keeps you thinking, this would be the perfect movie for you.

The iconic cover photo, which is also featured in a scene inside the movie.

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

21

MULAN’S (UN)PLEASANT RETURN

BY PETER CARAM

T

he live-action Disney film Mulan has officially gone to streaming platforms and DVD after many postponements and delays, but it unfortunately did not stick the landing as fans of the animated film surely hoped it would.

The plot of the film starts with Mulan - played by newcomer actress Liu Yifel - showing off her martial arts skills, which her village and family disapproves of because they feel that a woman should be married rather than a warrior. Her chance at redemption comes when the emperor of China sends out a message that all the families in the country must send the nearest male in the family to join the war against Bori Khan (played by Jason Scottlee) and his mysterious friend Xianhiang (played by Gong Li). This forces Hua Zhou, Mulan’s father (played by Tzima), to be the chosen one in the family, but he is in no condition to go to war. This turn of events forces Mulan to take his weapons and armor and go to war with the other men, leading the viewer into the central question of the film: Will she be accepted by the other men as a woman, or will she need to continue to keep her lie?

Although there are many similarities to the animated classic, the live-action movie vears far from 22

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

the original because there are no musical sequences at all. This void is made up, in part, by some great cinematography. The acting is solid and there are some great combat sequences highlighted by Mulan fighting off Bori Khan’s Soldiers and Xian Huang fighting off the Chinese soldiers.

Despite these great moments in the film, my overall impression lies somewhere in the middle.

I really wanted to like it because I’m a big fan of woman-led films that show the audience that women can do anything that men can do. Unfortunately the story has too many plot holes - for example, an animal was supposed to be a symbol in the film but has absolutely nothing to do with the overall story. Also, the pacing of the film is wildly inconsistent.

The first two acts of the film were slow but the third act feels rushed at the end due to all the action. My overall score for this film is a 6.8/10 because there were some enjoyable moments, including the moments Mulan has with her family reminding the audience that this is a Disney film, in between the many flaws. If you are a diehard Disney fan or a fan of the live-action films this would be a good movie to watch, especially during the pandemic. Perhaps it will inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and do some things society would not expect, like Mulan did.

SWITCH SWITCHED SEQUEL A SUCCESS B Y HA I L E Y L A N G F O R D

I

n 2018 Netflix released The Princess inheritance and comes up with a plot to kidSwitch, a movie about a down-to-earth nap Margaret long enough to steal her crown Chicago baker named Tracy and her for fortune. As the women run around prebest friend Kevin who are accepted into tending to be each other, everything gets heca baking competition in Belgravia. While tic. there she runs into the soon-to-be princess This movie is something that you watch on (Margaret) and it turns out they look alike. Tracy and your couch with a cup of hot cocoa under a warm Margaret decide to switch places, leaving Margaret blanket on a snowy cold day. This movie brought me with Kevin and Tracy with Prince Edward. They both joy and really makes it feel like Christmas is here (insoon realize that they have fallen in love. Tracy has cidentally, I did watch this movie while drinking hot fallen in love with Prince Edward and Margaret has cocoa.). fallen in love with Kevin.

This movie introduces you to plot complica The retions that lease clearare barely ly gained real probe n o u g h lems. Both momentum couples in to warrant question a sequel. have no This 2020 more serirelease, ous issues The Printhan having cess Switch been “too Switched busy” to Again, gives sit down to the viewers talk and see an update, that they two years are perfect Vanessa Hudgens takes on three roles in Switch later. Trafor each Switched.

Margaret in the center with her beautiful cy and Prince Edother. Margret is white and gold dress and Tracy with the white shirt, ward are married worried about living gray blazer, and navy blue jean. The evil cousin Fiona and Margaret and up to being princess who sports balck leather plants and blonde hair.

Kevin were together and Tracy has nebut split because Margaret’s dad died, and she had glected her husband when she didn’t even realize it, to get home and become queen of Montenaro. Tra- leading him to believe that she’s questioning getting cy revisits Chicago to see heartbroken Kevin and his married. adorable daughter Olivia and tries to talk them into This movie is fun, happy and gives just the right attending Margaret’s coronation. amount of suspense. If you are looking for a fun, hap Kevin agrees and when they arrive at Margaret’s py, cheerful movie that makes you feel like it’s already castle, the two clearly still have feelings for each oth- Christmas, this movie is for you. This movie really er and finally reunite after two years. This, of course, gives me joy and happiness during this COVID outcauses for a “switch,” but this switch takes an ugly turn break. Be safe and stay in the Christmas spirit. when Margaret’s evil cousin Fiona blows through her THE ROYA L NEWS

|

23

H Y RU L E WA R R I O R S + B O T W = G A M E WO RT H T H E H Y P E B Y JA R E T G O L D

H

yrule Warriors: Age of Calamity had one job: placating Zelda fans while they waited for Breath of the Wild’s highly anticipated sequel. After playing through the game, Calamity definitely met that criteria and went a bit further than that.

It was engaging, fun, and had more than enough surprises to make me want to play it again.

Set 100 years before Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity gives new insights into the events leading up to the Calamity, which turned Hyrule into ruins. The story follows Link, Zelda, and the Champions as they attempt to prevent Calamity Ganon’s resurrection, aided by a mysterious Guardian from the bleak future. A trouble with prequels is that knowing how the story will end sometimes ruins the plot. However, this was not the case at all for Age of Calamity. There were several major surprises and additions to the story we didn’t see in BOTW, including a new villain, a mysterious sorcerer bent on bringing Ganon back into the world. I won’t spoil the ending, but it definitely was not what I was expecting.

Age of Calamity harkens back to previous games, in both the setting and gameplay. The world of the game is essentially the same as BOTW, albeit with the Kingdom of Hyrule not laying in ruins. Fans of the first game will find themselves fighting enemies in familiar locations.

While Calamity has the look and design of BOTW, the gameplay is much more similar to that of the first Hyrule Warriors, a game which brought battlefield combat and tactics to the Zelda universe. However, there are some

A strange little guardian returns to the past to prevent the Calamity and help the heroes save Hyrule.

24

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

gameplay elements from BOTW that have carried over here, including cooking and performing quests for assorted characters. However, I found these mechanics didn’t work as well without the open-world layout of BOTW; the quests are only performed from the map interface, rather than actually meeting the characters. Because of this, I found it doesn’t feel as personal. On the other hand, I found the weapon customization mechanic to be

The hand-to-hand combat of Hyrule Warriors meets BOTW’s familiar sites, such as Gerudo Town. unique, unseen in both of the game’s predecessors. The characters can combine weapons to forge new, powerful ones, which is not a new game mechanic by any means, but is certainly an addition to Zelda.

It is always a delight to return to the land of Hyrule and especially with the characters fans have grown to love from Breath of the Wild. The game wasn’t intended to be a sequel to BOTW, but rather a unique window into the world of that game by bringing added complexity to the story and new mysteries for players to ponder. Those who enjoyed either BOTW or Hyrule Warriors will definitely find Age of Calamity a fun, engaging game. For fans looking for a BOTW sequel, they just have to keep waiting (and play Age of Calamity while you do so). As a Zelda fan, I really enjoyed my playthrough of the game, and as someone who enjoys a good story, I became engrossed with trying to prevent the seemingly inevitable Calamity. I think this is a solid Zelda spinoff and will keep me busy for months to come.

T

T H E B E S T G A M E I S A L R E A DY A M O N G U S B Y HA I L E Y L A N G F O R D

he game Among Us, produced by with all the funny slang and disappointment InnerSloth, was released on June 15, when they vote the wrong person out.

2018, but gained popularity in 2020

The other factor that makes this game so due to COVID. The game went viral amazing to me is partly the comedy. Among Us and has been marketed across the United States teaches how to lie (don’t ever lie to your parwith merch, a clothing franchise, and more. ents but in this game lie all you want without Among Us is free on IOS or Android and has getting in trouble) in hilarious ways. Among Us been a big help during these hard times by shining just a also has put slang in my mind that I would have never little bit of light on the days of COVID by making play- thought I would use. Most of all this game has made ers use teamwork, creativity and strategy. me laugh, enjoy my time, and not worry about, for one The game Among Us is a suspicion game where second, what is going in a world that is dangerous and players are the crewmate or the imposter. The imposter heartbreaking. Whenever I am stressed or just in the has to pretend to do an assigned task in the game and mood for a little laugh, I play Among Us to just feel kill the crewmates one by good about bad situations. one. If a body is discov Among Us also offers a ered, a crewmate can call wide variety of skins and an emergency meeting even little pets go with and text in the group chat the skins, just to add a litto try to figure out who the tle comedy to the game. A true imposter is. great quality about Among The main task of the Us is the minimum time game is to go to each room investment, meaning peoto complete a task without ple can play Among Us as getting voted out. In the much as they want or as emergency meeting they little as they want without discuss who they think is losing any benefits like if suspicious and who is not, they would in games like and whoever gets the most Clash Of Clans.

Gameplay from Among Us. When you’re the imvotes gets booted out and poster you have your sabotage button where you The game has an amazthey become “ghosts.” The can close doors and trap people, the kill button to ing amount of controls ghosts can watch the game be kill the crewmates and the joystick to move around. and settings. If you create a played out and find out who’s game and adjust the game the imposter. to the speed you want, you Now for the part that is the main concept of the can choose as many imposters as you want (well, up game--the imposter. The imposter has to fake tasks to three). You can also change the chat language and and walk around to eat the crewmates without getting choose how many players you want in the game (up caught by the other crewmates. The imposter can vent to 10). You can choose control the game by joystick or to help not get caught first, but the players have to watch touch depending on how you want to move (I like joyout because if another crewmate sees that one vented, stick better). You can also have the option to leave or they could snitch and that player can lose the game. return to the game.

There can be plenty of ways a player can be vot- Among Us is a huge phenomenon and even has ed out; say someone is “green” and another crewmate been streamed on Youtube, which is interesting to me thinks the player is “sus,” meaning suspicious, then the to watch and just as fun as playing Among Us. crewmate has to convince them they are not.

This game honestly and truly has become a staple What makes this game so fun and amusing is when of 2020 and brings happiness during the terrifying panthe people turn against each other, lie to each other, and demic. I would recommend playing Among Us to feel engage in the chat, which makes it ten times funnier better and just get your mind off of things.

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

25

“THIS IS THE WAY” THE MANDALORIAN NEEDS TO GO: A REVIEW OF THE FIRST FIVE EPISODES OF SEASON TWO B Y D Y L A N S AU N D E R S

F

ans of The Mandalorian had high expectations for the show’s second season, and so far, it hasn’t disappointed. In just the first five episodes, The Mandalorian earned a 91% Rotten Tomatoes rating. This compelling story, coupled with extremely talented actors and a $15 million-per-episode budget, might just be the Star Wars franchise’s redemption after their controversial sequel trilogy.

The story picks up where season one left off, with the Mandalorian and The Child (aka Baby Yoda) searching the galaxy for more Mandalorians. It’s Mando’s duty to bring The Child to his own people, and he is hoping the network of Mandalorians spread across the galaxy will help him on his mission. With that in mind, here’s a spoiler-free review of what made the first five episodes of The Mandalorian great, as well as what fans might like to see more of in the future.

WHAT THE MANDALORIAN DID RIGHT STYLE

The Mandalorian stands out from other Star Wars media because it tells a different kind of story than fans have come to expect. The Mandalorian has all the elements of the sci-fi/fantasy hybrid genre Star Wars is known for, but is primarily a western.

Without getting too far into the details, Mando spends much of his time traveling to and cleaning up small towns in exchange for a local’s help. The first episode of season two includes an iconic showdown between a town sheriff and Mando in a saloon that has been reimagined to fit the Star Wars universe. The quick-draw, the dirty bar, and the local sheriff (or marshal) are just a few of the western tropes that have translated beautifully into Star Wars content. The parallels between these two worlds are immediately recognizable, even to casual viewers.

The Mandalorian’s departure from the grandiose military conflicts and epic struggles portrayed by the films is a breath of fresh air for Star Wars fans. After nine films about roughly the same war with roughly the same characters, The Mandalorian puts the well-established Star Wars universe under a microscope and allows fans With his rifle slung across his back a to see the parts of the galaxy the movies never bothered with. Season two highlights wind, Mando disappears into the sun the gritty reality of post-war life following the collapse of the Empire using a western episode 5 draws attention to The Man Concept art by Brian Matyas, o lens: the massive power vacuum in neglected towns makes them battlefields for gangs, profiteers, extremists, and self-appointed law enforcement. No matter where Mando goes, he seems to run into the kind of action and excitement that makes for a captivating series.

CONTINUITY

One thing season two makes very clear is that actions have consequences. Mando’s activities in season one are not completely in the past. For example, his split-second decision to show compassion to a character in season one saves his life in season two. It’s a reminder that even in the vast Star Wars universe, one’s actions do not go unnoticed. The writers made sure to include several key characters from season one into the new season. Such characters undergo their own subtle development, which prevents them from feeling two dimensional and replaceable.

While it’s fun to see some familiar faces in the show, it’s even more exciting to see how the writers tie other Star Wars properties into The Mandalorian. Just about everything is fair game: the prequels, original trilogy, sequels, and animated shows are all referenced. These tie-ins range from important plot elements that casual viewers can understand to obscure Easter Eggs for only the most eagle-eyed fans. Again, most of these references aren’t just fan service; continuity has a double-sided impact on fan perception of The Mandalorian. It’s comparable to how the MCU functions: characters frequently reference different Marvel properties to let the audience know that a given story co-exists with other storylines.

At the same time, a given story doesn’t have to be about the pre-existing stories. The idea that everything in the Star Wars 26

|

TH E ROYA L NEWS

galaxy is connected makes season two of The Mandalorian feel grounded in spite of its fantasy and sci-fi elements.

DANGER

In television and movies, a “power creep” is a problem where characters become too strong. When characters get too strong, the audience no longer believes that they face any real challenges (picture Superman in a fistfight: he’s so ridiculously strong that there are no real stakes for him). The Mandalorian addresses the power creep by not giving Mando any special abilities to begin with; he’s just a human navigating a galaxy with space wizards, killer robots, and dangerous aliens. Sure, he’s a great fighter, a sharpshooter, and has indestructible armor, but he’s far from invincible. These skills, coupled with the allies he makes, are just enough to keep him alive. The final episode of season one set an important precedent for season two: Mando can be fatally injured, even in his tough armor.

In a film franchise that isn’t afraid to dismember its main characters, it’s concerning to see Mando actively seek out people who wield laser swords. Mando constantly puts himself in danger and runs the risk of needing to replace one of his limbs with a prosthetic. For an original storyline, anything is possible. Season two of The Mandalorian pushes all of Mando’s skills to their limits; the omnipresent element of danger keeps fans engaged.

WHAT THE MANDALORIAN NEEDS MORE OF CREATIVE FIGHT SCENES

In the first episode of season two, Mando fights off a group of gangsters with a very unorthodox technique. He uses his helmet as a blunt weapon, ramming it into the fists of his attackers.

Many films and shows have a scaled-down power creep, where it seems like every character is a skilled martial artist. The same can be said for most characters in The Mandalorian. This stunt work adds an element of flashiness to the action and fight scenes, but it gets old fast (even when the main character has an arsenal of gadgets at his disposal). The show stresses how Mando based his entire life around fighting; he grew up in a violence-worshipping cult, after all. When every other character knows space-karate, Mando needs to show what sets him apart as a great hunter and warrior. Simple adjustments to fight scenes can help remind fans that Mando isn’t skilled just because he can out-punch a gang member, but he’s skilled because his creativity carries him through tough situations.

DEVELOPMENT

Even though it developed a unique style of storytelling, The Mandalorian has become a bit predictable in the layout of its episodes. Without giving too much away, the average season two episode follows this structure: Mando lands on a new planet in search of X. Then, and his cloak billowing in the he meets somebody who can help him with X if Mando helps them with Y. Mando helps nset. Concept art from season 2 ndalorian’s western inspirations. them with Y, and in exchange, the person offers Mando the name or location of someone owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. who can help him with X. The cycle restarts itself in the next episode.

This episode structure works for a little bit. It introduces the audience to a variety of new characters and locations. It’s also very effective when paired with the sci-fi/western style discussed earlier. However, the effectiveness of the structure wanes as season two progresses. With only a filler episode to punctuate an otherwise constant stream of the structure, the show gets predictable. Important and exciting things happen in each episode, but the overall plot of The Mandalorian seems to be spinning its wheels. What started as a fun planet-hopping adventure feels like getting dragged across the galaxy for minimal gain. The slow pace of the plot doesn’t match the speed at which Mando moves through locations.

What the plot needs is a clear direction with a digestible pace. Above all, Star Wars material tells the story of human experience through elements of space opera, sci-fi, fantasy, and now, westerns. Season one of The Mandalorian understood this to some extent. Audiences watched a battle-hardened man struggle with his humanity and realize the cost of doing the right thing. They watched him try and fail to detach himself from the people around him. They even got to see him overcome his own prejudices. Season two has not yet given the audience any of this development. The show provides a few cute scenes to highlight the father-son relationship between Mando and The Child. Now, it needs to expand on those moments, introduce conflict, and drive the plot in a meaningful way besides a formulaic episode structure.

THE ROYA L NEWS

|

27

Photo by Savea Brinegar