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Rachel Rising Volume 5 Review: The Witch and The Serial Killer

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

It’s volume 5 of Terry Moore’s ‘Rachel Rising’ and protagonist Rachel seems to be done dying. She is now on a serious mission to find out who killed her the first time, leaving those ghastly indentation marks on her neck. Her strongest ally? The freaky little serial-killer girl: Zoey.

If you remember, Zoey murdered the Satanic entity called Malus in Rachel Rising Volume 4. Malus was inhabiting the body of a priest, and his goal was to keep an eye on Zoey, watch her grow, and then impregnate her so that she could give birth to Satan’s spawn. Zoey, of course, would have none of it and killed him at the first opportunity. Unfortunately, there was a witness…

Titled ‘Night Cometh’, volume 5 collects Issues 25-30 of ‘Rachel Rising’ and opens with Rachel brewing a magical herbal concoction to treat Aunt Johnny’s wounds. Soon after, the group examines a dying note left by Aunt Carol, the woman who had poisoned Jet, Rachel, Johnny, and herself. Johnny is convinced the letter doesn’t sound like Carol at all. Later, when a suicide victim arrives at the morgue where she works, Johnny is shocked to find that his final note is identical, word for word, to Carol’s. This confirms her suspicion that a serial killer may be on the loose in their small town Manson, and now, they need to track this person down.

One of the more surprising (and oddly funny) developments in this volume of Rachel Rising is the budding friendship between Rachel and pint-sized psychopath Zoey, they’re like a dark, twisted Batman and Robin. They even go for haircuts together, and Terry Moore gives Rachel bangs, making her look uncannily like Sabrina the Teenage Witch… if Sabrina dabbled in murder and resurrection.

There’s a beautifully drawn rooftop scene where Rachel stands atop a high-rise like a vigilante, while Zoey quietly sits on the ledge, both thinking about catching the new killer in Manson. In her own way, Rachel is becoming the town’s silent protector. Gotham has Batman, Manson has Rachel.

But it is Zoey, who is turning out to be the most entertaining character in ‘Rachel Rising’. With pigtails and an innocent schoolgirl facade, she’s a brutal serial killer, always ready to crush someone to death. But when she’s not busy bludgeoning her next victim, she’s weirdly likable. Issue #29 puts Zoey in the spotlight, unfolding across rain-soaked panels and culminating in a violent clash with a human she believes is under Malus’s control.

Terry Moore’s artwork is stunning throughout this volume, and for once, it’s not snowing nonstop like in earlier issues. While the plot doesn’t deliver any big shakeups, the town of Manson is still knee-deep in mysterious deaths. And in a not-so-shocking twist, Rachel seems dead again… but let’s be real, rising is kind of her thing.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. ‘Rachel Rising‘ is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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4 Reasons to Watch ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (and 4 Not To)

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Hello, hello, hello. If, like many Marvel fans, you’re suffering from MCU fatigue and cannot decide whether to watch Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing), and Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), here’s a quick, casual list of pros and cons to help you make a decision.

Sue Storm is pregnant, and the Fantastic Four are gearing up to welcome a new member to their superhero squad. But Reed Richards is anxious over the baby’s DNA, worried their powers might affect it. Things go from stressful to apocalyptic when the Silver Surfer crashes into Earth with a dire warning: her cosmic overlord, Galactus, is coming to devour the planet. Evacuate or die, those are the only two options. So a pregnant Sue Storm, and the others, go on a mission to stop Galactus.

Now, let’s talk about four reasons (we’re not including the fact that some of the cast is great in their parts!) that some fans might really enjoy watching this 2025 superhero flick, and if that sounds like you, maybe you should give it a shot.

The Retro Sci-fi Cinematography is cool: Yes, it sounds like a superficial reason, but Fantastic Four: First Steps has a very retro-futuristic look, making it feel like a science-fiction action hero film made in the 1970s or 80s. It might remind you of The Jetsons or the retro-futuristic Fallout (mostly because the vault people wear blue uniforms, much like the blue costumes of the Four). Those who enjoy retro visual styles will have a good time.Galactus is the fantastic villain: Forget villains who want to take over your home, or town, or city, or country. Galactus, the primary antagonist of Fantastic Four, is a planet devourer that wants to eat up Earth. How do you even fight that kind of enemy? Galactus elevates the film, even if the finale doesn’t do him justice.The Special Effects Are Great: Except for some fleeting small scenes with clunky effects, the CGI in this superhero world is epic. When the antagonist Galactus appears for the first time, it’s a sight to behold; he is awe-inspiringly larger than life. The introductory sequence makes you think, “Damn, the Fantastic Four are screwed.” From the Silver Surfer menacingly gliding through the air to Johnny going up in flames as the Human Torch, all of it looks smooth.The pop-culture references & jokes are limited: Most Marvel movies tend to go overboard with easter eggs and pop-culture references, and it can get annoying for viewers who haven’t seen every movie in the MCU. But Fantastic Four keeps it cool. There are very few references to other Marvel stuff, and what a welcome change it is. The writers also don’t overdo the jokes or silly banter between characters.And now, four reasons why’Fantastic Four might feel like a bummer: Feels like it needed a prequel: The film opens with clever exposition, a TV broadcast celebrating four years since the Fantastic Four gained their superpowers after a space mission and became guardians of Earth. This special broadcast quickly helps new viewers understand their backstory, but at the same time, you can’t help but feel that the cast needed a movie two years ago, establishing their origin story. Since First Steps focuses on Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman having a baby, whose existence is threatened by Galactus’ act of adding Earth to his menu, you’re expected to root for them as a family without having established enough connection with their characters. Some viewers find it hard to do that.Mr. Fantastic Doesn’t Stretch Enough: It might sound funny, but Reed Richards rarely uses his superpower in the film. Sure, he does brainstorm battle strategies, and it is his intellect that ultimately helps save the planet. But excuse me, some of us came to see the Fantastic Four exercise their fantastic powers. For that matter, even the Invisible Woman rarely goes invisible unless the whole team needs to go incognito.The action is limited: Since Galactus is a Titan-sized antagonist, watching the superheroes fight him in the climax looks like they are just trying to break down a building. That’s not exciting. For those who love combat scenes and violent faceoffs, Fantastic Four can feel quite underwhelming.A general lack of energy/suspense: The first half of Fantastic Four: First Steps has a slow, steady pace that lacks the kind of excitement viewers would expect from a superhero flick. Not just that, the writers do not throw any fun twists or surprises the viewer’s way. You’ll keep hoping something cool or epic is about to happen… but it doesn’t.

Although everything said, given how most ‘Fantastic Four’ movie adaptations have been mediocre or plain forgettable so far, this reboot might just be the best one out there. Might be.

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Revenged Love Episodes 17-18 Review: Chi Cheng Grows Up, Wei Wei Misses the Memo

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Arrgh! At this point in ‘Revenged Love’, Wei Wei’s mom Li Ya (Qin Yue) seems like the villain in the story, since she is source of some serious misunderstandings between the lead pair. She won’t tell her son (Zi Yu) she has cancer, but thinks it’s perfectly okay to rely on his ‘friend’ Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning) to ferry her to the hospital and take care of her, when her son should be doing those things. But well, turns out Wei Wei is the biggest hurdle in his own relationship. Convinced Chi Cheng is going to dump him, he is willing to be the villain to ‘make their break-up easy’.

Recap of ‘Revenged Love’ Episodes 15-16: Chi Cheng’s ex, Wang Shuo (Liu Jun), starts to mess with Wei Wei by inviting him to decorate his place. He deliberately leaves his laptop open with old videos of him and Chi Cheng for Wei Wei to see. While it’s uncomfortable to watch their old intimate videos, Wei Wei is most shocked to see Chi Cheng kiss Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan) while they’re drunk, even though it’s because Wang Shuo dares him to. Dr. Xiao Shuai (Liu Xuan Cheng) had already theorized that Cheng Yu might be in love with Chi Cheng, and now Wei Wei wonders if it’s actually the other way around, or maybe even mutual.

More misunderstandings brew between the couple when Chi Cheng secretly starts taking care of Wei Wei’s mother Li Ya, including taking her to the hospital, while Wei Wei assumes he’s out cavorting with ex Wang Shuo. A jealous Wei Wei starts to take boxing lessons from Wang Shuo’s brother, hoping to provoke his lover’s possessive streak. The episode ends with yet another misunderstanding: Chi Cheng arrives at Xiao Shuai’s clinic to see Wei Wei but ends up leaving with Wang Shuo instead. Wei Wei sees them drive off and is heartbroken, unaware that Chi Cheng later kicks Wang Shuo out of the car after receiving an emergency call from the hospital about Li Ya.

Episodes 17-18 of ‘Revenged Love’

Titled “If The Hate is Too Deep, There Can Be No More Love”, episode 17 of ‘Revenged Love’ starts on a melancholic note, with Wei Wei in tears over his belief that Chi Cheng might get back together with Wang Shuo. Although Wang Shuo, too, is left feeling like an abandoned pet as Chi Cheng kicks him out in the middle of the road.

The bulk of the episode focuses on the growing communication gap between the lead pair, especially as Li Ya piles on the pressure for Chi Cheng to keep her deteriorating health a secret from her son. Meanwhile, Wei Wei teams up with Xiao Shuai to uncover Wang Shuo’s motives. Luckily for the friends, Guo Cheng Yu agrees to help.

Despite entering ‘Revenged Love’ late, Liu Jun as Wang Shuo has proven to be an entertaining character, the unpredictable, emotionally unstable, scheming ex-boyfriend. In the few scenes he shares with Tian Xu Ning’s Chi Cheng, the tension is palpable. There’s a love-hate gaze they exchange that makes their shared history as lovers believable.

That said, Tian Xu Ning remains the beating heart of ‘Revenged Love’, his onscreen chemistry sizzles with almost all the primary characters. The unresolved tension between him and Zhan Xuan’s Cheng Yu is so strong, you can’t really blame Wang Shuo, Xiao Shuai, or even Wei Wei for wondering if they’re really “just friends.” Zi Yu on the other hand is increasing endearing as the ever-cute, confused Wei Wei, even though his character is becoming frustratingly self-deprecating.

While the first 14 episodes of ‘Revenged Love’ were predominantly comedic, it’s heartbreak time in the series for the main pair. Yue Yue (Sun Qian Yu), who has been missing in action in the last few chapters, re-appears to cause some drama herself, even though it’s not over the top. Both Episodes 17 and 18 focus on relationship troubles, with few laughs and lots of angst, carried with the requisite intensity by lead actors Zi Yu and Tian Xu Ning.

Episode 18 ends with a much-needed closure talk between the erratic Wang Shuo and Chi Cheng, who shows surprising maturity in dealing with his ex’s antics. Chi Cheng even gives Wei Wei the space and trust to clear up the growing misunderstandings in their relationship. But consumed by insecurity, Wei Wei takes the immature route: lying and shutting down instead of voicing his concerns. But well, what’s a good ‘love story’ without some drama?

It’ll be interesting to see how the coming episodes mend the growing rift between the lead pair.

You can watch ‘Revenged Love’ on YouTube or Viki.

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Sakamoto Days Episode 15 Review: The Long Awaited Slur Reveal Is Here!

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Titled ‘Round and Round The Tower’, episode 15 of action-comedy ‘Sakamoto Days’ starts off from where the last edition ended – the mid-air fight between protagonist Taro Sakamoto and serial killer Apart at the Tokyo tower. And we all obviously know that Taro is going to beat the shit out of the punk, who, by the way, gets a grim flashback story about how he started his serial-killing career by ripping an animal to shreds. What a psycho…!

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As I mentioned in my review of episode 14 of Sakamoto Days, the anime is starting to shine more when it shifts focus to the supporting cast, like Shin, Lu, or the intriguing members of the ORDER. That’s why the first half of ‘Round and Round The Tower’, which centers on the Taro vs. Apart fight, felt a bit bland. Maybe watching it right after ‘Gachiakuta‘ made it seem underwhelming. Yes, that’s a shameless plug for ‘Gachiakuta’, a show that, weirdly enough, isn’t doing as well as expected in terms of viewership. I might not be a dark-dystopian fantasy expert, but it’s definitely way more engaging than the overhyped ‘Lord of Mysteries’.

Okay, I’ve digressed too much, back to ‘Sakamoto Days’ episode 15. The first half moves slowly, but then we finally get the show’s most anticipated twist: a full face-and-body reveal of the legendary antagonist, Slur. And oof, he looks like a romance hero straight out of a fantasy manga. Silver (or maybe white?) hair, striking blue eyes, and the cold, calculating aura of a brooding lead… except, he’s the villain.

Slur doesn’t burst onto the scene with dramatic flourish, instead, he casually rolls in on a bicycle with his red-eyed aide Gaku, tall and spiky-haired in grey. But what the moment lacks in theatrics, the duo’s personalities more than make up for. Meanwhile, Sakamoto and crew learn what Slur’s ultimate game-plan is, and they might be too late to stop him!

Watch Sakamoto Days on Netflix.

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Gachiakuta Episodes 3-4 Review: The Cleaners Want Rudo

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Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Kei Urana, ‘Gachiakuta’ (ガチアクタ) follows young protagonist Rudo’s (voiced by Aoi Ichikawa) quest for revenge, after he is falsely implicated for the murder of his beloved adoptive father Regto, and thrown to his death in ‘the pit’, a massive dumpsite below the city. However, Rudo survives the fall, finding himself in a ghastly world laden with trash heaps, monsters, and strange groups of people.

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Titled “Ground,” Episode 3 of the anime kicks off with a new character, Enjin, trying to convince Rudo to join his crew, known as The Cleaners. Enjin quickly explains that the group is made up of Givers, individuals who can channel power through ‘vital instruments’ to defeat trash beasts. Rudo, of course, has only one thing on his mind: vengeance. He wants to return to the surface (known as the ‘Sphere‘) to punish Regto’s killers. But until then, stuck in the Ground with little understanding of how his powers work, he might just have to join Enjin’s organization.

Dusty, gritty, and fast-paced, Episodes 3 and 4 of ‘Gachiakuta’ give viewers a swift lowdown on the strange new world Rudo now inhabits. The Cleaners are eager to have him on their side, as Enjin identifies him as a ‘natural’ Giver, someone with the rare ability to turn anything into his vital instrument, even if he doesn’t yet know what triggers his powers. Although, it seems to be a mix of rage, angst, and desperation.

These new chapters introduce and tease a bunch of fresh characters in ‘Gachiakuta’, the most entertaining of the lot being Zanka and Riyo, powerful Givers closely tied to Enjin. Zanka’s first encounter with Rudo is ridiculously hilarious, with the two clashing in a combat that ends with embarrassment-induced tears. The second-half of episode 3 is funny as hell, even though it relies on childish potty humor to get laughs out of the viewer.

The blue-eyed Zanka and red-haired Riyo’s character designs are flashy and slightly flamboyant, more fitting for a bright magical fantasy series than a dark dystopian action anime. But the dash of color they bring to the bleak, dying, trash-filled world of the ‘Ground‘ is a welcome contrast. Their weapons are pretty cool too, especially Riyo’s, but if you haven’t read the manga, I’ll keep the details under wraps to preserve the surprise.

Packed with funny face-offs, and nail-biting fights with trash beasts, episodes 3-4 of ‘Gachiakuta’ are engaging, with killer music, and vivid animation that perfectly complements its dystopian-action-fantasy themes. Rudo already experiences some character growth in these chapters, leveling up emotionally, as he actually tries to understand people and cool it with the angry outbursts for once.

Episode 4 ends with a mysterious cliffhanger, where a new sinister character makes inquiries about the new kid in town.

Watch Gachiakuta on Crunchyroll.

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5 Reasons Why ‘Materialists’ Works with Its Familiar Romance

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‘Materialists’ dwells into a love conundrum as old as time – do you pick love or do you pick wealth? When films pit a rich boy against a poor boy in a romantic triangle, there are usually only two likely outcomes: either the girl chooses the wealthy guy, even if the sparks aren’t as strong, or she marries the broke guy, knowing it might mean a harder life, but one filled with more love (‘The Notebook’, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’). And then, of course, there’s the third possibility: she ditches them both and walks into the sunset alone, with her favorite beverage and book in hand. Or maybe she adopts a puppy or a bunch of kittens.

Written and directed by Celine Song, ‘Materialists’ follows Dakota Johnson plays as the smart, stylish matchmaker Lucy, navigating the high-stakes world of love, luxury, and loyalty in New York City. She’s built her life around connecting wealthy clients with their perfect partners, with little interest in her own personal life. But when the charming, wealthy and near-perfect Harry (Pedro Pascal) starts to pursue her, she finds herself giving romance a shot. And things get more interesting when she runs into her dashing but not-so-successful ex John (Chris Evans), who still makes her heart flutter a bit.

*Spoilers Ahead*

Here are five reasons that make ‘Materialists’ tick as a modern day romance:

1. Both Love Rivals Are Charming: Celine Song presents viewers with two incredibly charming leads, making it genuinely difficult to pick a side. In most love triangles, there’s usually one clear favorite, but ‘Materialists’ complicates that formula. Both Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans’ characters bring their own strengths and appeal, especially when you set aside the size of their bank accounts. Sure, the title might suggest that Pedro Pascal is the obvious choice, but the way the story unfolds makes it feel like Lucy can’t go wrong, either man would be a win for Lucy in his own way.

2. It’s Theatrical Without Being Over The Top: When we say ‘theatrical, what it means it that ‘Materialists’ often had a stage-like quality to it in many scenes. Some of the dialogues are too rehearsed, and lack the smooth spontaneity of natural interactions, obviously to sound more perfect than impromptu responses, yet, it’s not gratingly rehearsed.

3. Lucy Is Relatable: Okay, this should’ve probably been the first point, but Dakota has a quirky-awkward onscreen charm that seems perfect for her character Lucy. Sure, her portrayal is no different than some of the other characters she has played, in fact, she is also called Lucy in ‘Am I Ok?’, but it works. Like most women who might have a hard time deciding between ‘what the heart wants’ and ‘what the wallet wants’, Lucy knows the pros and cons of choosing between Harry and John. In the end, instead of relying on the man to get what she wants, she decides to get whatever she wants, knowing she makes enough to take care of herself.

4. Everybody Has Insecurities… And ‘Materialists’ Actually Gets That Right
Unlike most glossy rom-coms where everyone’s either flawless or conveniently flawed, The Materialists gives its characters real, oddly specific insecurities, like being too rich to be taken seriously or worrying that your dating profile screams “finance bro.” It doesn’t go deep-dive therapy mode, but it lets people be messy in small, believable ways. You watch and go, “Huh… I’ve felt weirdly that exact thing before.” That scene where Pedro Pascal’s Harry admits to having height-increasing surgery, and Lucy casually points to her nose and says its fake? It’s one of ‘Materialists’ most tender moments. In just a few lines, they’re quietly telling each other, “We’re not perfect, and that’s completely okay.”

5. The Characters Dress So Well, You Forget the Plot’s Been Done 300 Times
Like, who cares if you’ve seen this story before when everyone looks like they just walked out of a Vogue cover shoot? Half the movie feels like a high-end fashion catalog sprinkled with feelings. You’re not here for plot twists, you’re here for aesthetic inspiration and the occasional gasp at what Lucy is wearing.

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‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is a Steady Leap Into Cosmic Chaos

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

If somebody used AI to spruce up the special effects in the 2005 ‘Fantastic Four’, it would most likely seem more ‘modern’ than Matt Shakman’s 2025 reboot of the Marvel superheroes. Seriously, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ looks like it was made in the 1980s, but with fantastic special effects (except for a weird baby scene) and a cast that makes you believe they’ve been playing the characters all their lives.

Directed by Matt Shakman, with Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, and Jeff Kaplan sharing writing credits, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch). The plot is a step up from ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ : unlike Thanos, who wanted to wipe out half of Earth’s population, Galactus, the primary antagonist in this film, simply wants to devour the entire planet.

For those new to the ‘Fantastic Four’ universe, the film quickly offers a rundown of the team’s history and abilities through a special TV broadcast celebrating four years of superhero teamwork. We then learn that Vanessa is pregnant, Reed is low-key freaking out, and Johnny and Ben are thrilled about becoming uncles. But all their emotions are quickly overshadowed when a dazzling Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), an alien humanoid, arrives on Earth to announce that Galactus plans to consume the planet. The team then gets cracking on finding a way to defeat the new enemy.

Unlike the high-energy, violently hilarious ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, this Marvel film almost completely discards the comedic witticisms the MCU is known for, so the first half of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ feels almost palliative, but without being boring. And once all characters and plot points are established, the film has a stronger second-half, which is a pleasant surprise, considering how most movies struggle to keep up their momentum. But Matt Shakman and team steadily build up the pace and steam for this star-studded superhero tale.

Since I recently saw Pedro Pascal as the vulnerable millionaire charmer in ‘The Materialists‘, I thought I might struggle to see him as the brilliant scientist-turned-stretchy-superhero in ‘Fantastic Four’, but he slips into the role with extreme ease. That said, aside from using his powers to grab things, Mister Fantastic barely stretches at all until the climactic battle against Galactus, which was a bit of a letdown. Vanessa Kirby plays the Invisible Woman with a compelling confidence that’s somewhat reminiscent of the Scarlet Witch, and her powers seem a lot more potent too.

Joseph Quinn, of ‘Stranger Things’ fame, does most of the heavy lifting in the action department as Johnny, the Human Torch. Much of the sparse comedy comes from the friendly banter between him and Ben, often centered on how, while the rest of the world is panicking about Earth being crushed, Johnny is busy swooning over the Silver Surfer.

The standout scene in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is Galactus’s introductory sequence, it’s genuinely goosebumps-inducing. The superheroes appear like mere flecks of dust before him, while Galactus looms like a god from a world inhabited by giant Transformers. “There is no way these guys can defeat him,” I whispered to my cousin at the theater during the scene. And well, I wasn’t entirely wrong.

When Galactus finally arrives on Earth, he appears noticeably smaller than in his awe-inspiring introduction. As an action fan, I found the climactic battle underwhelming, not because of how the Fantastic Four ultimately outsmart the planet-devouring threat (that part made sense and was actually clever), but because of the lack of actual combat. The showdown felt more like a strategic trick than a true action spectacle. But then the end credits promise a menacing new villain on the horizon!

FYI: There are two post-credit scenes

Rating: 7 on 10. ‘The Fantastic Four’ is playing in theaters now.

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My Sweetheart Jom Review: Village Variety Hour

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From fleeing to a village due to girlfriend troubles to finding new love amid the rustic charm of rural life, ‘My Sweetheart Jom’ follows the journey of city boy Yothin (Poom Nuttapart Tuntistinchai) as he begins life under the protective watch of the charming village chief Jomkhwan (Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana) a.k.a. Jom, the titular protagonist.

Directed by Wun Songsak Mongkolthong, the 12-episode Thai series is based on the novel Wanjai Phuyai Jom (หวานใจผู้ใหญ่จอม) by Naoto. The first episode opens with a retro-sounding Thai song playing in the background, introducing the charming and hardworking village chief Jom through beautiful rural montages as he helps out the locals. The scene soon shifts to the big city, where 19-year-old Yothin (also called Yo) lands in trouble after flirting with a singer named Mixx (Songjet Sarochinee Pethampai). Her trigger-happy, unhinged boyfriend Zack (Aon Akadech Jaroonsot) attempts to murder Yo, prompting his parents to send him away to the village of Po Chai, where they trust Chief Jom to keep their son safe.

‘My Sweetheart Jom’ is essentially a light comedy, featuring caricature-like villains and a slow-burn love story, with the community spirit and the silly shenanigans of its younger characters driving the plot forward. The first half of the series focuses on Yo’s attempts to annoy the patient, kind-hearted Jom in hopes of being sent back to the city. And Yo isn’t the only person living at Yo’s village home, there’s also his feisty granny Jan (Noi Phongam), and three other teen boys who often play pranks on the newbie.

A parallel sub-plot also follows Yo’s experiences as a student, as he is forced to join a local high school to finish his studies. There he faces a whole new set of challenges, including bullies and an overly enthusiastic class belle who’s determined to become his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Jom deals with trouble of his own in the form of Yingyos (Somlek Sakdikul), the scheming former village chief who constantly tries to sabotage his work. So both school drama and village politics collide in ‘My Sweetheart Jom’.

Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana portrays Jom with a likable, casual grown-up charm and is the most composed character in the series. Jom always handles emergencies with calm composure, though he occasionally goes overboard in playing the ‘hero’ during dangerously violent scenes. Still, aside from a few impulsive moments, Jom is a model citizen, his willingness to tackle and explain things with sincerity gradually win over the brash, hot-headed Yo, prompting him to grow up and view the world from a more mature perspective.

Poom Nuttapart Tuntistinchai is slightly stiff in some scenes, but otherwise manages to be convincingly entertaining as the city brat who slowly transforms into a more grounded, humble new version of his past self in ‘My Sweetheart Jom’. The chemistry between Saint and Poom is cute, and the make the age-gap romance work, instead of making it seem cringe-y.

Given that each episode runs over 40 minutes, ‘My Sweetheart Jom’ occasionally drags in pace and suffers from continuity issues. For instance, in one scene, Yo leaves his phone in a vehicle and is dragged away by goons, only for the phone to mysteriously be back with him moments later. In another scene at school, a student puts her phone down on the ground when someone interrupts her live stream, yet viewers can somehow still see what she’s doing, even though the camera should be facing the ground or the ceiling.

An important theme in ‘My Sweetheart Jom’ is Jom’s strained relationship with his father, who finally makes an appearance in episode 6. Unfortunately, the actor doesn’t channel the aloofness and disappointment he supposedly feels towards his son Jom for choosing the simple life of a village head. But well, even though the more serious themes in the show aren’t explored well, the silly comedic parts keep things entertaining.

The climactic episodes of the show add some unnecessary drama by bringing Jom’s ex, Thee (Heng Asavarid Pinitkanjanapun), to Po Chai village, clearly to complicate the growing romance between Jom and Yo. Much like the show’s exaggerated antagonists, Thee ends up being a scheming, villainous “evil ex” who provokes Yo to act out of character. Of course, since this is largely a comedy-drama, things wrap up on a happy note, though the final two episodes are messier than expected. Overall, ‘My Sweetheart Jom’ is an amusing series, especially if you enjoy watching city brats struggle through countryside life.

Rating: 6 on 10. Watch ‘My Sweetheart Jom’ on YouTube.

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‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 5 Review: A Ghost, a Flashback, & the Weight of Loss

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“Your only flaw is that hardcore emo persona.” Now that’s one way to describe Yoshiki, the other protagonist of the psychological-horror anime ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’. A school friend hilariously summarizes his personality while the boys are out playing claw-games at a mall. Yeah, this edition is a mix of school fun, and an unexpected new horror lurking in Yoshiki’s home.

Quick recap of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 4

Hikaru attends a summer festival in Kubitachi village with Yoshiki and his younger sister. Meanwhile, Tanaka, the man recruited by the village elders to deal with their supernatural troubles, comes close to finding the entity inhabiting Hikaru, and becomes convinced that something dangerous from the mountains has descended upon the village. The episode ends with flashbacks revealing that, in his dying moments, Hikaru thought of Yoshiki and begged anyone who would listen to keep his friend safe.

Episode 5 of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’

Titled ‘Wig Ghost’, episode 5 starts of with Yoshiki’s little sister spotting a ghost in the bathroom, which completely freaks her out. Someone else’s hair clogging your bathroom floor drain will always be gross, which is exactly why long-haired bathroom ghosts have become a staple in horror stories. So, Kaoru refuses to take a bath again! The opening seconds immediately set the tone for a creepy chapter filled with unsettling events.

The primary focus of this edition of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ is on the ‘wig ghost’ haunting the Tsujinaka household. When Yoshiki shares the tale with his friends, Hikaru offers to investigate the truth, confident that Kaoru is telling the truth. Yoshiki is reminded of the warning that getting close to Hikaru could only attract more supernatural beings into his life, so he wonders if the new ghost is the result of his proximity to the entity. But of-course, the childhood friends show no signs of drifting apart. If anything, they’re dangerously close.

The animation continues to complement the show’s eerie, slow-burn tone, with muted, dark tones dominating much of the visual palette. What makes ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ visually arresting, however, is the stark contrast between its unsettling supernatural moments and the lighter, everyday school scenes. In this episode, for instance, the spooky wig ghost scares the life out of poor Kaoru, only for the mood to shift abruptly to Hikaru, Yoshiki, and their classmates excitedly frying chicken during a cooking lesson. Then again, the atmosphere rapidly changes when the friends find themselves experiencing a chilling ‘out of body’ experience, similar to what happens in episode 2, where the entity spills out of Hikaru, making Yoshiki extremely uncomfortable.

While this episode isn’t as emotionally charged as the rest of the anime so far, it delivers an unexpected childhood memory that shows the two friends fighting as kids. It’s an interesting flashback, one that highlights the depth of their friendship and reveals that Hikaru wasn’t always cheerful or optimistic, and could even hurt Yoshiki with his words. But amid the childish fight, young Yoshiki makes an offhand remark about how it’s only natural for all living things to die, ironically, a truth his older self now struggles to accept in the wake of losing his friend.

The episode ends with an interesting cliffhanger that suggests Tanaka might be closer to solving his case, but since I do not want this anime to ever end, let’s hope that’s not true!

Watch ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ on Netflix.

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane… No, its Warner Bros. finally getting SUPERMAN right

Rating: 4 out of 5.

By Manisha Ail (Twitter | Instagram)

When the end credits for Superman (2025) started rolling, I was basking in a euphorically happy daze, barely engaging in my sister’s and my Hollywood movie-watching tradition of calling out Indian names from the credit scroll.

The last time a character-driven, comic-book movie had given me such a high was Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (2005). Nolan’s reboot was a love-letter to an iconic character that resonated with audiences worldwide. When I walked out of the theatre in 2005, my heart was full, because finally, someone who loved Batman like I did, had told his story. James Gunn made me feel exactly like that with his Superman today!

That said, Superman (2025) is far from perfect. It has HUGE plot holes you could drive a truck through, especially if you grew up as a fan of the DC verse. But after the disgraceful way this character had been handled lately, now that they FINALLY got the heart and soul of the movie right, the imperfect window-dressing barely bothered me.

At the risk of pissing off all Snyder fans out there, the DCEU Superman sucked! Man of Steel (2013) was conversely horrifying and boring to watch at the same time, notwithstanding its commercial success. The eventual failure of the DCEU verse is a testament to that. If the only thing that differentiates Batman and Superman in your universe is the colour of their costumes (and not by much), you have already shot yourself in the foot.

There was no tedious back-story to wade through for the world’s most famous illegal alien (remember Snyder’s dong-shaped Kryptonian ships, ugh). Gunn puts us right into the thick of it as the movie starts off with an active-in-field Superman taking heat for stopping a war between two unfortunately named, fictitious countries.

I later read that this storyline had ginned up a lot of controversy, but comic books have always held up a fun-mirror to the real world (case in point: U.S. President Lex Luthor). Right from the get-go with a bloodied and battered Superman being rescued by an unruly Krypto, Gunn had me rooting for his hero.

Focusing on Superman’s learned humanity rather than his biological alien origin made me emotionally invested. In comparison, by the end of Man of Steel (2013), I honestly did not care if Zod defeated Superman or vice versa (I wanted a meteor to smash them both).

The movie has a primary-coloured palette, fights are pictured against clear skies, capes and tights look red and blue, and Metropolis does not look like Gotham. David Corenswet plays a characteristically dorky Superman, with his deep dimple, sexy baritone, and granny panties. He captures Clark’s/Superman’s sincere naivete in a verbal joust with Rachel Brosnahan’s (The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel) Lois Lane, who has a lot more to do rather than being a rescue object for the man of steel.

For all the reviews I had read about the story being too character-dense, not a single supporting cast is superfluous. A special shout-out to Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, who plays a beleaguered genius surrounded by dummies, to Sherlockian perfection. Wendell Pierce’s Perry White has two lines in the movie, and that is all Gunn needed to establish his character and get me invested in his success. That is storytelling at its finest!

Unlike Marvel however, DC cannot get away with lacklustre villains. Comic book Lex Luthor is my favourite adversary. A plain human powered by righteous anger, he is the Batman of DC villains! Unfortunately, Lex has only had cringe-worthy outings in live-action movies. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex is not my favourite (Michael Rosenbaum in Smallville still has that honour), but his portrayal does redeem this character significantly.

While he gets the dethroned, jealous prince of Metropolis part right, Hoult is simply not menacing enough to be Lex. He is still better than ninety-nine percent of Marvel villains and hundred percent of live-action movie Lex Luthors though.

It is a shame that Superman (2025) missed to garner audiences in India thanks to people losing faith in the DC verse and Marvel superhero fatigue. This was a fun family movie that would have had audiences cheering. My sister who has never read a comic book and never liked Superman, said she would not mind a rewatch, and it is a good product that can convert an agnostic. It took DC twenty years and James Gunn to get it right. Way to stick the new take-off!

Rating: 4 on 5 stars. Superman is currently flying in theaters.

Review by Manisha Ail

A doctor by profession and a writer by choice. Manisha was published as one of the winners of Write India season 1 and holds a secret love for poetry too. She can be reached at missilemyra@gmail.com

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