Why do they get me in the feels, yo?

So as a family activity my husband, kids and I watch tv shows and movies on a pretty regular basis. Especially good ones, we will binge till it’s done then lament the ending. Its so hard to top that last one… till we find the next one, of course!

You know where I’m coming from, right?

OK. Maybe not. But You have watched a movie or TV show that just hits ya. Hard. Like unexpectedly. You’ll watch one or two, think yeah this is good, I enjoy this. Then suddenly they throw a curve ball at you and suddenly you are tearing up, wondering “and to think, I wasn’t sure I’d like this show. Now though, I can’t get enough!”

Well, this happens to us, or rather me. In the past year now, my family has watched a few good series of anime and sitcoms or whatever you’d call them. I personally watch tons of different shows because I’m up at the buttcrack of dawn and after shooing kids off to school, pre-pandemic, I didnt have much else to do so would watch shows. Usually. If i didnt have a game to play.

I went through at least a few really good ones alone and some very great ones with my family. We are HUGE anime fans and end up sharing a lot of thoughts about them: comparing them to other animes/characters, games or other shows too, asking “what do you think will happen next?”

For example, we finished Hunter x Hunter over the summer and whoa, lemme tell ya what?! We initially got into watching this during Cartoon Network’s Toonami line up over a year ago. English dub, of course. It started off so innocent and fun. By the middle you were rooting for the characters, NOT just Gon (main character) but Killua, too. You see these two kids who were just determined to be the best and come to find out they are like beyond that even. Near the end though, it turns somewhat dark near the end. OF course, I shed a tear or two. It was heartbreaking! But I laughed and smiled more during the last episode we watched not knowing if more were to come. I hope so!

This past week we “finished” Black Clover. I was skeptical about this one from the get go. My husband and I kinda watched one episode on Toonami where I didn’t feel it… it didn’t hit me at all. So when we decided to give it a try as a family. Let me tell you, I was wrong. The story of Asta and Yuno is not only heartwarming but comedic and loving as well. It progresses slowly as they both go on their journey and again this one caught heartstrings. One particular moment was later on in the series where one of Asta’s squad mates is badly injured by his own brother (he’s not in the right mind) and Asta along with two other squad members show up to stop the brother. Like talk about impact! Oh, in this one, everyone has some magic — some not so much and some too much for their own good. Asta, on the otherhand, is devoid of it all together. Zero. Zilch. Nada. But it doesn’t stop him.

To get to this point where not only my family but I have also used references from these two shows along with several others to get through everyday dealings. Funny enough, being able to call back to an episode where one character is having that rough time in the one moment sometimes does the best to motivate a young 13 year old boy who is just not getting in the mood to finish an assignment for school. Or when talking about a science subject with my 11 year old daughter, she can recall an episode of Eureka (a sci-fi show) that had a similar occurrence, though way more … science-like.

Its actually an awesome parent tool that I can bring up because of the things we have watched together and enjoyed. Even if only I may enjoy it or vice versa. Not only that, it is also a great memory my kids will remember fondly. Carmel popcorn, lights off, hours upon hours of “one more episode?! Please?!” and the days of “You remember…” or “What if…” that will be some of the good ones. Not only that, it will be something they can share with their own friends and family in the future. Picture it now, binge watching some good animes or shows as one huge family for Christmas. Yep, can’t wait (will wait cuz my oldest is only 16 at this time so DEFINITELY CAN WAIT!)

I guess my reason to write this is to say … there’s time. You can sit and watch a show or movie, you can tear up for that really hard part or the super really happy one, and do so in the company of others. I mean, when you can obviously, dang pandemic… But find something to watch, take a little time and just enjoy the get away. Enjoy the story. Put the phone away (far away, in another room away), make some popcorn (caramel is super easy to make too!), grab a drink, and binge. In moderation, of course. You never know when you will stumble along in life and think back to something you seen and have it perk your day up just enough to get through.