Netflix – The Orbital

Do Adaptations Ruin Our Favourite Books?

21Jun

By Laura BloomfieldNo Comments

Do Adaptations Ruin Our Favourite Books?

Book to movie adaptations often walk a very fine line between good and bad. They can, thanks to avid fans, be quite dangerous to produce. Perhaps ‘dangerous’ is a strong word, but reactions to adaptations like the 2010 Percy Jackson movie demonstrate that one can never underestimate the connection between a fan and their favourite book. If the adaptation fails to meet expectations, it can be devastating for both the fans and the pockets of Hollywood executives. An optimist would argue that adaptations have inherently good intentions. They seek to bring a work to life and build on the world that an author has created. This can be particularly magical in a fantasy genre – the Harry Potter film franchise did an excellent job of capturing Hogwarts, and seeing such a place conjured up on th...

3Mar

By Kianna BestNo Comments

Features, Film & TV

From Backpacks to One Billion Racks

As one of the most controversial celebrities of our generation, any mention of Kanye West is sure to ignite a passionate debate. Just today making even more questionnable news with his latest music video release, separating the artist from his art becomes more of a struggle each day. But will the memories behind the music be his saving grace? Starting his journey from humble beginnings, Kanye West rode into the music industry on sheer determination, undeniable passion and an unwavering belief that he would be one of the greatest. As a sought after producer in the hip hop scene, West channelled his creativity through the beats, delivering a quality sound for established artists like Jay-Z, Mos Def and Talib Kweli. But he wanted more. Tired of creating and catering to the sound of other...

From Gilmore Girls to Ginny & Georgia: The Rise of the ‘Sexy’ Teen

31Jan

By Eva Townsend BiltonNo Comments

Film & TV

From Gilmore Girls to Ginny & Georgia: The Rise of the ‘Sexy’ Teen

It hasn’t escaped the notice of viewers that on-screen sex scenes are becoming more and more frequent. As we move ever further from the Hays Code-era censorship, chaste kisses and prudish cutaways have become a thing of the past, a relic of the twentieth century. But it’s in films and television shows centred around underage characters where this development in on-screen sex is considered a moral grey area. Imagine a real-life 16-year-old. Maybe you have a sibling or a cousin around that age. They’re children, right? It’s downright uncomfortable to think of them in a sexual context. Yet when these 16-year-olds are portrayed by gorgeous Hollywood twenty-somethings, a high-school setting is not enough to deter showrunners and audiences from viewing fictional children in a sexual light.&n...

Which ‘Queer Eye’ is your accommodation?

15Nov

By Shannon GrayNo Comments

Lifestyle

Which ‘Queer Eye’ is your accommodation?

Have you been binge-watching 'Queer Eye' and desperately scrambling to find the answer to the age-old question: if one of these men was a Royal Holloway University accommodation, which one would he be? Well, look no further than this fool-proof guide to which ‘Queer Eye’ guy is your accommodation. Founders Hall - Jonathan Van Ness Founders is loud and Founders is proud! When you hear “Royal Holloway”, your first thought goes immediately to the wonder that is Founders. Similarly, when you hear ‘Queer Eye’, you immediately picture the beautiful long locks of Jonathan Van Ness. And of course, it goes without question that JVN’s penchant for perfect grooming and impeccable style really vibes with the evergreen beauty of Founders. Gowar and Wedderburn - Tan Frances Let’s face it, ...

12Dec

By George WhiteNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

The Strangest Thing about Season Two

*Mild Spoilers ahead* Unless you live your life as a certified hermit crab, you’ve likely heard at least whispers of the latest phenomenon of popular culture, Stranger Things. The greatly anticipated second season of the Netflix Original was released on 27 October, to both critical and commercial acclaim. This season certainly lives up to the formidable legacy left by the first, possibly even surpassing it in terms of quality. And while the narrative of this season feels completely fresh, the lasting effects of last season’s trauma are still very much present. The captivating opening scene to the series broadens the immersive universe of the show, yet there is a lasting impression that this season only scratches the surface of the immense backstory of the ST universe. This scene, acc...

3Dec

By Shannon GrayNo Comments

Opinion

Is Autism Really That Atypical?

Netflix’ newest controversial show, Atypical, follows Sam Gardner, an autistic teenager, as he attempts to navigate the confusing world of dating. The show gave autistic people hope for a new perspective on what it means to be autistic, but instead, it was stereotypical, unrealistic, and neglected to feature any genuine autistic representation. The representation of autistic characters in the media is already scarce, and whilst Dan Harmon’s Community and Adam Reed’s Archer portray Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as complex and varying in each individual, when people think of autism they’re not likely to think of these representations. Instead, people are often affected by a phenomenon I call the ‘Sheldon Cooper Effect’: they only think of autism as it’s most harmful portrayal, Sheldon Co...

1Dec

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Lifestyle

The Art of Doing Nothing

As someone who requires constant stimulation, be it from books, Netflix or a conversation, ‘doing nothing’ isn't something that comes easily to me. I have, however, come to appreciate the moments of quiet, where I can just close the door and breathe. At university, where there is always a person down the hall, a lecture to attend and a deadline looming, quiet (and solitude) is exactly what we need sometimes. When I talk about ‘doing nothing’, I don’t necessarily mean that you must sit watching grass grow. It is merely an easy turn of phrase to explain the idea of relaxing and taking some time for yourself, rather than continuing to be at the mercy of your seminar leaders, flatmates or society members. Once, my housemate burst into my room and tried to make me go to gym with her. I vehem...

20Sep

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Learning French with Kimmy Schmidt

When I got a free trial of Netflix, it was because I wanted to finally watch some of the Netflix Original Series and also because you can watch endless episodes of Doctor Who without having to swap the DVDs around. What I didn't expect to gain from Netflix was the ability to learn a language. You may well have heard of a programme called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It's a very funny comedy series about a woman named Kimmy Schmidt living in New York, with a premise that I won't elaborate on too much because it was a very funny surprise for me. One thing that stands out about the programme is how easy it is to watch. Hours can fly by in the company of Kimmy and her friends and there's good, light-hearted stories that you can easily follow, whether you binge watch a season or dip in and out...

19Sep

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Opinion

A Bone to Pick

Netflix' new film To The Bone stars Lily Collins as Ellen, nicknamed as Eli, a girl struggling with anorexia nervosa and portrays her journey towards recovery as she is admitted to a new in-patient facility for sufferers of eating disorders. When the trailer was released earlier this year, there were many who thought of the movie as groundbreaking, with some hailing Netflix, and writer & director Marti Noxon, for portraying an often stigmatised and usually difficult topic. There was also praise for the production team leading the project, many of whom suffered from or had experience dealing with eating disorders (including Noxon), using their own stories to shape the narrative. However, it also sparked controversy due to critics' views that it may, in fact, be glamorising the illnes...

14Dec

By Georgia BeithNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Netflix & Diversity

Orbital's Georgia Beith gets to grips with an issue bigger than Netflix and Chill: the topic of Netflix and Diversity. Netflix is widely recognised as the future of the entertainment industry - it’s not news to anyone. It’s a way of watching film and TV that has rapidly increased in popularity. But it isn’t just its quickly garnered success that sets Netflix apart; it also far outstrips traditional forms of media in terms of representation. TV and film’s lack of diversity is not a new issue by any means but, more recently people have finally been taking notice of this problem. The #OscarsSoWhite controversy, a response to the lack of diverse acting nominees at last year’s Oscars, highlights the limited opportunities and recognition given to actors of ethnic minorities. The lack o...