The Suggestion Box #125: Coffee, and Corncobs, and McMuscles, Oh My!

Posted on by Lauren

Wondering what to do with your upcoming free time? Good thing we have some suggestions for what you should be watching, playing, reading, listening to, etc.

Lauren’s Book Pick: Legends & Lattes – It’s not often that a barbarian orc multiclasses in barista, but it turns out it’s more successful than you’d think in Travis Baldree’s slice-of-life, coffee shop tale that is about as uncomplicated as the three item drink menu. The book follows the tired-of-adventuring Viv as she hangs up her (minimal) armor and broadsword for an apron and coffee beans, stepping behind the counter of her recently renovated dream, standing side-by-side with a succubus whose racial traits flair in a way that let you know just how orgasmic the recently invented baked goods can be. The angst may be mild and the slow-burn romance a bit tepid (so much so that I had to doublecheck the Goodread’s tags to make sure this was in fact a sapphic romance and not just me seeing what I wanted to see between two gals where one might really want to be just pals — in all fairness she could be on the ace spectrum, or just preoccupied), but if you’re looking to tuck yourself in with a hot beverage, a cozy blanket, and another fantasy world that presents menu additions like cinnamon rolls and chocolate like the most mysteriously exotic things ever — no dig, this always just makes me laugh in books — then this is definitely for you.

Ben’s TV Pick: I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson – What makes I Think You Should Leave so unique is its consistency in style and tone. No two skits are alike, but each one feels like it was pulled directly from the mind of the show’s eponymous co-creator, not to downplay the talent both in front of and behind the camera Robinson has surrounded himself with, everything just feels perfectly in line with Robinson’s distinct brand of comedy.  It’s remarkable, really. There’s no way you’d confuse them for being from another series. It’s that solidity of vision that makes I Think You Should Leave stand apart from (or awkwardly to the side of) other skit-based TV offerings. And it’s also funny as Hell: more than a few segments can go toe-to-toe with the very best of Saturday Night Live, where Robinson worked for four years before moving on due to his style not quite gelling with the other writers’. Save Corncob TV, Eggman Game, Driver’s Ed, Summer Loving, Darmine Doggy Door and Baby of the Year (the show’s first bit and my personal favorite) immediately come to mind because they perfectly encapsulate what the series does best: taking a joke to what you think would be its limit and blowing past it over and over again while simultaneously escalating the chaos and comedy.

Ben’s YouTube Series Pick: Wha Happun? / What Happened? – What Happened? (Originally titled “Wha Happun?”) is a YouTube series helmed and hosted by gaming / Godzilla / Simpsons enthusiast MattMcMuscles. He explores the troubled productions of video games and movies with a great sense of humor and  tons of passion. You can tell he loves many of the subjects of his videos, and even if something turns out poorly he shows respect to the hard-working folks who poured their blood, sweat and tears into it. However, with his history in the gaming industry McMuscles isn’t shy about tearing down the bone-headed or blatantly greedy decisions of the suits in companies like EA Games or Activision that harm their products in the name of money at all costs. From beloved Mortal Kombat games to the blight upon cinema that is Mortal Kombat Annihilation, What Happened? is an informative, fun watch for those who want a peek behind the curtain of game development and filmmaking.

So what do you think about these picks? What content did we miss over the past two weeks while we were spending time with these? Be sure to leave a comment below letting us know about everything (both current and simply new to you) you’ve been consuming lately!

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