Every December like clockwork, some genius on the internet gets on Reddit to argue that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, as if they’re the first person to ever think of that. It’s such a tedious argument. Die Hard takes place at Christmas for crying out loud—the film explicitly features Christmas parties, Christmas music, and family reunification as its emotional core. Arguing that Die Hard belongs in the Christmas canon requires exactly zero imagination. And no serious person is debating it doesn’t anyway. Aliens, on the other hand, is notably overlooked. There’s no snow, no carols, no presents, no mistletoe. The film is set on a xenomorph-infested colony moon called LV-426, where the concept of seasonal holidays is meaningless and everyone is trying very hard not to get facehugged. And yet James Cameron’s 1986 masterpiece belongs in the Christmas canon more legitimately than half the Hallmark movies clogging your streaming queue.
This 2 CP Item Is More Valuable Than Your +1 Sword
Kids playing D&D these days seriously underestimate the effectiveness of what is perhaps the most versatile and valuable item in your dungeoneering arsenal.
How to Murder an Icon in Seven Episodes
I waited decades for more Boba Fett. Disney finally gave us seven episodes dedicated to the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter. And they absolutely… mother trucking butchered him. They took the economical, lethal predator from Empire Strikes Back—pure distilled competence wrapped in battered armor—and turned him into a chatty crime boss who gives speeches about ruling with respect. They made him safe. They made him clunky. They made him need rescuing. This is a masterclass in how to systematically dismantle everything that made a character iconic, then wonder why audiences didn’t connect. I have feelings about this. Strong feelings. The kind that would make my old DI blush.
A Guide to Surviving Your First WH40K Party
You’re heading to a party with Warhammer 40K gamers and need to blend in without asking if the Ultramarines are the good guys (spoiler: there are no good guys). Here’s your crash course in grimdark survival. It’s the year 40,000, humanity spans the galaxy under a fascist theocracy, literally everything wants to kill you, and the God-Emperor sits on a golden toilet throne barely alive. Learn the essential factions (Space Marines: fascist super-soldiers; Orks: football hooligans who paint starships red to make them faster), master the sacred memes, and discover conversation starters that won’t get you purged. But whatever you do, don’t ask how much a smile-girl in Port Maw costs. Just… don’t.
The Annex 