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Good morning, Niles North, and welcome to Reed’s Recs! I am Reed Larson-Erf, and for much of this school year, I’ve been here to tell you about everything you never knew you had to find. Sadly, this week, I have to bring the series to a close, as I prepare to graduate from Niles North High School. Honestly, I’ve always hated it when a story ends, but if I can’t stay, then I might as well go out with something a little more special. Since I’ve spent so long telling you why I love movies, TV shows, books and other forms of media, before I go, I’d like to talk to you about why I have loved this podcast.
My experience as a reviewer began with Twin Takes, a column where my brother Griffin and I debated the merits of movies. I always enjoyed articulating what I loved about the film of the week, but we felt a pressure to discuss movies that had recently come out. During my senior year, I was asked to take on a new role at North Star News in addition to writing articles, and I chose to be a podcaster–with Reed’s Recs as my podcast. This time, I could talk about any movie, any TV show, any story, no matter what it was or when it came out. The only requirement was that I genuinely liked it.
Honestly, the most special thing about this podcast is that I love the things I talk about, and I get to share them with you. One downside of cultural criticism is that, most of the time, what gets attention are the flaws of a piece of media. I was tired of hearing people lecture me on why certain series were too unimaginative, certain movies were too boring, and so forth. But on Reed’s Recs, only positive vibes were allowed. I could speak at length about what made things enjoyable for me–whether it was their thematic depth, or just their style and acting. Every episode brought new stories with new positives, and also new production possibilities–I could alter the intro music, make a new featured image, change my introductory slogan, in order to keep things fresh.
If you’re an optimistic person, or you like getting new movie recommendations, then I think you’ll love Reed’s Recs. Check out my other episodes if you’re new to this series! And to my longtime listeners, it’s been such a wonderful journey; thank you for being with me. As you find new entertainment, whether it’s just been released or you’ve simply never heard of it before, remember to look out for what you love and take joy in the experience! My most heartfelt, sincere thanks to News Production teacher Jason Mormolstein and North Star News Editor-in-Chief Penelope Roewe for being with me from the beginning, and to our tireless NSN Copy Editor, James Prizant. Thank you for listening over the course of this year. Let’s all look forward to the next time we discover something we never knew we had to find.
