Nothing beats the feeling of walking out of your last final exam and switching your brain to vacation mode. Returning home to family, friends, and that one hometown restaurant that you somehow still find yourself working at. But once the initial excitement wears off, the days can easily begin to blend into one. The copious amount of downtime is the prime opportunity to try a new hobby or get a head start on your New Year’s resolutions. This winter break, also treat yourself to some internet time — we’ve earned the right to rot on our phones for a bit.
As a pop culture enthusiast, I’ve challenged myself to learn as much as humanly possible about each of my latest rabbit holes. This holiday season, add some purpose to your doomscrolling by exploring any of these lore-filled media binges. Allow me to showcase some of my life’s fascinations, so you can discover them for yourself. Find a cozy setup, charge your laptop, and grab a fun winter drink — we have a lot to unpack.
‘dancing with the stars’
With season 34 of Dancing with the Stars meeting its end, it’s actually the perfect time to get invested. Although we’ve entered a drought period as we wait for new episodes next year, DWTS has more than enough content to hold us all over in the meantime. There’s so much to uncover in the show’s 20 years, and it’s exciting to get a blast from the past and explore the show in its youth.
Despite being a competition show, DWTS still thrives in the reality TV romance department. The show has a wide spectrum ranging from “showmances” that have burned to flames, to long and happy marriages. Many of the show’s professional dancers go way back. From being competition rivals turned coworkers, many of them met for the first time as children. These crazy crossovers make the high stakes of each season all the more meaningful. Diving even deeper, the earlier the season, the more intense the drama. The pros have softened a bit in their coaching mechanics, but back in the early days, the tension in the rehearsal studios got hostile. It made for some entertaining moments and wildly impressive dances.
And if not the melodramatics, the dances themselves will get you absolutely hooked. It’s truly remarkable to see the level of performance that these untrained stars are able to achieve on the dance floor. The creative choreography, stunning costumes, and most importantly, commitment to the bit, have produced viral moments and iconic dances that pull me back in for more.
You can revisit the past four seasons on Disney+ at any time. If you’re a new watcher, it’s not too late to go in blind and experience the show’s eliminations and electric dances for the first time. And if you’re feeling extra inspired, maybe you’ll find yourself signing up for beginner ballroom dance lessons.
In fact, the Dancing with the Stars tour might even be coming to a city near you! Following the fall season, the cast of professionals, accompanied by select celebrity guests, will be back on tour. As a thank you to the fans for giving ballroom dance a space to flourish on television, the team of pros will make 74 stops where they bring the show to life before our eyes. I know where I’ll be on Jan. 31.
Us women’s soccer
The United States Women’s National Soccer Team will forever be renowned as one of the highest achieving sports teams the world has ever seen. Between their four World Cup victories, five Olympic gold medals, and No. 1 FIFA rankings, the success completely speaks for itself. And from the Brandi Chastain shirt celebration to the Carli Lloyd half-field goal, this team has delivered some of the most iconic sports moments to date.
Beyond the accomplishments and accolades, there’s an incredibly rich history to the team. Their story of excellence is one of dreaming, persevering, overcoming, and for some, finding romance within. But it wasn’t always positive. The USWNT is no stranger to controversial stars, including Hope Solo, who is widely considered to be the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Longtime fans understand how quickly that pure brilliance on the pitch can turn to a shady post-game press moment. Like any other captivating tale, they’ve had their share of scandals.
Now, enter the nationwide lawsuit: Morgan v. U.S. Soccer Federation, popularized with the phrase “equal play, equal pay.” The case, backed by the entire 28-person roster, marks their demands to earn equal pay with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team — who they consistently outperform. Their legal battle is fascinating, and a glimmer of hope for women everywhere.
The lawsuit was highly controversial, generating media backlash from news outlets, even stemming from the White House. The attention of this case exposed some harsh feelings surrounding gender discrimination, but the negativity never shook these women. When the lawsuit was won in 2022, the USWNT were the frontline of women’s sports history. The documentary, LFG, follows seven key players and their resilient journey facing this battle while preparing for, and ultimately winning, the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
If you’re looking for a break from the screen, several athletes have come forward with autobiographies and memoirs, sharing their experiences and delivering insider information about the U.S. Soccer Federation, team dynamics, and the fight for equal pay. Check out stories from Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, and more, as they give us a glimpse of what it’s really like to be a world-class athlete.
beetlejuice on broadway
The fan favorite musical, Beetlejuice, opened on Broadway in April of 2019. The reveal of the original cast generated major buzz in the musical theater community, as they welcomed Broadway legend, Alex Brightman, and 17-year-old sensation, Sophia Anne Caruso, to lead the show as Beetlejuice and Lydia. Caruso instantly lit up the stage, bringing powerful vocals and embodying Lydia’s teenage angst. Her interpretation of the role is highly regarded, and heavily considered to be one of the most memorable Broadway performances.
It was the perfect pairing of leading actors, or so it seemed at the time. Caruso’s abrupt dismissal from the show sparked major conspiracy amongst Broadway fans. She broke the news via Instagram story, stating that she would be shifting her focus to pursuing television work. However, her exit occurred nearly four months before her anticipated end date, leaving many fans shocked and confused. By the time she made her announcement, she had already performed her last show, so she didn’t receive the traditional Broadway sendoff, which properly thanks actors for their time and dedication before wishing them luck in all future pursuits.
Many people found inconsistencies between the TV storyline and Caruso’s suspicious departure, which caused many fan theories to circulate the internet. Fans have speculated the possibility of potential conflicts between Brightman and Caruso, or even that she was fired for misconduct.
There’s an incredible slime tutorial — if you know you know — of this star-studded cast on YouTube, and I highly recommend checking it out. We may never know the truth about what happened between the cast, but one thing is certain: their talent and showmanship onstage was undeniable. From there, allow Beetlejuice to be your gateway to the behind-the-scenes world of Broadway. The gripping dramatics often slip behind the curtain, and you’ll find that many of the most successful shows have scandal and strife embedded in their narratives.
Elite figure skating
The world of professional figure skating is highly paradoxical: on the ice, it’s all about sharp, clean precision, but out of the rink, things can get messy. The Winter Olympics traditionally attracts a smaller audience than the Summer Games, causing many to miss out on the incredible storylines and impressive performances. Elite figure skating is a sport rooted in rivalry culture, where the best of the best battle it out with chips on their shoulders and personal vendettas. Some of the greatest competitors include Yuzuru Hanyu and Nathan Chen, Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan, and Evgenia Medvedeva versus Alina Zagitova.
The most notorious figure skating rivalry is that of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, which started as fiery competition and led to a chilling crime. The two American skaters were each other’s toughest contenders, often being the only thing that stood in the way of one fulfilling their dreams.
In the weeks preceding the 1994 Winter Olympics, Kerrigan faced a brutal attack, being struck repeatedly by a baton in a failed attempt to break her leg. Harding’s ex-husband, along with three of his friends, were arrested as verdicts just days later, but Harding claimed to have no involvement or knowledge of their plans. They targeted Kerrigan to prevent her from competing in that year’s Winter Games, but she walked away with slight bruising and went on to earn the Olympic silver medal. Harding also competed that winter, placing eighth after an infamous performance complication.
Following the Olympics, it was revealed that Harding did play a larger role than initially admitted. She plead guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution, or in other words, an attempt to cover for a known criminal. She was banned from U.S. Figure Skating indefinitely.
This case has been covered several times through documentaries, an ESPN 30 for 30, and even a biopic following Harding’s life. Each take on their story offers differing perspectives of the feud and the events that surrounded the attack on Kerrigan.
five nights at freddy’s
Hear me out — it’s only right to finish off with one of the most complex fictional universes of all time. “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has landed some viral moments online, mostly linked to its fan-inspired song, “Join Us for a Bite,” which has trended on TikTok for years. However, many would be surprised to uncover the extensive lore that this video game series encompasses. You’ll have to get comfortable, because this one is hefty.
The FNAF multiverse emerges from game developer, Scott Cawthon, who created the franchise and expanded it with each new release. The player’s objective is to adopt the role of a nighttime security guard who fights to survive for five nights in a pizzeria that’s corrupted by haunted animatronics. Beneath the surface, its foundation is much more intricate, unveiling twisted backstories of the restaurant owners, and even the animatronics themselves. The sinister tale is a peak small-town scandal of tragedy and deception.
Fans have dedicated years to uncovering the entirety of the game’s vision. They share theories and breakdowns online, with videos reaching up to eight hours in length. If you’re up for the challenge, YouTube will be your guide. There, you’ll find a combination of videos that unpack the full deep dive, as well as some quality but digestible summaries.
Staring on Dec. 5, you can watch Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 in theaters — and if you need a refresher on the first movie, that’s available for rent on several sites, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Exploring pop culture has nurtured my passion for learning, minus the pressures of academic performance. It keeps me curious and reminds me that knowledge is always power — a phrase that extends beyond the classroom. Expanding my media horizons is a lighthearted, de-stressing hobby that I can get lost in, yet it’s built a new hunger for information that carries me through life. In my opinion, it’s provided a more meaningful approach to spending time online, and it’s led me to find some of my favorite books and movies.