Solo Leveling airs its season 2 finale, orthodontia becomes a status symbol, and a stranded astronaut finds solace in livestreaming Sunday services. To hear Irene describe what it’s like to watch gory anime with teen boys, check out our podcast here! But first:
Song of the Week – “NOKIA” – Drake
For a couple of weeks now, Drake’s song “NOKIA” has been the most popular song off of his newest album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. The album is Drake’s attempt to shrug off the rap beef with Kendrick Lamar, with Drake saying in another song (language) that he doesn’t want to fight anymore, he just wants to “get the party lit.” “NOKIA” is a catchy, upbeat drone about Drake’s inability to keep up with how many women he has in his life, and his desire to impress one woman in particular. Oh yeah, and people are dancing to it on TikTok. For the lyrics to “NOKIA,” click here (language).
And now for our three conversations…
1. Leveled
What it is: Solo Leveling is a dark fantasy anime where hunters with supernatural powers battle monsters from dangerous portals. The show is currently the most-watched series on the anime platform Crunchyroll.
Why it’s leveling up: The story follows Sung Jinwoo, once the world’s weakest hunter, who has “reawakened” after dying in battle with the unique ability to level up—turning his life into a video game-like quest for power. As Jinwoo grows stronger, his battles become more violent and morally complex. The series was originally released in Japanese, with voice acting that is deeply expressive and emotionally intense. (Die-hards prefer the original, but there is a dubbed version with English-speaking actors available, too.) Season 2 just wrapped with its final episode this past week, which caused interest in the show to surge. The show features some mild language and includes depictions of graphic violence.
Continue the conversation: What do you know about the show Solo Leveling?
2. The Other Side of the Tracks
What it is: Old-school braces are now not just cool, but even becoming a kind of status symbol—at least according to the Washington Post.
Why it’s surprising: Cultural influencers like Abbey Clancey, Charlie James, Kitty Hayes, and Lil Uzi Vert are on the cusp of a movement that is making braces cool. Although once seen as the purview of hideous nerds, braces today can represent “openly working on yourself” (instead of hiding it with Invisalign), having money (because it’s often not covered by insurance), and generally seeming youthful (apparently many adults and young people are jumping on the bandwagon). Plus, being able to choose your rubber band color enables a degree of self-expression.
Continue the conversation: Have you noticed a difference in how different generations think about braces? What is the difference?
3. Rocketman
What it is: Astronaut Butch Wilmore spent 272 more days than he expected to on the International Space Station. Now that he’s earthside, he’s been sharing about how his faith sustained him during that time.
Why it’s inspiring: It often feels exciting when an athlete or celebrity shares their belief in Jesus in a public way after they do something like win an award or score a touchdown. But when an astronaut who has survived a very public and physically grueling nine months in space credits the Almighty God, it feels, well, otherworldly. In a press conference, Wilmore said that streaming his home church service from Pasadena, Texas every week was a non-negotiable part of his routine.
Let’s translate this one further…
When asked why it was so important for him to remotely attend church services during the weeks he spent stranded in space, Wilmore had a simple answer.
He said, “The Word of God, I need it.”
Wilmore has spent a total of 464 days in space across three missions. Before that, he was a highly-decorated Captain in the U.S. Navy. And before that, he was a test pilot. It’s safe to say that he has demonstrated courage, endurance, intelligence, and creative problem-solving in some of the most stressful situations any of us could imagine. But when asked about watching his pastors sharing a message from the Bible, every week, on his little screen, with Earth rotating in the distance through his window, he didn’t hesitate to admit his need. He needed to hear from God, even in outer space.
On a recent episode of the Heirloom podcast, Wilmore told the hosts that he spent a lot of his time in space thinking about the idea of legacy. “Legacy has nothing to do with remembering the person. It’s what you leave behind, not that you are remembered,” he said.
Wilmore continued: “Tying that to our faith, eternal legacy is what really matters. What legacy do I leave with an eternal focus? Primarily, that’s in my daughters.” Unexpectedly marooned in an alien environment and faced with complete uncertainty about when he could return, Wilmore chose to contemplate the long-term impact of his life in the scope of God’s plan.
Referring to Romans 8:28, Wilmore gave some insight into his mindset on the unplanned turn his mission took. “There’s nothing that takes place that He doesn’t allow and doesn’t ordain, for those that believe and those that He knows,” he said. “It’s all Him. I’m grateful that I even know Him.”
For more context and nuance, check out our Roundtable podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. In the meantime, here are three questions to spark conversation with your teens:
- In moments that are really hard or lonely, what keeps you going?
- What would you like your legacy to be?
- When you think of a hero, who do you think of?
PS: Know someone who could use our conversation starters with their teens? Share the CT with a friend!