Month: January 2023

The legendary philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This statement applies to a lot of pursuits, but I used it often when I was first looking to overhaul the way that I ate. Bad snacking habits are some of the hardest to break. The reasons that we gravitate towards unhealthy products could be a matter of availability, price, the way we were raised, bad information, or relentless marketing.

In my case, it was all of the above.

It wasn’t until adulthood that I learned that snacks are actually defined as the food we take in-between regular meals, and not just sweet treats to eat whenever it pleases us. That’s when I decided to approach my snacks as mini-meals to take in real nutrition, instead of simply slamming sugar for easy energy. I saw, and more importantly felt, dramatic changes almost immediately. Those extra few pounds I was looking to drop fell away, and I finally had the stamina to keep going through the day.

Below is a list of swaps you can make to level up your snacking game, as I did. Everything on the level-up list has been road-tested personally by me and is a regular staple in my kitchen. Enjoy!

CHIPS

THE LOW TIER: Pringles, Buffalo Ranch

Anyone who was a kid in the past few decades is familiar with the Pringles jingle — “Once you pop, you just cast stop.” But after a few of them, you know that you should. The taste left in your mouth after a few handfuls is one of additives and factory flavors. That’s not to say you can never enjoy them again, but try to lean into cleaner choices.

If you are looking for a healthier pick without sacrificing the taste, try this option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Terra Chips

How They Change The Game:

Terra chips have become my go-to when I’m looking for something to snack on while watching a little Netflix. Not only are they better for you than the usual fare, but they are actually tastier in my opinion. I have had friends discover the beauty of tarry and sweet potato while noshing on these chips. And if these can convince you to bring more root vegetables into your diet, that’s a huge bonus.

VEGGIE CHIPS

THE LOW TIER: Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws

Like many others, when I first saw veggie chips and straws come onto the market I was excited to have a healthy option in the chip aisle. A tasty way to get your servings of vegetables in while watching television seems too good to be true, and guest what? It was. One deeper look into the label of these delicious treats reveals that they are far too high in sodium and have little to no nutritional value.

If you are looking for a healthier pick, try raw vegetables like celery with dip or roasted chickpeas like the ones below, which have half the calories, more fiber, and 6 times the protein.

THE LEVEL UP: The Good Bean Crunchy Chickpeas

How They Change The Game:

These little guys are absolutely delicious and easy to carry around for a snack on the go. The fact that most American diets don’t include chickpeas to any large extent makes them feel exotic and indulgent. On top of that, they offer as much fiber as two cups of broccoli and as much folate as three cups of spinach. Not to mention an extra punch of protein, around 6 grams per serving.

POPCORN

THE LOW TIER: Pop-Secret Homestyle

Popcorn is one of those perfectly good snacks that have been ruined by salt and saturated fat. For some reason, everyone has had it in their mind that every serving of popcorn has to taste like movie theater popcorn, which is usually coated in additives. Strip away all those so-called “natural flavors” and you’ll find yourself much better off.

If you are looking for a healthier pick try getting kernels to make homemade popcorn or the organic option down below with less sodium, more fiber, and more iron.

THE LEVEL UP: LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn

How They Change The Game:

There are many people who have eaten popcorn for their entire lives but have never tasted the real food. This bag is great to enjoy while watching a movie, without leaving your hands greasy with saturated fats. This popcorn is light and fluffy, just the way you want it, sprinkled with nothing more than a little Himalayan salt.

CRACKERS

THE LOW TIER: Cheez-It Original

This childhood favorite is hard to put in the wrong, but there’s a reason that you can eat almost a whole box and STILL not feel full. There is almost no fiber and very little nutritional benefit from this snack, which is dangerous when combined with its addictive nature.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try Parmcrisps or the gluten-free option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Ancient Provisions Cheddar Cheezish Gluten-Free Crackers

How They Change The Game:

Looking for a way to get that Cheez-It level of flavor without the gluten? Here it is. The flour is made out of green bananas, which helps support the microbiome in your gut. So feel free to convince yourself you are doing a favor for your stomach, as well as your tastebuds.

JERKY

THE LOW TIER: Slim Jim Original Stick

Slim Jim is another snack that grew in popularity thanks to popular catchphrases and nonstop commercials. But unless you are truly desperate for a source of protein, you are better off waiting for a proper meal. Despite offering a bit of protein and iron, the sodium intake is not worth those few benefits.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try a more robust option like the one below.

THE LEVEL UP: Archer Grass-Fed Beef Jerky, Original

How They Change The Game:

I first received a package of this jerky in a promotional package from National Geographic and Jimmy Chin, when his new series Edge of the Unknown came out.

I thought, “If it’s good enough for Jimmy, it’s good enough for me.”

A few days later I was eating it on top of a mountain after a trail run, and no question it was the best packaged jerky I’d ever tasted. I’d tried out my fair share before, but the lightly-spiced beef is a notch above the rest. Grab a few bags for your next outdoor excursion.

COOKIES

THE LOW TIER: Oreos

Oreos are one of those classic cookies that can be found almost everywhere, usually tantalizing you from the shelves next to the checkout aisle. But they are completely packed with sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. The lack of any real nutrients means you will put away a sleeve easily and still be craving more.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try the healthier option below packed with micronutrients.

THE LEVEL UP: Simple Mills Sweet Thins Cookies

How They Change The Game:

I am sure that there are people wondering if there is a knock-off Oreo that looks the same with cleaner ingredients. But the harsh reality is Oreos are just too much of a good thing. You don’t need chocolate cookies and frosting for a good time. These thin cookies are made with nutrient-dense flours, flax, and enhanced with a little coconut sugar.

If you need a counterpoint, try it with a little almond or dairy milk to cut the sweetness.

PROTEIN DRINKS

THE LOW TIER; Naked Tropical Protein

Despite being involved in some lawsuits about misrepresenting how natural they were in marketing, Naked juices are still everywhere. It’s hard not to be lured in by their images of fresh fruit and vegetables on the packaging, but turning that label around shows off the 50+ grams of sugar that make it sweeter than many sodas.

On top of that, this flavor promises to give you a respectable amount of protein but… at what cost? If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try a more robust option like the one below.

THE LEVEL UP: Orgain Protein

How They Change The Game:

I searched for a long time for a protein shake that I could take on a hike or after an outdoor workout, that didn’t leave a sugary aftertaste in my mouth. They have a non-dairy product in addition to a dairy one, that is just as great for the vegans out there. I started drinking these when I was eating vegan, and have continued as my diet evolved. I would have one or two a day, along with my regular meals, and was able to put on a good amount of muscle thanks to them.

The founding story of Orgain is a great one, which only adds to their appeal.

YOGURT

THE LOW TIER: Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt Vanilla Non-Fat

One of the lessons I have learned on this journey of finding the healthier option is to always be suspicious if the box is peppered with too many “healthy” sounding words. That’s the case with this version from Dannon, which is filled with sweeteners, cornstarch, and artificial flavors.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try the greek yogurt below topped with blueberries and local honey.

THE LEVEL UP: Fage, Plain 5% Total Greek Yogurt

How They Change The Game:

I eat yogurt pretty much every day. Not only is it a quick and easy snack, but it is also a great way to get a solid serving of protein. This one from Fage is both rich and creamy, made with live active cultures. Because of all of the protein in there, the calorie count is higher than other yogurts, which makes it more of a meal. Having a stock of these in the fridge is a good call for anyone with a stacked schedule.

TRAIL MIX

THE LOW TIER: Kirkland Trail Mix

I understand why there are a lot of people who believe that chocolate makes trail mix better, but I just can’t get behind it. Every meal we have throughout the day shouldn’t need sugar-coating to make it taste good to us. For some, this means deprogramming the habits that were developed when we were children, and the first step is taking candy out of trail mix. This bag from Kirkland isn’t the only culprit, but along the sheer size of it is just asking for overindulgence.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try making your own at home or pick up the still-delicious option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Back To Nature Harvest Blend

How They Change The Game:

There is no more elite fuel for a long day of activity than a good batch of trail mix. There is no added sugar or salt in this product, but more protein than other options. The chocolate is dropped for more grounded treats like almonds, raisins, sunflower seeds, pecans, and dried apricots. Doesn’t take more than a handful of this to give you the spark you need to get the next task done.

PROTEIN BARS

THE LOW TIER: PowerBar Performance Energy Bar, Peanut Butter

There are so many protein bars on the market, and when you are looking for a quick bite it’s hard to read a billion labels before buying one. I have tried virtually all of them, and for the most part, many of them have about as much natural nutrition in them as in the wrappers. Sure if you are looking for an easy sugar boost they are fine, but you are better off eating a piece of fruit and then getting your protein another way.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, I personally like this cleaner option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Go Macro Banana & Almond Bar

How They Change The Game:

Clean protein delivered in a tasty bar of almond butter and banana? There are so many protein bars on the market, but Go Macro’s selection stands out amongst the rest. The flavor combinations (banana and almond butter being my favorite) put the standard chocolate or vanilla offerings to shame, and the ingredients are also far superior.

Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.

This week saw Lil Yachty make a left turn and Chlöe pivot away from revenge. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.

For more music recommendations, check out our Listen To This section, as well as our Indie Mixtape and Pop Life newsletters. Also find our Uproxx HQ Spotify playlist, which is updated weekly with the best new music, at the end of this post.

Lil Yachty — “Say Something”

Lil Yachty shocked the music world last week (despite a warning from over a year ago) with Let’s Start Here, a new album that sees Yachty going in a new-to-him psychedelic rock direction. He mirrored that vibe in his appropriately trippy video for “Say Something.”

Chlöe — “Pray It Away”

Chlöe made some noise by announcing In Pieces recently, and then continued the rollout with “Pray It Away.” Uproxx’s Alex Gonzalez notes of the track, “On the first piece of In Pieces, Chlöe recovers from a broken heart by getting in touch with her spirituality. Initially, she is angry and vengeful over a man who did her dirty. But instead of exacting revenge, she chooses to pray the hurt and the heartache away.”

Rosalía — “LLYLM”

Rosalía takes an organic approach on “LLYLM,” which is propelled along with handclap-driven percussion. She even busts out some English here, too, singing on the hook, “I don’t need honesty / Baby, lie like you love me, lie like you love me / Cover me in a dream, I’ll be yours or fantasy / Who needs the honesty?”

Cordae — “Two Tens” Feat. Anderson .Paak

Cordae and .Paak apparently recorded enough songs together for an EP. Who knows if all that music will ever surface, but some of it has. Last week, the pair dropped “Two Tens,” a smooth new tune that sees the pair going back and forth in a most delightful way.

Sam Smith — “I’m Not Here To Make Friends”

Sam Smith found an ally in Kim Petras, who helped him land a No. 1 single recently with “Unholy.” In other areas of his life, though, he doesn’t need anybody else, as he declared on a song that borrows its title from the mouths of countless reality show contestants, “I’m Not Here To Make Friends” (although Calvin Harris, presumably at least an acquaintance, co-wrote this one).

Zach Bryan — “Dawns” Feat. Maggie Rogers

A couple weeks ago, Bryan put some pressure on the Philadelphia Eagles: He declared that if the team beat the New York Giants in the NFL playoffs, he’d drop “Dawns,” a fan-favorite that hadn’t yet been given an official release. Well, the birds pulled through, and sure enough, Bryan released the Maggie Rogers-featuring tune, a heartbreaking rock ballad.

Rich Brian — “Sundance Freestyle”

Rich Brian is in movie star mode right now, as his film Jamojaya recently debuted at Sundance. Music is part of the equation, too, though, as much like himself IRL, in the movie, he plays an up-and-coming Indonesian rapper. So, to coincide with the film, he dropped “Sundance Freestyle” last week, a quick-hitter accompanied by a comedic video.

The Kid Laroi — “Love Again”

Laroi will continue to establish himself as a star with The First Time, his upcoming album. He continued teasing the LP last week with “Love Again,” an acoustic guiter-driven track, on which he wonders whether a past love will find their way back into his life.

Gorillaz — “Silent Running” Feat. Adeleye Omotayo

Gorillaz are on a productive streak and it’s set to culminate next month with Cracker Island, a new album. On the new “Silent Running,” Uproxx’s Alex Gonzalez says the band “recalls a hypnotic love, as they fall through an intoxicating wormhole in their mind,” adding, “Adeleye Omotayo adds some smooth, seductive vocals to the song, glistening the background, and giving it a magical touch.”

Ava Max — “One Of Us”

Diamonds & Dancefloors tragically leaked last year, months before its release date, but fans who honored Max’s intentions and waited for the album to drop were treated to its official release last week. Max also dropped a visual for “One Of Us,” a driving pop banger on which Max contrasts her passion with the relative lack of it from the other half of a relationship.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

An upcoming Michael Jackson biopic has found its star in the controversial singer’s nephew, Jafar Jackson, according to Deadline. The film is to be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who most recently directed the Will Smith movie Emancipation and posted the confirmation on Instagram.

Michael is being produced by the Jackson estate and Graham King, who also produced the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. That film grossed over $900 million worldwide and was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Star Rami Malek won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

Jafar Jackson is the son of Michael’s older brother Jermaine and is a singer and songwriter in his own right.

The bio has a tricky narrative needle to thread. Obviously, the estate’s involvement offers a layer of authenticity, especially as the estate controls the rights to Jackson’s catalog. However, the estate is also notoriously protective of the late star’s image; this leads to questions of how his more controversial aspects may be depicted.

If the producers decide to delve deeply into the child sexual abuse accusations against Jackson, they might have to do so without the family’s approval — and thus, without the singer’s music. However, judging from the reception of past biopics (they are all the rage right now, aren’t they?), if those thorny topics are avoided, the film could face greater scrutiny and criticism.

Hopefully, Fuqua will be up to the task. For now, he’s focusing on The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington.

Yves Tumor has announced his new album, which has the long title Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds).

The album is set to arrive this spring, after Yves dropped the grungy, existential track “God Is A Circle” last November.

Ahead of Hot Between Worlds, Yves has dropped a new single, “Echolalia,” a dreamy, psychedelic track on which he recalls an intoxicating love. In the song’s accompanying visual, he is seen confronting different versions of himself, in various frightening situations.

According to a release accompanied by the album announcement, the upcoming album is Yves’ “most intimate and personal statement to date, guiding the listener through a conceptually manifold spiritual journey — circuitously weaving darkness to light, pop to innovation, cacophony to church-like calm.” The album features production by Noah Goldstein and was mixed by Alan Moulder.

The album will be supported by an international tour, for which you can buy tickets here beginning Wednesday, February 1.

You can see the video for “Echolalia” above and the album artwork and full list of tour dates below.

04/25 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee^
04/27 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live^
04/28 – Austin, TX @ Austin Psych Fest
04/29 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory^
05/01 – New Orleans, LA @ The Joy Theater ^
05/02 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern^
05/04 – Washington DC @ Echostage Washington*
05/05 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall*
05/06 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom*
05/07 – Montreal, QC @ MTelus*
05/09 – Toronto, ON @ History%
05/10 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic%
05/12 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera%
05/13 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave%
05/15 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre%
05/17 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House
05/18 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theatre #
05/20 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo#
05/21 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater #
05/23 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield #
06/02 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/04 – Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
06/07 – Madrid, ES @ Shoko
06/09 – Madrid, ES @ Primavera Sound Madrid
06/10 – Porto, PT @ NOS Primavera Sound
11/07 – Prague, CZ @ Roxy%
11/09 – Warsaw, PL @ Progresja%
11/11 – Stockholm, SE @ Slaktkyrkan%
11/12 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega%
11/14 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso%
11/17 – Berlin, DE @ Huxleys%
11/21 – Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmartre%
11/24 – Manchester UK @ New Century Hall%
11/26 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow%
11/27 – Dublin, IE @ 3Olympia%

^ with Izzy Spears
* with Frost Children
% with Nation
# with Evanora Unlimited

Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) is out 3/17 via Warp Records. Pre-save it here.

Camilo responded to reports that he was raising his daughter Índigo as a non-binary child. On Saturday (January 28), the Colombian pop star dispelled the rumors while showing his support for the LGBTQ+ community.

During an interview in October 2021, Camilo referred to his then-unborn daughter as “hije,” which is the gender-neutral term for “child” in Spanish. In April of last year, Camilo became a father when his wife, Evaluna Montaner, gave birth to Índigo. At the top of this year, that old interview resurfaced with claims that the couple was raising a non-binary baby. In a statement in his Instagram stories, Camilo denied the rumors.

“Several days ago we have been receiving a flurry of questions and intensity from the media and especially from gossip shows about alleged news claiming that we had decided that our daughter would be recognized as non-binary,” Camilo wrote in Spanish. “We deeply respect the people who make this decision, but it is not our case. They took some videos of interviews where we referred to Índigo in a neutral way out of context because, until the day she was born, we never knew her sex because we never did an ultrasound.”

Non-binary is when a person doesn’t identify with the gender binary of being a man or a woman. Janelle Monáe and Sam Smith identify as non-binary. Camilo used his statement to highlight the difficulties that queer people can face from just trying to live their truths. Camilo is known for spreading love and positive messages in his music. His statement also exemplified that compassion.

“We began to think about how people from the LGBTQ+ community might feel, for example, in the face of a world that points at them, judging them, with fingers pointing and condemning them,” Camilo wrote. “Imagine how intense and complex it can be for a person going through such a process to recognize who they are, and finding themselves with a society full of stones in their hands waiting for the first sign to throw them.”

“We believe and strive to create a world and a future where we create more ways to love each other, recognize each other, respect each other, and embrace each other with our differences.”

Even if you haven’t been watching HBO Max’s tense new sci-fi thriller The Last Of Us every Sunday, you may have noticed an uptick in online discussion about Linda Rondstadt thanks to her rendition of “Long, Long Time” from last night’s emotional third episode.

The episode, which departs from the show’s usual protagonists for something of a bottle episode featuring another pair of survivors, uses the song to significant effect, with guest stars Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett both taking a whack at it on piano and ending the show with the original recording, allowing both sets of survivors to bond over the ballad.

The show’s popularity is highlighted by the increase in search traffic for Rondstadt’s name on Google; according to Google Trends, searches went from almost zero the day before, increasing by over 100 percent since the show aired. It seems that the question on everyone’s mind is:

Who Is Linda Rondstadt?

To put it short, Rondstadt is an accomplished singer who recorded more than 20 albums in a diverse array of genres, from American classics to light opera to Latin. She’s won 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, and an Emmy Award. She was also awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Depending on how old you are, you might remember her No. 1 hit “You’re No Good” or her James Ingram duet “Somewhere Out There” from An American Tail. She’s appeared on Sesame Street and The Simpsons, and, with more than 100 million records sold, she’s one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.

Unfortunately, Rondstadt was forced to retire in the early 2010s, revealing that she’d contracted progressive supranuclear palsy (which was originally misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s). That didn’t stop her from writing and releasing her autobiography, Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir, in 2013. She released another book, Feels Like Home: A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands, late last year.

But now, thanks to The Last Of Us, it appears she’s been discovered by another new generation of fans, similar to how Stranger Things returned Kate Bush to the Billboard Hot 100 with “Running Up That Hill.”

Linda Ronstadt is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Queen’s Gambit was an addictive, Emmy-winning chess drama that wrapped up nicely after seven episodes. But ever since the limited series turned into an unexpected hit that even chess dummies could enjoy, there’s been talk of a second season.

Talk, and now tweets.

“The Queen’s Gambit 2,” star Anya Taylor-Joy wrote on Monday, her first tweet since October 2020. It was quickly deleted but not before it was screenshotted and speculation spread. Is another season of The Queen’s Gambit on the horizon? What about Laughter in the Dark? Isn’t Anya too busy? And most importantly, will Benny be back?

The Queen’s Gambit co-creator Scott Frank previously addressed the possibility — or lack thereof — of a second season of the show. “I feel like we told the story we wanted to tell, and I worry — let me put it differently — I’m terrified that if we try to tell more, we would ruin what we’ve already told,” he told Deadline.

Executive producer William Horberg added, “We felt that the series had a satisfying endpoint and we’d allow the audience to fill in the space as to what happens next for Beth Harmon. Nothing has changed, despite fans demanding more on my Twitter feed. Scott and I feel really happy about the completeness of Beth’s story.”

Maybe Taylor-Joy meant to say that Helen Mirren, who once played Queen Elizabeth II, is directing a Gambit movie. That’s probably it.

(Spoilers for The Last Of Us will be found below.)

As the debut season of The Last Of Us continues, HBO sure is putting its music budget to good use. This week’s episode played various hits from Fleetwood Mac and Cream (your ideal apocalyptic soundtrack). Still, one song played an essential role in the episode’s narrative, and that is Linda Ronstadt’s “Long, Long Time” from her 1970 album Silk Purse.

Episode three brings Nick Offerman into the mix as Bill, the grumpy survivalist who accidentally catches Murray Bartlett’s Frank in one of his traps. After a tense encounter, Bill allows Frank to stay for the night, which turns into several years of them living together in a zombie-free domestic bliss, where they bond over music and fall in love over Bill’s poor piano playing, beginning with “The Long, Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster that ends up showing Bill and Frank’s final day (which also doubles as Offerman’s campaign for an Emmy). Frank gets sick and they chose to live out their final, heartbreaking moments together.

Joel and Ellie show up years later when they use Bill’s car, which just so happens to have Linda Ronstadt’s tape. The two drive off of Bill’s property listening to the song that soundtracked Bill and Frank’s life for so long. A long, long time, if you will!

Craig Mazin, episode writer and series co-creator, wanted to make sure he found a song that was perfectly melancholy and enough to make several grown men cry. Mazin told IndieWire: “I went through hours and hours and hours. And finally, I was like, ‘I know what to do. I’m going to text my friend Seth Rudetsky,’ who is a host on Sirius XM On Broadway, and has this encyclopedic knowledge of all music,” Mazin explained. “I described what I needed and within 30 seconds, it was [incoming text noise] ‘Long, Long Time by Linda Ronstadt.’ I kinda remembered that song. I played it and was like, ‘Oh, my. There it is.’”

The use of the song was enough to get it trending on social media, with many fans hoping that Ronstadt will get her Kate Bush-level hype for being on a popular sci-fi series during a pivotal episode, or at least some award season hype for Nick Offerman and his dramatic acting chops. Even if neither of them are acknowledged, it’s likely we will remember this episode for a long (long) time.

(Via IndieWire)

(Spoilers for The Last Of Us will be found below.)

Whether you’re a gamer or not, episode three of HBO’s The Last of Us likely put you through the emotional wringer. That’s because, unlike its console-hosted predecessor, the show dived into the moving and poignant backstory of two background characters who just didn’t get enough screen time in the game.

In “Long Long Time,” showrunner Craig Mazin and creator Neil Druckmann devoted an entire hour to telling a surprisingly touching love story between a lone-wolf survivalist named Bill (Nick Offerman) and an outgoing drifter named Frank (Murray Bartlett.) In Druckmann’s original creation, Bill and Frank were assumed to be business partners who lived together in a cordoned-off town somewhere outside of Boston. By the time the game pays Bill a visit, Frank is dead, having left his “friend” over a disagreement before getting bit by an Infected and choosing to hang himself rather than turn into one. When Joel and Ellie arrive, seeking help from Bill, he reluctantly gives it, revealing Frank’s fate in the process before sending them on their way with supplies and a vehicle. We never learn what happens to Frank, but it’s assumed he continues to survive in that same small town since, well, he’s good at it.

But the show basically tosses that timeline out the window in favor of a more memorable, moving story, one that starts with Bill meeting Frank — after the drifter lands in one of his traps — and ends with the two living happily ever after. Or, at least as “happily” as one can live in a post-apocalyptic world, and as long as one can live while still being human. Unlike in the game, “Long Long Time” gives the couple a definitive ending. After suffering for years with a mystery illness that’s never defined but is likely some version of MS or ALS, Frank decides to end his own life by muddling up a bag full of pills in his evening wine. He asks Bill for his help in doing so, requesting “one more good day” before he can fall asleep forever in his partner’s arms. Bill reluctantly agrees but, when it comes time for Frank to drink his wine, Bill also chugs back a glass, leading his husband to realize he too has decided to die.

It’s terribly romantic, especially when Frank attempts to argue with Bill before Bill explains that caring for him was his purpose and that he’s satisfied with his life. The pair eventually go off to bed and though we never see them again, Bill does leave a letter for Joel explaining his decision and expressing his hope that Joel will also find someone who becomes his “purpose.”

(Excuse us while we go cry into a soft pillow.)

Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Art of Tidying Up,” has repeatedly made huge waves around the world since it came out in 2010. From eliminating anything that didn’t “spark joy” from your house to folding clothes into tiny rectangles and storing them vertically, the KonMari method of maintaining an organized home hit the mark for millions of people. The success of her book even led to two Netflix series.

It also sparked backlash from parents who insisted that keeping a tidy home with children was not so simple. It’s one thing to get rid of an old sweater that no longer brings you joy. It’s entirely another to toss an old, empty cereal box that sparks zero joy for you, but that your 2-year-old is inexplicably attached to.

To be fair, Kondo never forced her way into anyone’s home and made them organize it her way. But also to be fair, she didn’t have kids when she wrote her best-selling book on keeping a tidy home. The reality is that keeping a home organized and tidy with children living in it is a whole other ballgame, as Kondo has discovered now that she has three kids of her own.

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“My home is messy,” she admitted in a recent webinar, according to The Washington Post, “but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life.”

Despite the Schadenfreude many parents may feel at Kondo’s confession that kids change things, her reasoning for letting things go is actually right in line with her philosophy of embracing joy.

“Up until now, I was a professional tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” she said. “I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”

Kondo has offered tips for tidying with kids at home since she became a mom, and they’re pretty solid. But as any parent can attest, some children are naturally neater than others, and how many kids you have makes a big difference as well.

Kondo gave birth to her third child in 2021, so she’s currently in the adorable hell that is toddlerland. Research has also found that parents of three kids are the most stressed, so if Kondo has found a way to enjoy time with her kids and create more balance in her life by letting go of her tidiness standards, more power to her.

Her new book, “Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home: How to Organize Your Space and Achieve Your Ideal Life,” focuses on designing your living space so it works for you. “Kurashi” loosely translates to “way of life” or “the ideal way of spending our time,” and Kondo says it’s about seeing the world through the lens of what matters most.

“I believe that when we consciously cherish something precious, we deepen our relationship with it,” she shares on her website. “This, in turn, deepens our bonds with other things in our lives, bringing out the best in them and in ourselves.”

Applying that philosophy to family, Kondo’s “giving up” on tidying all the time makes perfect sense. If spending quality time with your children sparks more joy than keeping your belongings organized just so, then that’s what you should do.

Kudos to Kondo for publicly acknowledging that having kids has altered how her home looks and for validating what so many parents have felt in the face of unrealistic expectations of tidiness. She could have kept up a front of always being on top of organization and having a perpetually tidy home, but she didn’t. Here’s to her willingness to share the reality, here’s to embracing joy in the fleeting time we have with our children, and here’s to letting go of the rules that might interfere with that, even if it means humbly admitting defeat in the face of our kids’ messes.