On Sundays, I like to share three things I have enjoyed in the past week. They could be anything; just stuff that has, as Marie Kondo might say, sparked joy. They also don’t have to be new or recent, so long as I’ve enjoyed them this week.

Thing 1: My Hero Academia, Season 4

I’m working my way through My Hero Academia at the moment. Yes, I know, I’m late to the party. Whatever.

I’ve just finished up season 4. I have reviews of seasons 1 through 4 queued up on my other blog, NoRerolls, ready to go live across June. It will be more than a month before the review I wrote for Season 4 goes online.

The climax of the season for me is definitely class 1-A’s performance of the song, Hero Too. Here’s the clip:

I think season 4 was a real mix, but this was a fun and beautiful sequence that did make me tear up.

Just look though. You’ve got the class working together to try and rebuild bridges they’ve burned with the rest of their school. You’ve got Bakugo working his peers, and even smiling. You’ve got creative use of quirks (hero powers). Youve got Lemillion, who has freshly lost his powers, acting as a father figure to little Eri, who is finally able to smile after her various horrible ordeals. And, of course, you’ve got Kyoka finally getting the spotlight, and some fantastic character development.

Hell, I cry at everything…

Thing 2: Sylvia Plath’s Ariel

I’ve been packing away stuff from this year’s classes, and have been flipping back through workbooks, sheets, jotters and the like. One of the real highlights this year has been some work on Plath. It always feels really special to be able to share these poems with the older kids.

I won’t be using Plath, or any particularly complex poetry in the coming year, so I know I’m putting my dog-eared copy of Ariel away for some time. There’s a sadness to that. I was delighted with how well this year’s class responded to her work.

Thing 3: such is the breath of kings

Yeah, I know that’s a quote from Richard II rather than the play I’m about to actually write about…

King Charles, a patron of the Royal Shakespeare Company, recently attended and greeted the cast of the current RSC production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

The Tempest might actually be my favourite Shakespearean play. It can be a bit looked down upon, but I really love the fantastical elements of it.

The story also reminded me of this fantastic short from the Shakespeare Live! From the RSC event a decade ago, in which Charles, the then-Prince of Wales, appeared:

Whilst part of the reason that the late Queen Elizabeth was popular was the fact that she was, in many ways, unknown and unknowable to the people of her kingdoms, and therefore a figure onto which we could project our own ideals, something I respect about Charles is that he is known. He existed in the world for far longer, and in a far more public light, before he took the crown. For better or worse, we know who this man, this king, is. His love of drama and Shakespeare falls into the “better” category.