Gravity Falls
Yes, we’ve been telling you to watch Gravity Falls for quite a while, despite its haphazard and diabolic schedule set forth by the Disney Channel. But now, we really mean it. As the series is winding up toward a finale, this is your last chance to catch up with the Pines family and enjoy the mystical mania of this Oregon town in real time. This season, a horrific series of events has resulted in a rift in the show’s time-space reality, resulting in the “Weirdmageddon” episodes, which many are citing as some of the weirdest and most disturbing animation ever seen on TV. The loss of any kind of reality thread has given show creator Alex Hirsch and his writers and artists the chance to depict a surreal, unbridled view of the world (one of the Weirdmageddon characters is just a giant head getting pulled along by a single arm, voiced by Louis CK). If you miss the show’s final arc—the chance to enjoy Alasdair Wilkins’ fine reviews and to describe the indescribable thing you’re viewing immediately on Twitter—you will have only yourself to blame. Don’t miss this criminally underappreciated chunk of insane animation backed by a heartfelt and often-hilarious family saga. Watch Gravity Falls. [Gwen Ihnat]
Hands High Cleveland Browns Victory Brown Full-Zip Hoodie
Cheering on your favorite team is fun and everything, but are your armpits really doing enough? Sure, they lift up your arms and help wick sweat out of your body, but couldn’t they also be a canvas for an NFL logo? That’s the idea behind Hands High’s new line of products, including the full-zip hoodie Dick’s Sporting Goods so kindly sent my way. The concept is a little silly, especially if you’re like me and root for a team like the Browns, a team so bad that you’re infinitely more likely to throw your hands up in despair than you are in sheer glee. That being said, I’m all about novelty NFL apparel, and this comfy sweatshirt has the Cleveland Browns logo right smack in the middle of its respective armpits. It’s both kind of neat and, given the Browns’ current status, entirely appropriate. [Marah Eakin]
The Duke Of Burgundy
I’ve been eager to see The Duke Of Burgundy since January, when Mike D’Angelo gave it a glowing review here on The A.V. Club. And it didn’t disappoint, from its “perfumes by” credit in the title sequence to the simultaneously heartbreaking and tender final scene. It’s clearly an homage to ’70s Euro-smut of the Jess Franco variety, but vastly improves upon its inspirations not only with quality filmmaking—some of the imagery is quite beautiful, as is the soundtrack—but also by giving the story something that erotic films hardly ever have, which is emotional depth. The camera lingers equally on Sidse Babett Knudsen’s leg as she slowly rolls on silk stockings and her face as her attempt at an emotional heart-to-heart is ignored by her partner Chiara D’Anna, who requests dirty talk instead. A dreamy hothouse flower of a movie, The Duke Of Burgundy has something thoughtful to say about what it means to be in a relationship, not just of the kinky variety but in general. It’s the best love story I’ve seen in a while. [Katie Rife]