Talia Saley is the Lake Morning Show host for 89.5 The Lake in Kenora. She grew up in Toronto but lived in South Korea for six years, and loves sharing stories about her mixed culture and food. She loves all things Pokémon, K-pop and rom-coms. Talia enjoys talking about topics that are important to you and is always eager to hear your stories!
One thing that gets people moving in the morning is usually coffee or tea.
Speaking of coffee, does caffeine affect you? Does it give you a boost, make you feel jittery, or does it not really do much at all?
It affects everyone differently. I have friends who can’t handle too much caffeine, but I could drink caffeine before bed and still feel fine. Personally, I drink it for the flavour more than the performance boost. Maybe it’s a placebo effect, but I like to convince myself that it’s doing something just so I have an excuse to buy more!
An interesting fact: caffeine could even make you sleepy. Caffeine blocks a chemical called adenosine, which helps promote sleep, but if your body metabolizes caffeine more quickly than average, the sudden change can leave you feeling more tired than awake.
Dearest gentle reader, Bridgerton is back for the ton.
The new season is finally upon us; the first volume premieres Jan. 29 and the second one on Feb. 26.
This season is based on Julia Quinn’s third novel, An Offer from a Gentleman, where you will meet a new character, Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), who appears to be Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) next love match. After being on the sidelines for the first three seasons, it is finally Benedict’s turn to take the spotlight!
The trailer paints the season as a Cinderella story: Benedict spots a mysterious lady in a beautiful silver gown at the masquerade ball. She leaves her gloves behind; he sets off to find her, but she doesn’t want him to discover her true identity. Watch out for the scene at Benedict’s country estate. Executive producer Tom Verica said it marks a pivotal moment for the pair, and fans can expect to see “some sparks,” according to Netflix Tudum.
You can also expect some more new characters to join the mix: Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung… yes, the actress who played Cho Chang in Harry Potter), Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei). Lady Araminta Gun is a twice-widowed single mother looking to get at least one of her daughters married. Now it’s really starting to feel Cinderella-coded!
Curious about which pop covers you might hear in Episode 1? You can expect “Life in Technicolor” (Coldplay) by Vitamin String Quartet, “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” (Usher ft. Pitbull) by Strings From Paris and “Never Let You Go” (Third Eye Blind) by Vitamin String Quartet. It’s an exciting mix for the season we’ve all been waiting for!
Purely based on the titles, I have a feeling “The Waltz” is the moment when the two first meet eyes. And maybe “An Offer from a Gentleman” will be Benedict’s attempt to win Sophie over? I sure hope so!
Are you planning to gather the girlies for a night in to binge the first few episodes this Thursday?
Time for some movie magic? Here’s a list of three movies and shows (horror, adventure and romance) and the creative snacks to pair with them!
Together
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Together is a psychological body horror film that dissects Tim and Millie’s fraying relationship. After moving to the countryside for a fresh start, a sinister force threatens to change everything they’ve built. The lead characters are played by real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, making the on-screen chemistry feel that much more real.
If you can handle body horror while you eat, what about an oven-baked loaded cheesy nachos? The movie focuses on emotional co-dependency; much like nachos, you can’t have chips without the toppings. So grab a bag of chips at the store, the cheese of your choice, and veggies to sprinkle on top (tomatoes, peppers, olives…)!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Available on: Disney +
Following the success of the first season, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is back for the second one. New episodes drop every Wednesday on Disney + and Hulu, with the last release being Jan. 21.
In this new season, Percy (Walker Scobell) embarks on a journey across the sea to rescue his friends and protect Camp Half-Blood. I don’t want to spoil it too much if you haven’t started Season 1 yet, but this is a family-friendly way to spend your afternoon with the kids. It’s a story full of fantasy and adventure, based on the original novel series by Rick Riordan.
To match the fantasy theme, what about something fun like cotton candy burritos? All you need is your favourite ice cream for the centre, then roll it up with your cotton candy!
My Korean Boyfriend
Available on: Netflix
My Korean Boyfriend was released on the very first day of 2026 and it has been gaining some attention.
This reality series is quite different from the standard format: five Brazilian Women travel to South Korea to see where their long-distance relationships lead after having met their potential life partners online. The show aims to showcase reality, seeing if cultural differences will make or break their bond.
I watched just one episode last week and it was very intriguing. It’s a bit confusing at the start since there’s no explanation of what’s happening, but I like that aspect of the show; it makes you question what will happen next.
Since it’s called My Korean Boyfriend, it only feels right to grab some Korean snacks for the occasion. If you make your way to the international section of your local grocery store, they usually have Korean snacks. You might be able to find Instant noodles (Shin or Jin Ramen), Melona ice cream bars or honey butter chips.
So, are you going to be watching one of these tonight?
Looking for a little romance and drama to spice up your life? Emily in Paris might be the answer.
Season 5 was released on Dec. 18 and includes 10 episodes, each about 30 minutes long. I got through the season pretty quickly; it only took about a day or two finish.
I’ve been an avid watcher since its debut in 2020, especially during the pandemic when I had time to catch up on entertainment.
This series, which began in Season 1, focuses on Emily Cooper’s journey as she moves from Chicago to Paris to take over her boss Madeline’s promotion after Madeline discovers she’s pregnant. To Emily, this feels like a dream. She imagines delicious food, charming Parisians and a life many Americans fantasize about, but her love life becomes a tad bit more complicated than she intended.
So what do people think about the show?
Emily in Paris has an average critics score of 64 per cent and an audience score of 47 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
My Thoughts
If you’re into romance, drama and comedy and like something that’s light-hearted and easy to watch, this show is for you! If you’re looking for something serious and complex, this is far from that.
Personally, the main reason I started this series was Lily Collins. I’ve loved her acting since Mirror Mirror and Love, Rosie (one of my favourite best-friend-trope romances). As much as I adore her characters in those films, I feel this series doesn’t give her much room to showcase her impressive acting range, and well…Emily isn’t the most likeable main character. So, why do I still continue to watch it? I can’t give you a clear answer, but I’m always itching to know what happens next.
Rating
After watching, here’s my out-of-five-star rating based on a few categories:
Humor/dialogue ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional depth ⭐️⭐️
Setting/atmosphere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romantic build-up ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development ⭐️⭐️
Season 6 is on its way!
If you’re a fan of the show and already finished Season 5, it’s been renewed for another season!
There’s no official release date as of right now, but sources predict the end of 2026 or sometime in 2027.
So, will you add Emily in Paris to your watchlist?
We’re less than a month away from Christmas, so I thought I’d get you started on some Christmas movie recommendations.
Here’s a list of classics and new releases to add to your watch list:
The Polar Express
This 2004 film follows a young boy who wakes up on Christmas Eve to find a train bound for the North Pole outside his door. Hesitant at first, he boards the Polar Express and embarks on a journey he’ll never forget. He develops new friendships and learns a lesson that will stay with him for life.
I recall watching this movie in theatres in 3D with my dad. My memory’s a little foggy since I was so young, but my dad said I was reaching for the imaginary snow in front of me.
The most memorable scene from the entire film is when the young girl and Billy start singing “When Christmas Comes to Town” while looking up at the northern lights. It makes me tear up every time.
And guess what? My favourite Christmas song is from this movie. It’s Josh Groban’s “Believe.” Give it a listen; it’ll get you into the holiday spirit!
The Holiday
The Holiday is one of my favourite Christmas rom-coms to watch during the holiday season!
The movie has a great cast with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black.
Amanda Woods works a lavish lifestyle in L.A. as a movie trailer executive, while Iris Simpkins is an editor from a small village in England. They decide to swap homes for the holidays, and what they thought was a little getaway soon turns into a romantic adventure.
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
If you’re looking for a newer film to watch for the holidays, check out A Very Jonas Christmas Movie!
This movie leans more towards the comedic side, where all three Jonas brothers: Kevin, Joe, and Nick, face obstacles as they try to make it home for Christmas after their tour in London. Along the way, they strengthened their bond and learn what really matters during the holiday season.
I haven’t watched it yet, but I’m planning to at some point this December!
Home Alone
This classic Christmas movie can’t be beat. No matter how many times you watch it, it feels like you’re watching it for the first time!
The movie follows Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) and his family. The morning his entire family leaves for a trip to Paris, Kevin realizes that he’s been left behind. When his family realizes, they go into full panic mode, but Kevin is having the best time of his life until two men try to rob his house during the holidays. Kevin sets out to protect his home and learns a valuable lesson during that time.
The first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 are premiering Wednesday, Nov. 26 at exactly 7 p.m. our time!
The next three episodes are out on Christmas and the final episode on New Year’s Eve, so it’s gonna be a busy holiday season.
What’s Season 5 about?
Based on the official synopsis, in the final season, “Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: Find and kill Vecna, but he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown.” Their mission becomes more difficult as the government locks the town under military quarantine and intensifies its search for Eleven, which forces her to stay in hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance gets closer, familiar feelings of fear returns. The ultimate battle is creeps up on them, bringing a darkness stronger and deadlier than anything they’ve seen. To defeat it, they’ll need everyone together to face it one last time.
Here are the Season 5 episode titles:
Episode 1: “The Crawl”
Episode 2: “The Vanishing of…”
Episode 3: “The Turnbow Trap”
Episode 4: “Sorcerer”
Episode 5: “Shock Jock”
Episode 6: “Escape from Camazotz”
Episode 7: “The Bridge”
Episode 8: “The Rightside up”
Recap
To prepare for the final season of this iconic show that’s aired since 2016, you might want a recap.
First, take a fun little quiz to test your knowledge (click on the GIF to be redirected):
If you’re still feeling a bit rusty after that quiz, here are some recap videos to refresh your memory:
Stranger Things Season 4 came out in 2022, so it’s easy to forget what happened in the last season. Watching recap videos is a must!
Are you excited to watch the new season this week?
Nobody Wants This Season 2 has secured the No. 1 and 2 spots on Netflix for three consecutive weeks since its release on Oct. 23.
This romance-focused show leans on the relationship dynamic between Joanne, an agnostic sex podcaster, and Noah, a rabbi. Along the way, they face their own struggles while learning to understand and love one another.
Seeing how two people can learn to appreciate one another, despite their major differences, is what makes the show so captivating.
Season 2 explores how their “relationship deepens” through the ups and downs of each episode.
Cast
What enticed me to start Season 1 back in 2024 was the cast. Kristen Bell, who plays Joanne in the series, is a multi-talented actress and voice actress. She starred in The Good Place, narrated Gossip Girl, and appeared one of my favourite movies, You Again (now thinking of it, I need to rewatch that). She voiced Anna in Disney’s Frozen, so even your kids will recognize her voice.
Adam Brody plays the boyfriend, Noah. At first I didn’t recognize him, but I just found out that he’s the antagonist band member, Nikolai Wolf, from Jennifer’s Body…I know, right? He also starred in Gilmore Girls and The O.C.
Music
What makes this season special is that there’s a dedicated soundtrack from various artists, including Selena Gomez, Teddy Swims, Alessia Cara, FINNEAS, Kacey Musgraves and more.
Here’s the full list of songs from the series soundtrack in order:
1. “In the Dark”: Selena Gomez 2. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”: Teddy Swims 3. “who’s your boyfriend – Acoustic”: Royel Otis 4. “Heart Letting Go”: Chris Stapleton 5. “If the World Burns Down”: Kacey Musgraves 6. “That’s What I’ll Be”: Baylee Lynn 7. “Palomino”: FINNEAS 8. “Your Girl”: Towa Bird 9. “My House”: Alessia Cara 10. “Saddle Again”: ROLE MODEL 11. “Climate Change”: Just Jayne 12. “This Version of Us”: Ella Langley 13. “What”: BENEE 14. “Reach You”: Portugal. The Man 15. “Dancing in the Smoke”: GIVĒON 16. “Melodies”: Dermot Kennedy 17. “Homesick”: Cuco 18. “Bite My Tongue”: Cassandra Coleman 19. “Nobody Wants This Score Suite” – Duncan Blickenstaff
My favourite song from it all is Alessia Cara’s track “My House.” The instant I heard it, I had to pause the show and add it to my playlist…it’s that good. Give it a listen!
So if you’re looking for a cozy romance show with an awesome original soundtrack, add Nobody Wants This to your Netflix watch list.
P.S. They just announced the renewal of Season 3, coming in 2026!
It’s Saturday, usually everyone’s favourite day of the week. What better way to spend it than watching some movies or TV shows? It doesn’t get much better than some chilling, snacking and bingeing.
Here’s what everyone’s watching on Netflix right now:
Shrek Forever After
This 2010 film is the fifth installment in the franchise, following Shrek (2001), Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek the Halls (2007).
This franchise follows Shrek, an ogre who lives in isolation from the rest of society. One day, Donkey bumps into Shrek as he’s being chased by guards. After Shrek scares them away, Donkey follows Shrek home. Just when Shrek thought he’s finally getting some peace and quiet, he’s mistaken. Fairy tale creatures invade his swamp after being exiled by the ruler, Lord Farquaad. That’s when he sets off on an adventure to reclaim his home and one thing leads to another.
After seeing the franchise added back to Netflix, I decided to rewatch it for old times’ sake and it never gets old.
If you’re looking for a great family movie, go ahead and rewatch the Shrek franchise!
If you’re not familiar with this series, it’s a reality TV show following real estate agents at The Oppenheim Group. The show is all about drama, from their work to their personal lives.
Whether you’ve been following the series or just heard about it, it’s one of those shows you can watch in the background while you’re busy around the house.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein was released yesterday and has been a highly anticipated by fans, especially since fan favourite Jacob Elordi is playing the iconic monster. This role takes his acting career to a whole new level.
Guillermo del Toro is the writer-director of the film. He’s directed several others, including Pinocchio, Cabinet of Curiosities and The Shape of Water, which won Best Picture at the Oscars. Given his mastery of the “monster” theme, it’s no surprise he took on this project.
As You Stood By
A new Korean thriller limited series has made it to Netflix!
As You Stood By is directed by Lee Jeong-lim and stars Lee You-mi (you might recognize from Squid Game and Mr. Plankton), Jeon so-nee (Parasyte: The Grey) and Jang Seung-jo (The Good Detective).
The series follow Eun-su (played by Jeon so-nee), a housewife who survives years of abuse in her marriage. Eventually her best friend Hui-su (played by Lee You-mi) helps her break free.
The Call is a 2020 Korean psychological thriller film in which the main character, Seo-yeon, connects with someone living 20 years in the past through a random phone she discovers. What she thought was a friendly encounter soon turns dark.
I discovered this film during the pandemic when everyone was streaming movies online, and it was a golden find. I’m a sucker for psychological horror, so if you’re a big fan of twists and turns and love surprise elements in film, this one’s for you.
Get Out
It all starts when Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, head up for a weekend to meet her parents. Throughout his time there, he has mysterious encounters that are inexplicable. Just when he thinks he’s taking the necessary steps in their relationship, Chris discovers the disturbing truth behind his girlfriend’s family.
Get Out was released in 2017, and ever since, I’ve always looked forward director Jordan Peele’s next projects. Soon after, Peele released Us in 2019 which also falls under the psychological horror/thriller genre. If you’re looking for a movie with a grand final surprise reveal at the end, you have to check this one out for your Halloween weekend.
Train to Busan
If you haven’t watched this classic 2016 Korean zombie film, you’re missing out!
The film takes place during a zombie apocalypse, following a dad, Seok-woo, and his daughter, Soo-an, who meet other survivors along the way. Their destination is Busan, the only city that’s safe from danger.
Something South Korea does really well is zombie films, and one thing to know about Korean zombies: they are fast. If you want to watch something similar, look for Peninsula, #Alive, or some popular TV shows like All of Us Are Dead, Sweet Home and Kingdom.
The Perfection
The Perfection is a movie I stumbled upon randomly while scrolling through the horror section on Netflix and it is a must-watch!
It’s another horror/thriller film, but it get real twisted (which I love), and might leave you confused as you watch. Charlotte, a musical prodigy, returns to her former school after caring for her ill mother. When she meets Elizabeth, the school’s rising star, their connection leads them down a disturbing path.
It’s one of those movies that you can watch once, give it some time, and then rewatch. It was one of the few films that really hones in on psychological thriller, and it uses that to it’s advantage to make it more twisted than you can imagine.
Weapons
Weapons is a relatively new film released this year, and despite how critical I can be with horror movies, this was really well done. Sometimes, horror movies might capture the right idea but execute it poorly, but this movie proved otherwise.
The horror begins when an entire classroom of kids goes missing, except for one, and the community sets off to figure out what happened.
Are you going to add any of these horror/thriller films to your weekend watch list?
