Month: April 2025

A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far Far Away

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

The year was 1999. I was naught but an impressionable seven-year-old. And my mother was taking me to the local cinema to watch the beginnings of a new trilogy set among the stars where a slew of space wizards would be duelling it out to a grand orchestral piece by one John Williams. Sure, there were a few slow scenes with talks about blockades and a Trade Federation, but these were interspersed between riveting action pieces and a grand race on a desert planet. If you haven’t caught on by now, dear reader, the film was Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Over the years, I’d watch the rest: Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, though not necessarily in that exact order.

And besides attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I also wanted to train to be a master of the Force and wield my own lightsaber into battle. Heck, I even trained privately at home using a long metal pole scavenged from Gods know where and striking it against the bedframe of the bunkbed at home.

Unfortunately, adulthood came chasing after me.

Before I knew it, I had largely outgrown the fantasies of my youth and was on the path of becoming a gainfully employed member of society. With a penchant, still, for the galaxy George Lucas created all those years ago.

Cue the sequel trilogy that first brought a grin to my face before it dampened my hopes with a lacklustre finale.

Despite my immeasurable disappointment with Rise of Skywalker, the Star Wars franchise has still sat quite highly in my personal regard. There has always been something inspiring about the Jedi and their teachings with the Force. Then, of course, there were the countless stories that could be told in the rich history of the Republic with its range of colourful alien races and the people who live in it. Look no further to Knights of the Old Republic for the grand tale of Darth Revan. Then there’s the collection of video games centred around the aftermath of the Empire’s fall: Star Wars: Dark Forces and Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Modern stories such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor have also been a delight.

Games aside, I’ve also enjoyed many of the LEGO set pieces that are constantly released. From the rare collector’s editions to the iconic spaceships. In my childhood, I had a LEGO replica of Jango Fett’s Slave 1. After being freed from the restrictions placed upon me by childhood, and the fact I did not have my own money, I bought other LEGO Star Wars sets, the most recent being the Dark Falcon.

So, in my hubris, and my desire to combine two of my favourite things together, I went and purchased LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It did, after all, receive many a glowing review upon its release back in 2022. Was it any wonder I wanted to see what had so hooked so many to their tried and true formula by dipping my toes into what many would describe as a kid’s game? I mean, I’d just come off from Astro Bot, also ostensibly a video game aimed at children (and one my 4-year-old nephew adores), so there had to be something bigger than nostalgia gripping its fans. Right?

Unfortunately, The Skywalker Saga felt like a top ten hits recap of the 9 mainline Star Wars films with a copious amount of collectibles thrown in to maintain interest for the game.

And let’s just say the collectibles are extensive.

While I don’t mind having a copious amount of collectibles on each level for me to pick-up during a playthrough, where I often draw the line is when it takes multiple playthroughs just to make sure everything has been picked up. In The Skywalker Saga, the initial playthrough of each story mission (of which there are five in each episode) limits the characters you can use. Unfortunately, many of the minikits and even some of the level challenges are gated behind using certain abilities to obtain.

Coupled with extensive recreations of the various worlds, filled with their own side quests and other puzzles, the amount of collectibles available becomes an onerous burden. One I was loathe to partake in even as many others might find the challenges a great addition when it comes to replayability.

Admittedly, there have been other games I’ve played that have gated the completion of side quests or collectibles behind certain upgrades in other games, these were primarily set in open worlds. There was no gated off level that needed to be replayed for the other items on the checklist to be ticked off. Nor did these games limit what abilities you were able to use for future levels.

Gameplay features aside, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga story faithfully follows the plot of the movies they are derived from. Each trilogy is set apart at the start, with players being able to pick from A New Hope, The Force Awakens or The Phantom Menace. After completing each initial episode, further episodes open up – continuing the story of the Skywalkers and their impact on the wider galaxy.

Of course, since this is a LEGO game, The Skywalker Saga is sprinkled with some of its trademark humour and charm. It was almost like playing through a parody of the films as characters break the fourth wall or comment on the baffling decisions when it came to the story beats *cough Rise of Skywalker cough*. Then there were the nods to various memes.

And while my life would have been enriched by not playing through the cringe-worthy battle between Rey and Darth Sidious, I did enjoy the fact Rey and Kylo did NOT kiss in the LEGO rendition. Something which made a lot more sense since the film never built up much of their romantic tension (at least in my humble opinion. Come at me Reylo fans! I’m willing to fight you all on this!)

With all that said, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is my least favourite Star Wars game. I think the main reason behind it is that it’s a simple retread of the films. For many, this would not be an issue. But for me, knowing how the stories eventuate and seeing the grand scenes recreated in LEGO, albeit with many a change to keep it child-friendly and unserious, left me wanting.

Then there were the simplified controls which mostly felt janky to me.

Coupled with the collectibles stuffed into the title, I felt overwhelmed by all the things I would need to do if I wanted to satisfy the completionist in my soul. Given the limitations on my time and the fact I was still very behind on the video games that came out in 2024, the prospect of spending hours simply clearing out each objective was far too tedious for my very adult brain. Heck, it wouldn’t have been very fun for young Kyndaris (who spent an entire IRL day sailing around Skellige to all the ? marks on the map and diving down to find the treasure chests hidden below).

But if you like your games simple with a lot of replayability? Go for it. Especially if you have young children that you want to introduce Star Wars to.

Now if only I could convince my big responsible adult brain to fork out the money to fly me to Galaxy’s Edge and build my very own lightsaber…

The Art of Survival

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

When I first started reading the Three-Body Problem, I had high expectations. The science fiction trilogy, known formerly as Remembrance of Earth’s Past, had been described as a seminal and poignant piece on the human condition. One that was being adapted to Netflix, no less (though by the time I eventually got to it, the Netflix series was already out). And, on paper, it ticked many of my boxes when it came to something I would want to read. More importantly, I wanted to see how the many disparate threads planted in the blurb would all come together. What with the video game element, the existence of extraterrestrial life hidden among the stars, and the Cultural Revolution.

Though it took me a little by surprise at how abrupt it was, I enjoyed reading about Ye Wenjie’s past as she grew up during a difficult period in China’s history. As someone born to Chinese immigrants, I had heard stories about how my family navigated those times. From the limited food rations, the biting cold of northwest China…

But I’d never quite understood, on an intellectual level, the utter devastation of those years. It wasn’t until I picked up Frank Dikotter’s The Tragedy of Liberation and Mao’s Great Famine that I was able to actually gain a proper appreciation of the China my parents lived through. After all, it all seemed so far away when my own life was filled with plenty. Sure, there were still concerns about kidnappings and racist attacks but I’d never had to worry about stripping the bark off trees just to feed my belly.

Poverty, on such a national scale, is still a far cry worse from the current cost-of-living crisis we face now. That said, the struggles many face now cannot be so easily dismissed. Wage stagnation and the inflation of the prices for common everyday items means many families have had to go without.

Armed with this foreknowledge of what people had to go through during Ye Wenjie’s childhood, I was quite sympathetic to the character. Especially when her father was killed before her and the family was torn apart by the need to comply with the dictates of an authoritarian leader.

Was it any wonder she lost faith in humanity and sold us out to the Trisolarians? And as a student of history, and a self-described misanthrope, I will readily admit humans are the biggest obstacle to solving many of the world’s problems. If we ever want the world to be a better place, it, honestly, might just be better to eradicate us all.

Humans suck. What more is there to say?

Just look at the current state of the world if you think I’m talking out of my arse.

The only times humans ever band together over a common cause is when disaster strikes. See 9/11 or the Los Angeles Fires.

Of course, there will still be those out for themselves. It’s human nature, after all, to covet what others have and take it for ourselves.

And so it was with the Three-Body Problem.

While most of the first book saw humanity try to uncover the plot behind the Earth-Trisolaris Organisation (ETO), which was dedicated to helping Trisolarians invade Earth and destroy human civilisation, the next two books of the trilogy were an examination of how humanity might deal with the threat of its very destruction at the hands of aliens. Strong premises which should have been interesting to explore…and yet I was let down by much of the plot and the characters.

It should be noted the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy was originally written in Chinese. As such, the books I read were actually the English translations. But for all the novel concepts being explored, I couldn’t help but feel like some of the work could have been edited down. Of note were the second and last book.

While I understand Liu Cixin wanted to paint the bleak nature of what humanity faced, there were many moments that could have been described in a sentence or two – or wholly cut out entirely. For example, almost all of Luo Ji’s interaction with his imaginary ‘perfect’ woman. Or even Wang Miao’s exploration of the Three Body video game. Did we really need to see him witness all the cycles of Trisolaris society being consumed before finally coming to the conclusion the world was tangling with three celestial bodies? I mean, the title of the book is The Three-Body Problem.

Then, of course, there’s my entire issue with the third book as a passive bystander. Was there truly a need to see humanity descend into barbarism when the Trisolarians decided to herd them all to Australia? I goddamn live in Australia. And having Cheng Xin’s entire perception of the country I live in be boiled down to Baz Luhrman’s Australia film felt…well, the less said, the better.

Or spend so long on the evolution of society that it was acceptable for men to adopt incredibly feminine appearances during times of peace? Before changing once more to their militaristic ‘masculine’ counterparts following the possibility of a Dark Forest strike?

One of my current sticking points when it comes to identity politics is the concept that good times breed ‘weak’ men and how hard times create ‘strong’ men. With the idea of ‘weak’ men being long-haired fem-boys and ‘strong’ men being roided out dude bros all clamouring to be the alpha. When, in all actuality, a demonstration of strength means rising above traditional ideologies of what constitutes masculinity and learning to be empathetic.

Not to mention the chapters dedicated to Yun Tianming’s fairytales, the adventures with 4D space…

The list goes on.

Plot aside, my other main issue were the characters. Both Wang Miao and Luo Ji had an obsession with the women in their lives bordering on unhealthy. Their entire character arcs and motivations were centred on the women they liked. Luo Ji, especially, came off as a patronising socially inept incel.

Of course, some of that could be attributed to Chinese culture or the imperfections of the translations but even when it came to Cheng Xin (the only female protagonist), her entire role was boiled down to what Yun Tianming (a man) bequeathed her with, using the money he had obtained. And she, smitten by the fact he had bought her the rights to a distant star, carried a torch for him until the very end of the book.

In my opinion, it would have been better if Cheng Xin was never gender-swapped to be a woman. In fact, I would have preferred a torrid gay love affair between a male Cheng Xin and Yun Tianming. And, instead, they should have gender swapped Thomas Wade (the psychopathic anti-hero who actually helped save humanity because they could make the hard decisions Cheng Xin could not).

If I’m being truly honest, the only character I liked in Death’s End was 艾AA. Now, she was a woman who would have served as a better protagonist to hapless and indecisive Cheng Xin (who basically slept through most of the book, woke up, made a terrible decision that essentially doomed the human race before someone else came to fix her problem before repeating the cycle all over again). Much like Thomas Wade, 艾AA, was able to make hard decisions. Yet she was also affable and friendly, helping Cheng Xin along before the entire solar system was sucked into the second dimension.

I suppose my main issue is how the characters never felt like characters but simply vessels to drive the story forward. There is no real autonomy afforded to them. They are simply there to fill a hole as required by the plot Liu Cixin wished to write. Or perhaps to explore a concept he wanted to drive home.

Overall, Remembrance of Earth’s Past provides an intriguing take of what it means to reach out across the universe and make contact with another intelligent civilisation, even when it falters to the overarching plot and the characters. It is certainly something worth pondering over and if we, as humans, face a Dark Forest of our very own.

Of course, other films of first contact have pointed to possible positive relations to extraterrestrials.

I, for one, believe curiosity may stay the hand of any who may pay us a visit. But I also understand the underlying fear of what it might mean to stumble upon an aggressor in the dark depths of space. After all, why take the risk of being conquered and having one’s home taken? It’s not like that’s happened in the history of humanity…right? *cough colonialisation cough*

So, perhaps it is easier to eliminate all possible threats to the continuation of our race than face extinction.

Food for thought, dear reader. Food for thought.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

After finishing a game from publisher Square Enix that involved multiple timelines, I thought the next game I ought to play should be more the same. Cue Life is Strange: Double Exposure, the latest title wherein seemingly normal people in smalltown America discover they secretly have super powers. Yet instead of featuring a new protagonist with an original story, Double Exposure sees the return of one Maxine Caulfield following the events in Arcadia Bay. Except, instead of being able to rewound time, her powers have since changed to dimensional hopping a la Sliding Doors (not that I know much of it since I never did watch the film and am basing this comparison on a rudimentary understanding from reading the plot on Wikipedia).

The Life is Strange games hold a special place in my heart. While many fans adored best friend deuteragonist Chloe Price, I never quite took a shine to her. To me, she was rude and belittling. Blaming every bad decision she made on someone else.

Yes, she was troubled. Yes, she was still dealing with the trauma of losing her father.

But these are not excuses.

During my playthrough of Life is Strange, my sympathies was always with the other residents of Arcadia Bay. Be it Joyce Price, the Chloe from the past (or from when you time travelled and managed to change the present – albeit with Chloe the car crash victim) or Kate Marsh (honestly, that scene up on the roof was the most terrifying I’ve ever experienced. Thankfully, I managed to save Kate. A fact I can proudly pat myself on the back for).

In the end, the choice was no choice at all. Bay over bae. Every single time.

As I played Life is Strange 2 and Life is Strange: True Colours, bay over bae was my consistent choice. And in Double Exposure, I told Safi in confidence about losing my good friend Chloe while we ate at the Snapping Turtle after our excursion to an abandoned bowling alley. This choice flavoured Max’s journal entries, how she viewed the world, and the decisions she would choose to make throughout the rest of the game.

While I can’t say what the writers intended, Chloe’s death felt very real in its consequences as to why Max never again used her powers and why she moved from town to town, never settling down to put down roots. The death of her childhood friend, one she got to learn more about before having to undo everything to save Arcadia Bay, was a poignant moment. As was the trauma Max endured at the hands of Mr Jefferson when the two partners-in-crime were trying to uncover the truth behind Rachel Amber’s disappearance.

This and more were handled quite tactfully during a sequence in the last chapter of Double Exposure. It helped provide some insight into Max’s thoughts, and helped solidify the decisions I made at the end (even though I feel like the consequences were minimal).

Unfortunately, there were many elements of Double Exposure that fell short. Especially in terms of the characterisation for Yasmin and new best friend: Safiya Llewellyn-Fayyad. In fact, one of my biggest gripes was how Double Exposure ended with little to no resolution. Safiya’s big 180 degree turn to becoming the the Big Bad Evil Gal did not feel properly earned. Especially when the chapter beforehand saw her and Max publicly tear down Lucas Colmenero for stealing the works of one Maya Okuda and causing her subsequent suicide.

Yes, I know she was feeling betrayed by learning of her mother’s complicity in the death of her friend but she had also sought the revenge she wanted. And, in my playthrough, used her own voice to hit the final nail in Lucas Colmenero’s literary career coffin.

Then, of course, there’s the big question looming over the end of the story. What happened to the Safiya from the Dead World timeline? If the ending to Double Exposure made anything clear, it was that in a desperate bid to save her friend, Max travelled back in time with Safiya after her mental breakdown following the latter shooting her mother. Wanting to rid herself of her pain, Safiya asked her friend to kill her.

In the timeline of the Dead World, alternate Max goes through with it. Setting in motion the events of the game. Our Max, however, does not.

So, it begs the question. When Max travelled back in time with Safiya in tow, did the old Safiya from Dead World go somewhere else? Or, did the Living World Safiya take over the body of her Dead World counterpart? None of this was properly explained and it left me scratching my head.

Not to mention, of course, the time aberrations at the overlook with Detective Alderman and Reggie’s past ghost.

Then there’s the fact the whole doppelganger plot beat was only ever in the Living World timeline. And while, yes, it is implied Safiya from the Dead World timeline was also a shapeshifter, the motivation to kill the dean’s daughter was never quite as evident.

You can’t tell me, Deck Nine, that Safiya only decided to pose as Gwen or Lucas in the two days after her supposed death following the Geminid meteor shower. Like, we know Safiya is a spiteful person. She would have been laying those crumbs a lot earlier. So, even in Dead World, Gwen should have had a hearing for selling drugs to students and Lucas ought to still have a fraught relationship with his son.

These elements and more would have made Safiya’s characterisation feel more consistent across the timelines. As it was, all the relevations Max had, related only to Living World Safi.

And what a character she was.

In many ways, she reminded me of the Rachel Amber we got in Before the Storm. Just like Rachel, Safi is enraged when she finds out their parent is keeping a secret from them. Both are rebellious and sarcastic. But whereas Rachel did not have powers, Safi’s allow her to become anyone she wants by manipulating the perceptions of those around her.

In the end, I feel like Double Exposure would have benefitted from having a little extra time when it came to its development. A little more care in characterisation, letting certain moments breathe, and addressing some of the dangling story threads would have let Max’s latest adventure shine. Instead, the ending felt like a muddled mess, leaving a sour taste in many a player’s mouth as it teased a sequel that would go in a direction many feel would detract from the franchise.

That’s not to say Double Exposure doesn’t have good moments. Because it does! I very much liked how colour and tone shaped the two timelines. Even if it was a little on the nose. Especially with the pirate mural at the Snapping Turtle changing from a happy to sad expression.

Then, of course, there was the opening to Chapter 4 where Max and Safi interrogated each other about the powers they wielded, as well as their intentions. It was tense and showed where each character stood. I was on the edge of my seat wondering where the story would lead.

It was during this fraught conversation that I felt somewhat sympathetic to Safi. Who hasn’t wanted to be someone else when real life and the expectations placed on us becomes too overwhelming? Growing up in an ethnic household, there were moments I wished I had a white family.

Even now, I often feel more connected to the video game characters or the heroes from my fantasy novels, wishing I could take on their life instead of my own. And when Log Horizon came out, I did wonder which MMORPG I would have liked being trapped in for all time. The first answer which came to mind? Final Fantasy XIV.

From a character standpoint, I very much liked Moses, Gwen and Amanda. Moses for being a stalwart ally, and the first person Max was able to talk to about her powers. Gwen for being a headstrong woman who didn’t take shit from anyone. And Amanda, for being a real friend (and possible love interest).

Was it bad I continued to pursue the romance in an alternate timeline? Maybe. But in Max’s defence, I don’t think she ever thought the timelines would ever merge. Is it really manipulation when it’s technically two different people though they share the same memories up to a certain point?

Amanda certainly felt like a better option than Vinh. Who, while he did exude a certainly sexy bad boy appeal, never really felt like a romantic option because of his possible ties the overall mystery (whereas Ryan in True Colours, though he also had an overall connection to Haven Springs, was also a friend who was involved in dumb silly shenanigans to find out the truth behind Gabe’s death) with most of his and Max’s scenes involving her trying to get more information out from him and him being a terrible flirt.

From a gameplay point of view, Double Exposure keeps it simple. There’s not much in terms of puzzles – with many solutions being quite obvious after a thorough examination of one’s environment. Although, I have to admit, the key to Colmenero’s secret safe was a bit of a challenge to find. Had I not looked something up on a walkthrough, I would probably still be scratching my head on how to resolve that chapter.

Overall, I felt like Double Exposure had a decent set-up for what could have been an excellent story. Yet, the ending – especially when it came to Safi’s villain monologue – was badly fumbled. Perhaps if the game was longer and we saw more of how Safi saw those without powers, it would have made more sense.

While I know Deck Nine was strapped for cash during Double Exposure‘s development cycle, I would have also liked a few more locations around Caledon campus to help build out the world. Instead, it felt cramped and almost claustrophobic with the limitations of the game world.

But also, maybe, I don’t know, it might have been better if the stakes in Double Exposure were higher. As it is, I never felt like Max was ever in danger. Nor any of the other characters. At least, in any proper capacity.

So, here’s hoping that if Deck Nine do end up making another sequel starring Max, we can see a proper resolution to this controversial entry that seems to have pushed away many a Life is Strange fan.

Meanwhile, I’ll be here enjoying Lost Records: Bloom & Rage from Don’t Nod.

Divorce At First Sight

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

I am no stranger to attending awkward lunch dates. It’s been a staple of my life ever since I tried my hand at finding a worthy enough partner on Hinge. But in a bid to keep pushing myself outside my comfort zone, I agreed to a combined Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day event at a suburban RSL where its main clientele seemed to be the old grannies from the local retirement village or families with nothing better to do.

In fact, if I’m being brutally honest, the RSL looked quite abysmally rundown. There was no glitz and glamour like the ones in my usual area. And it certainly wasn’t one I’d wish to attend on a regular basis unless I was on my death bed.

For non-Australians reading this post, RSL stands for the Returned and Services League of Australia. It is an independent support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force. More importantly, they have many clubs around the country to provide a venue for current and ex-serve personnel to enjoy a safe and comfortable place to share a meal or drink.

Depending on which suburb you go to they can be well-polished, filled with all manner of entertainment – mostly poker machines – while others look like they’ll be swallowed up the tides of time. The one I attended? Very much in the latter.

Despite my initial reservations, I pushed forward.

After all, I’d already paid $20 to reserve a spot. I couldn’t let it go to waste.

So, after meeting a key selection of other young hopefuls also looking to make connections and possibly match with them, I tried my best to converse with the others. Of course, being more taciturn, it became far more natural for me to sit and observe the proceedings between those who had arrived earlier.

I learned a few interesting facts from each: one of the men had migrated to Australia from Singapore, the woman sitting to his right (my left) was a country girl who had been to numerous cities before settling in Sydney with her family, and the woman sitting to his left (my right) had attended the event with her mother. Seated to my right was a man working in HR for a not-for-profit. On his other side was a woman who was currently at NSW Health.

All of them had vaguely interesting stories to tell. Yet instead of sharing them with the group, they had broken up into smaller pairings to converse.

Overall, it meant it was harder to find a point to jump in. All of them were sequestered in their own silos and I was outsider peering in through the window.

Worse, the man on my left always seemed to have his attention further down the table towards the older guests. While I did try to draw him out for a conversation, it would always end up falling a little flat.

The forced style of the event meant much of the conversations were stilted, relying primarily on small talk to get to know each other. To say it was a bore is putting it mildly. And I remember glancing at my watch wondering when it would be polite to abscond from the event and head home.

I suppose it didn’t help that sitting at the far end, away from the other attendees, it felt like our small group were treated as the ‘kids.’ Or, at the very least, the ‘young ones.’ Just because I’m in my 30s doesn’t mean I always have something to discuss with my fellow contemporaries. As my dating history has shown, not many people my own age, or younger, are equally mature or have an intellectual bent to draw out my curiosity.

Conversation flowed easier after lunch, which we were all required to order separately at the RSL bistro. My order was grilled barramundi with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes. A fairly decent and substantial meal given the other options on the menu, and one I dug into with gusto when it was finally ready.

While I could try to add some additional details to the rather lacklustre event, I don’t think I could summon the words. After finishing my lunch, I kept one eye constantly on the time. Once it passed 1:30, I was out of my seat (mostly because I needed to pee after downing my orange juice furiously before ordering lunch because while I was sure no-one would roofie me at an event in broad daylight, I didn’t want to risk the possibility). The others did ask if I was leaving and I told them a half-truth (though I’m sure most would interpret it as a lie).

Suffice it to say, I did not return to my seat afterwards. Instead, after paying a visit to the toilet, I bade goodbye to the host and slipped away.

And so I brought an end to the sham once and for all to seek the comfort of my video games and the sanctity of my home. I mean, if we’re being completely and absolutely honest here, even though I think Cloud Strife is a bit of a limp noodle with absolutely no real charisma to speak of (besides how adorkable he can be sometimes), he’s still a leg up from those at the lunch. Besides, he’s ex-SOLDIER and could probably cleave me in two with one swipe of the Buster Sword.

Now, dear reader, I can almost hear you ask if I’ll attend any further of these events. And while I cannot completely rule them out, it’s doubtful I’ll put my hand up in the near future.

Falling in love with complete strangers is not really in my wheelhouse. Sure, I do get the occasional squish but it’s rare and few between. Especially when fanfiction can get me hot and bothered when I do fall for a fictional character from a book, TV show, movie or video game.

I mean, if all else fails, there’s always AI! Or I can get a pet!

As an aside, getting a dog looks better and better with each passing year.