Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers may be present for some of the titles on this list.
This month (November 2024) marks the fifth anniversary of Trekking with Dennis! That’s right, I’ve been online talking about Star Trek and the wide world of geekdom for almost five years – and what better way to celebrate or mark the occasion than by making five recommendations to you based on the films, games, and TV shows that I’ve enjoyed in that time? This isn’t my “end-of-year awards” piece for 2024; that’s still on the schedule for late December. Instead, what I’m going to do today is highlight five films, five games, and five TV shows from late 2019 through late 2024 that I think could be worth a look.
We’ll get into more personal reflections and a bit of a retrospective look back at the website’s progress later this month, but for now suffice to say that I’m satisfied with things. I don’t write as often as I did when I was getting started, and I have certainly experienced periods of writer’s block and burnout. But by and large I’m still enjoying what I do here; this little side-project gives the old brain cells a bit of a workout!
As always, I have a couple of caveats before we jump into the list. First of all, I’m picking titles that were released between November 2019 – the month Trekking with Dennis first came online – and November 2024. Older titles won’t be included. Secondly, this isn’t meant to be a “top five” or my “all-time favourites;” these are just titles I’ve enjoyed that I’m happy to recommend. And finally, as I always say: all of this is just the subjective opinion of one person. If I include something you hate or miss out something you love… that’s okay! We all have different opinions when it comes to media and entertainment.
Phew! With all of that out of the way, let’s take a look at a few films, games, and TV programmes from the last five years.
Film #1:
Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon was unfortunate to be released while many cinemas were either still closed or limited in the amount of seats they could sell, and the film wound up on Disney+ shortly after its release – for an additional charge, naturally. As a result, I don’t think it picked up as much attention as it otherwise might’ve done, and that’s a shame because it’s a genuinely enjoyable film with a strong story.
Titular heroine Raya must travel across the broken land of Kumandra – a fictional realm based loosely on South-East Asia. In her quest to bring back the dragons and defeat the deadly Druun, she encounters a host of fun characters, visits diverse locations, and is swept up in a thrilling adventure. I had a blast with this film – though it was a little odd that there were no musical numbers in a Disney animated picture!
Film #2:
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Alright, I admit it: the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. is a “guilty pleasure” favourite of mine! But there’s no denying that the animated film from last year blows it out of the water in every possible way. Nintendo was understandably cautious with its top-tier franchise after the reaction to the live-action version in the ’90s, but the corporation was eventually persuaded to give Mario another chance at the box office. What resulted was my favourite film of 2023 by far.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie puts an updated twist on the tired “save the princess” trope by putting Luigi in danger and having Mario team up with Peach to rescue him from Bowser. Practically all of the Mushroom Kingdom gang join the fun, and there’s even a fun sequence based on the Mario Kart games. Visually, the film was an absolute treat, with the Mushroom Kingdom being brought to life and looking better than ever. A great soundtrack was the icing on the cake for a truly delightful film.
Film #3:
Civil War
Earlier this year I watched Civil War, a fascinating film about a near-future America that was at war with itself. The film didn’t have the political angle that I’d been expecting based on its marketing material, with the titular conflict being more of a backdrop for a road trip the main characters took through different parts of a war-ravaged nation. There were some incredibly brutal depictions of violence, showing how the breakdown of social order can turn average, everyday people into killers.
The main characters were all interesting, and a focus on journalists lent the film something a little different in a war genre that can sometimes get repetitive. The final sequence involving the storming of the White House and the killing of an apparently very unpopular president has parallels that are genuinely disturbing and thought-provoking, too.
Film #4:
Dune (Parts One and Two)
I was very worried that Denis Villeneuve might not get the opportunity to complete his two-part adaptation of Dune – but I’m so glad to have been proven wrong about that! The book has proven notoriously difficult to adapt thanks to a dense story, and realistically we could have a multi-season TV series based on just the first entry in the series. But this two-part film adaptation (which will shortly be joined by a prequel TV show set in the same universe) was absolutely fantastic.
What’s great about Dune and Dune: Part Two is how both films brought in a much bigger audience than you’d expect for a sci-fi property. Expanding the genre to new fans is a great thing, and it’s something to celebrate. In terms of cinematography, sound design, acting performances, and basically everything across the board, this two-part adaptation of Dune was beautiful science-fiction perfection.
Film #5:
The Matrix Resurrections
Maybe it’s a “hot take” to say this was a brilliant film… but it genuinely resonated with me in a way that very few titles ever have. I respect director Lana Wachowski for returning to the world of The Matrix almost twenty years later, and bringing back a deeply metaphorical style of storytelling.
I described The Matrix Resurrections as brutal and raw, and it could even be an uncomfortable watch in places. Some viewers these days have an understandable bias against franchises being brought back or revisited – because all too often, the reason corporations do so is purely to profit off of a successful name. But Resurrections (despite its name) is different, and it finds a story worth telling and an analogy worth paying attention to. I’d encourage anyone who missed it to at least give it a chance.
Video Game #1:
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Jedi: Fallen Order isn’t just a great game, it’s one of the best pieces of Star Wars media of the last five years, period. The game follows Cal Kestis – a young Jedi who barely survived the events of Order 66 (as depicted in Revenge of the Sith) as he goes on a galaxy-spanning adventure and rediscovers his connection with the Force. It’s an intense and, at times, emotional journey, and there are some great moments of characterisation as Cal develops friendships with some of the people he meets along the way.
Mechanically, Jedi: Fallen Order is a “souls-like” third-person adventure game, but from my point of view it has an easier mode so that’s great! There were a couple of things I didn’t like as much – like having to re-play whole chunks of the same level – but by and large it was a blast. It’s a shame its sequel came with a much weaker story!
Video Game #2:
Cyberpunk 2077 (plus the Phantom Liberty DLC)
I genuinely did not expect to ever be in a position where I could recommend Cyberpunk 2077 in good conscience. The game launched in an appalling state back in 2020, a fact made worse by the lies its developer, CD Projekt Red, told about the condition it was in. It took several years of continued development just to patch out the bugs, and even then the game was held back by outdated mechanics and systems.
But last year’s massive 2.0 update and the launch of Phantom Liberty completely changed the Cyberpunk 2077 experience, and now the game really is a must-play for fans of role-playing games, action games, or even just great single-player stories. The narrative was always strong enough to keep me playing, even when I was underwhelmed by other aspects of the gameplay. But with many of my original complaints having been completely fixed… this could be one of the best games of the decade.
Video Game #3:
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
My pick for “game of the year” in 2021 was this delightfully old-school adventure game with 3D platforming elements. Kena: Bridge of Spirits was the first-ever game by a new indie studio, and the developers took their experience from working on CGI in the film and TV space to create one of the best games of the past few years. Collecting cute critters isn’t just a fun side-activity, it’s an integral part of how you progress through the game. The enchanted forest and village are wonderfully interactive environments. And the game is perfectly paced; neither outstaying its welcome nor ending too soon.
I also felt that Kena: Bridge of Spirits wasn’t a game that held my hand. It gave me all of the pieces I needed to solve a puzzle or navigate an obstacle, but it didn’t point out everything with a map marker or giant arrow. I could infer from the skills Kena had recently learned what I was supposed to do, and I really appreciated that. The graphics are also absolutely stunning, with the game looking like an interactive Disney or Dreamworks movie.
Video Game #4:
Fall Guys
I haven’t played Fall Guys in a while, but I was obsessed with this adorable battle royale when it launched back in 2020. The game has since gone free-to-play, but its monetisation didn’t feel aggressive or in-your-face the last time I jumped in. Fall Guys is, in brief, a game about running obstacle courses and taking part in multiplayer challenges. Sixty players start each round, but only one will progress through to become the ultimate champion!
There are some wonderfully creative rounds in Fall Guys, from standard obstacle courses to team games, and some have different themes like sci-fi or the holiday season. There’s no story to speak of, and while I’d usually never be interested in an online competitive multiplayer game… Fall Guys really did succeed at pulling me in. I spent hours playing it in 2020 and 2021, and I really should revisit it one day.
Video Game #5:
EA Sports PGA Tour
I know this seems like a strange pick, but I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve spent playing PGA Tour this year. The game relaxes me in a way few titles do, and reminds me of playing the likes of Actua Golf 2 on my PC in the late ’90s or Wii Sports with friends a few years later. For a game about golf – a sport I have absolutely no interest in and never watch – it sure does succeed at giving me nostalgic, cozy feelings!
There are plenty of things to criticise. This is an EA Sports title, which means it’s pumped full of microtransactions and ways to part with your money. Some of the graphics and animation work for characters feels outdated. And I’d be happy if more lines of commentary were added! But I’m going to end 2024 with PGA Tour as my most-played game by far, and it’s a title I go back to when I need to de-stress, take a break, and play something that’s challenging but not too physically demanding on my arthritic hands.
TV Show #1:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Strange New Worlds is, for me, the absolute highlight of modern Star Trek. Technically a spin-off from Discovery, the show returns the franchise to its episodic roots while retaining modern trappings like character development and season-long arcs that rumble in the background. In just two seasons the series has dipped its toes in genres from musical to horror, and there’s plenty more to come with two upcoming seasons still waiting to be broadcast.
Returning to the USS Enterprise to see Captain Pike in command has proven to be an unexpected masterstroke for the Star Trek franchise, and stepping back to a more episodic style of storytelling after Discovery and Picard were both much more serialised has been incredibly cathartic for this old Trekkie. I would challenge anyone who didn’t enjoy those other live-action Star Trek shows to give Strange New Worlds a chance – I really don’t think you’ll regret it! It’s my hope that this will become the franchise’s new “flagship” series, carrying Star Trek forward through its sixtieth anniversary and beyond.
TV Show #2:
Silo
A different kind of post-apocalyptic drama, Silo was one of the highlights of 2023 for me. Taking place in an underground bunker (the titular “silo”), the show follows an intriguing murder mystery which threatens to unravel the carefully-constructed subterranean world. Rebecca Ferguson leads a star-studded cast, and her character Juliette Nichols makes for a wonderful protagonist.
Apple TV+ invested heavily in Silo, and I think the result of that investment speaks for itself. The show is incredibly well put-together, with everything from sound design and special effects to set design and costumes all building up a creative post-apocalyptic setting. Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in just a few days’ time – and I can’t wait!
TV Show #3:
3 Body Problem
I’m so glad that Netflix belatedly renewed 3 Body Problem, as it’s probably my favourite show of 2024. A really creative work of sci-fi based on a Chinese novel series, 3 Body Problem depicts humanity’s first encounter with an extraterrestrial race – and the incredibly “alien” nature of the San-Ti can be both shocking and frightening. The first season feels like a really solid start for building up a great story, and with the book series already complete, there’s less danger for co-creators David Benioff and DB Weiss than there was with Game of Thrones!
A modern-day setting served 3 Body Problem well, and I loved seeing its seemingly-disconnected storylines and characters slowly come together over the course of several episodes. There were elements of mystery, drama, and horror to go along with a sci-fi premise that could feel quite weighty… and I cannot wait for Season 2 to pick up this story and tell the next part of the tale.
TV Show #4:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
After two seasons, I think The Rings of Power has laid the groundwork for a successful fantasy series. There are things to criticise, and I’m not sure that enough has been done – yet – to fully justify the price tag of one of the most expensive TV shows of all time… but there are plenty of positives to take away from this return to Middle-earth. Interconnected stories, elements of mystery, and some great character moments all give me reasons to keep watching.
I’ve been in love with Tolkien’s world since I first read The Hobbit as a geeky little kid, and getting to see another story like this unfold on the small screen has been fantastic. I just hope that future seasons can be ready a bit faster; waits of two-plus years in between truncated eight-episode seasons puts a bit of a downer on things! But overall I’ve had a good time with The Rings of Power and look forward to its continuation.
TV Show #5:
Five Days at Memorial
This miniseries had the difficult task of dramatising a recent real-world event: Hurricane Katrina and the effect it had on Memorial Hospital in New Orleans. For my money, everyone involved did a fantastic job. Five Days at Memorial could easily have come across as sensationalist or overplaying its hand, but it manages to be restrained in its criticism of the real people involved while remaining a gripping and occasionally harrowing watch.
The miniseries is also very well-balanced, refusing to condemn or totally exonerate the people involved, choosing instead to show the decisions they made in the context of an incredibly difficult situation. I remember the news reports about Memorial Hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but seeing the story like this, from the point of view of those involved, was really intense stuff. The sense of abandonment that the staff felt echoes how many people – particularly African Americans who lived in New Orleans – felt and continue to feel to this day. The scars of Hurricane Katrina still haven’t fully healed.
The Best of the Rest
In this category I’m going to make five other recommendations that don’t fit in any of the categories above. These are all entertainment and media-related, but I felt they either deserved their own spotlight or didn’t easily slot into any of the categories above.
Social Media Platform:
TikTok
I’ve found myself spending a bit more time with TikTok over the past couple of years. At first I was pretty dismissive of the platform; short-form videos in a vertical format didn’t really hold much appeal! But there are some incredible creators on TikTok who use the platform in interesting ways, and you can find everything from cookery to political commentary and travelogues to media criticism.
TikTok’s “For You Page” format also works well, and the app’s algorithm seems to be creepily clever in the way it chooses videos to recommend! I swear that I’ll have been thinking about something, only to see a video about it pop up a few moments later during my next TikTok scrolling session. YouTube is belatedly trying to catch up with Shorts, but TikTok is well on its way to becoming the dominant video app for the younger generation in particular.
Web Series:
Food Wishes
What I like to watch on YouTube can vary a lot, but I’ve always loved a good cookery show. Food Wishes has been running since 2007, and what’s remarkable is how little it’s changed in that time. Host Chef John doesn’t usually appear on camera, making the food he’s preparing the real star of the show. At time of writing there are well over 1,000 videos on the channel, and more are added almost every week.
Chef John teaches us how to cook everything from sandwiches to a full thanksgiving dinner, and often prepares dishes from cuisines and cultures that I would have never thought of! I’ve tried a few recipes for myself, and even though I’m far from the best cook, Chef John’s instructions make things feel simple. Food Wishes is easily one of my favourite web shows of all-time.
Documentary:
We Need To Talk About A.I.
Though arguably a little alarmist, We Need To Talk About A.I. was an interesting watch – and is made even more relevant by developments in the few short years since its original broadcast. Keir Dullea, famous for his role in 2001: A Space Odyssey, is the documentary’s presenter and narrator, and he brings a much-needed weight to the role.
The film interviewed several interesting people, including director James Cameron and several A.I. researchers, as it charted humanity’s potential path to creating general artificial intelligence; a sentient machine. A lot of people have been ringing alarm bells about what a hyper-intelligent, sentient machine might be able to do if it were ever created, and this documentary examines some of the worst-case scenarios! With advances in A.I. seemingly happening all the time, perhaps we’re closer to that future than we might think right now.
Browser Game:
Wordle
Yes, I still play Wordle! I lost for the first time in ages a few weeks ago and it really pissed me off! But that aside, this fun little browser game has become a part of my daily routine – and I don’t know where I’d be without it! I was never one to play anagrams, word searches, or sudoku, but something about the elegant simplicity of Wordle has kept me playing for over two years at this point.
And as long as Wordle remains online, I daresay I’ll keep playing. The hype around the game seems to have died down – it seemed for a while that you couldn’t move on social media without seeing people sharing their Wordle scores – but it obviously retains a sizeable player base.
Subscription:
Xbox/PC Game Pass
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Game Pass feels like a really good deal. If I were asked what the most cost-effective route into current-gen gaming is, I’d say without hesitation that an Xbox Series S with a Game Pass subscription is far and away the best option for players on a budget. Game Pass opens up a huge library of titles for a single monthly fee, and I remain surprised at how much pushback it continues to receive in some quarters!
I’ve been a subscriber to Game Pass on PC for a couple of years, and I’ve tried brand-new games I’d never have been able to afford, experimented with some very different titles I’d almost certainly never have even heard of, and jumped head-first into some big blockbusters all thanks to the service. Sure, there are drawbacks to Game Pass… but subscriptions feel like the way media in general is going, and I’m pretty confident that Microsoft will be able to iron out the bugs and inconsistencies to make Game Pass even better than it already is.
The Best Is Yet To Come…
Before we wrap things up, I want to highlight five announcements that have been made over the past few years. These are all projects that I’m really looking forward to in the months and years ahead.
Announcement #1:
Wicked
The (long-overdue) cinematic adaptation of Wicked is now just a few weeks away, and I really am looking forward to seeing this fantastic story on the big screen for the first time. Years ago I had the privilege of seeing Wicked on the stage in London, and I fell in love with its story, characters, and songs. I’m not usually someone who loves musicals, but Wicked has a truly outstanding soundtrack that I can’t wait to see recreated.
The decision to split Wicked into two parts is interesting, but hopefully will be more of a positive than a negative. Everything I’ve seen so far has just increased my excitement, so I really hope Wicked doesn’t let me down when I’m finally able to sit down and watch it!
Announcement #2:
Future Star Trek projects
At time of writing there are at least two brand-new TV shows in development for the Star Trek franchise, as well as two new seasons of Strange New Worlds. This will keep Star Trek on the air well past its sixtieth anniversary in 2026, which is fantastic news. The likes of Section 31 and Starfleet Academy have the potential to reach out beyond Star Trek’s usual niche to whole new audiences – something the franchise needs to do in order to survive and remain relevant – and that’s positive, too.
I’ve been a huge Trekkie since I first got into The Next Generation in the early 1990s, and to think that there’s still more Star Trek to come in the years ahead is great news. It’s true that I’ve gone through a bit of burnout with Star Trek, and that not every recent project has been fantastic, but there’s still a lot to love in my favourite franchise – and a lot to be excited about as Star Trek continues.
Announcement #3:
Phineas and Ferb Seasons 5 and 6
I really was pleased to see Phineas and Ferb get the green light for a full-blown revival. The cartoon has become one of my “comfort shows;” something I drift back to on days when my mental health isn’t great and I’m not feeling my best. The bright colours, wacky storylines, and fun characters just feel comfortable and safe. There’s a lot to love in Phineas and Ferb for an adult audience, too, as the show has plenty of jokes and storylines that aren’t just for kids.
Bringing back a beloved series after a long time away is a risk, but I’m hopeful that creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh have new ideas for where to take Phineas, Ferb, Perry, Dr Doofenshmirtz, and the rest of the gang. New adventures and inators await!
Announcement #4:
Grand Theft Auto VI
One of the first subjects I wrote about here on the website back in 2019 was Grand Theft Auto VI… and the game still isn’t out! I’m pretty annoyed with Rockstar for continuing to milk Grand Theft Auto V at the expense of everything else, and I’m even more disappointed that its sequel isn’t going to get a simultaneous PC release. For a company like Rockstar to cheap out on development given the growth of PC gaming over the last few years is pretty stupid to say the least.
However… I will eventually get my hands on this game, and from what I’ve seen and heard so far, it looks like it’s gonna be a fun time. Maybe it won’t hit the heights of Red Dead Redemption II, but then again, could any game manage that? I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but there’s no denying that I’m very keen to play Grand Theft Auto VI after such a long wait.
Announcement #5:
Nintendo’s next console
Earlier this year we heard from Nintendo that the company’s still-untitled new console is well underway. I’m expecting to see a release sometime between April 2025 and March 2026, so we might be pretty close! I’m already excited at the prospect of a new 3D Mario game, a new Animal Crossing title, a new Mario Kart game… and so on! I had fun with my Nintendo Switch, but I agree – it’s time for a new console.
There are reasons to be sceptical about Nintendo – their attempt to sue a competitor to the Pokemon series out of existence being just one of the shitty things the company has done of late. But as someone who’s been a Nintendo fan since I bought my first ever home console, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t really excited to see what Nintendo is going to do next. The smart money is on another hybrid console; a more powerful Switch. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo has a new gimmick in store to help the new machine stand out.
So that’s it!
Five years, five recommendations in a bunch of different categories. I hope this has been a bit of fun!
I certainly enjoyed returning to these titles! In some ways, it feels like no time at all since I was first beginning to put together the pieces of what would eventually become Trekking with Dennis. But in other ways, a lot has happened over the past five years – both personally and in a more general sense. The world of entertainment feels less stable, in some ways at least, than it did back then.
I hope you’ll join me at the end of November for a more individual perspective on the last five years. This website is, rather embarrassingly, the longest-running project I’ve ever had. It’s outlasted any job I’ve ever had, any other hobby or side-gig, and even though I spend less time writing here than I did when I first started, I still enjoy having my own little slice of the interweb where I can share my thoughts on some of my favourite (and least-favourite) titles. I hope to see you again soon!
All titles discussed above are the copyright of their respective publisher, broadcaster, distributor, corporation, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Trekking with Dennis 