WHAT TO WATCH

Lindsay Ellis — Trenchant Commentary. YouTube media critic Lindsay Ellis does amazing video essays dissecting what’s great and terrible about films, particularly Disney flicks. But don’t underestimate her work; she also explores the queer undertones of Michael Bay’s Transformers movies and offers a three-part documentary-style look at the Hobbit movies. Every video is equal parts academic, intriguing and funny. (Recommended by Ned Colin, Skipping the Ads)

Luther — It’s Just Getting Tenser. This police procedural, aka the best excuse to stare at the World’s Most Beautiful Man, Idris Elba, for many, many hours, just got its first new season since 2015. You should probably catch up on the other four seasons before you dive into the new stuff. Will there be a season six? No word yet, but Elba has said the next step is to make a film. (Recommended by Leslie dela Vega, On the Edge of Her Seat)

The Romanoffs — Russian Around. Even though this is the much-anticipated latest work by Mad Men auteur Matthew Weiner, it’s in no way a retread of his hit show. Instead of focusing on how characters change over time, as Mad Men did, it’s an anthology of dark, sometimes even cruel short stories about people who are or claim to be related to the deposed Russian royal family. (Recommended by Nancy Briscoe, OZY Fan) 

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

Guitar Wolf — Leaders of the Pack. Imagine, if you will, that the Beach Boys were born in Nagasaki, wore all leather and loved noise rock. That’s Guitar Wolf, a Japanese band that has nine studio albums’ worth of music for you to become obsessed with. Incredible bonus: You can dig out Wild Zero, the 1999 film starring the band — playing themselves, but in the midst of a zombie invasion. Why more bands don’t do this, we’ll never know, but it’s a serious oversight on their part. (Recommended by Sean Culligan, Rock Enthusiast)

Odezenne — Dreamy French Rap-Pop. This group, whose name is a cheeky homage to a former teacher all the band members had, is hard to pin down. Everything they make sounds like them, but it doesn’t quite fit a genre. It’s like Radiohead and Serge Gainsbourg had a baby that was into EDM and also was a rapper and also was really sleepy. Listen to it, then everything you just read will make sense. Except for the lyrics, unless you speak French. Hey, we just gave you a New Year’s resolution. (Recommended by Alex Furuya, Francophile)

WHERE TO GO

Nosara, Costa Rica — Untouched Paradise. This tiny corner of Costa Rica, blissfully lined with views of the Pacific Ocean, is still a bit of a hidden gem. But it might not be for long, because it’s a perfect spot for young families looking to relax without the spring break vibe of some tropical destinations. The region is well-known among expats as a haven, so even if you don’t speak Spanish you’ll probably find somebody to have a conversation with, and the amenities can’t be beat: incredible surfing, sea turtles and a focus on healthy, alternative foods.

The weather is warm all year, natch, but to avoid the wet season you should go in the winter. Sick of your extended family? Go for the holidays! Seasonal affective disorder? Ding ding ding. If you time it right, you can see the overlap of the dry season and sea turtle nesting season. Just don’t take any baby sea turtles home. (Recommended by Diana Clephane, Beachgoer)

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T DO THIS…

Build the second-largest moose. Though Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, prided itself for three decades on having the world’s biggest moose statue, the Norwegian town of Trondheim built one a full foot taller in 2015, taking the title for itself. Now Moose Jaw has sworn to strike back, with plans to add a tall hat or bigger antlers to its moose to reclaim the title. (UPI)

SLIDE INTO OUR DMS

Do you have a killer potato salad recipe that you’d like to share? Think you discovered the next great jam band? Share your suggestions with us here at OZY! Email us: Weekender@ozy.com.