TRENDING

Ever since a Netflix party became the new normal for a low-key hang, the flicks and shows we watch have gone from casual background entertainment to sometimes being our only window to the outside world. During all those hours of screentime that we clocked, we learned a lot about ourselves, too (awww). Here's what just *stuck* this year—and gave us no choice but to stan all the way into 2022...

Characters

Lola Bunny (Space Jam: A New Legacy)

In the first Space Jam flick in the '90s, you could spot Lola Bunny playing basketball in a barely there crop top and short shorts...for reasons that made sense to, yeah, approximately no one. This year, she showed up in an actual sports uniform like the rest of the team and, voiced by Zendaya, moved past sexist nonsense to modern-day superstardom.

Alligator Loki (Loki)

Tbh, we could've called out *any* of the Loki variants as pop culture game changers (Lady Loki, Kid Loki...the list goes on). But Alligator Loki gets the life changer title, because we didn't realize how much we needed this adorably weird little variant (and all the laughter they brought to the very serious Marvel universe) until they arrived on our screens. 

Julien Calloway (Gossip Girl)

Let's be real, OG Blair Waldorf was iconic—but Julien is another It girl we can truly get behind. She's as intelligent and passionate as she is fashionable and popular, proving that you don't have to fit ito one "box" (on TV or IRL) to be your truest, most successsful self. 

Estella (Cruella)

Obvi, we can't endorse the evil deeds of Cruella the person, but Cruella the film helped us understand how she became the puppy-chasing villain we've known for years. It also introduced us to her younger self, Estella, who offers a reminder that even the toughest souls have another side—even if it's buried deep, deep down. 

Monica Rambeau (WandaVision)

Look up hero, and there's Monica (or, at least, there she should be). She does what's right, even when it's hard, and she stands against those in power. Her on-point moral compass gives her an inner confidence any Avenger would envy. Also, if we're being honest? Her hair provokes some next-level jealousy, too. 

Zoe Murphy (Dear Evan Hansen)

Zoe, whose brother dies by suicide early in the musical, is a complex, messy ball of emotions. Those emotions come out in a lot of beautiful ways (she's brilliantly sarcastic and a dedicated friend), but she also struggles with serious grief and anger. The fact that Zoe's a raw, realistic human is a refreshing reminder that we don't need to hide from our own feelings to be strong. 

Quotes

"Life is beautiful and messy and never goes according to plan. And the truth is I have no idea what it has in store for me. But I do know that love, real love, is choosing each other through all of it, every single day."

- Lara Jean Covey, To All the Boys: Always and Forever

Let's be honest, if reading this quote doesn't flood your brain with *all* the feels, then you just might need a serious emotional pick-me-up (we suggest hot cocoa and a TATBILB marathon). 

"When there is something you want, better to act without thinking than think without acting."

- Jesper Fahey, Shadow and Bone 

Jesper's message speaks the truth: Whether it's pursuing a long-awaited BFFship or going out for drama club prez, sometimes we just need to get out of our own heads and follow our hearts. 

"I don't do anything right the first time. My thing is that I just keep pushing and I never quit."

- Gina Porter, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Raise your hand if you've ever felt like a *total* failure. (Literally everyone? We thought so.) Go channel your inner Gina instead. Because perfection just isn't real.

"Just because you made some mistakes doesn't mean you deserve to settle for less."

- Mohan Vishwakumar (Devi's dad), Never Have I Ever

We know that making mistakes is a normal part of life. But the typical message around mistake-making is about learning to "fix" ourselves for the future. These words are a much-needed reminder to show compassion, not negativity, toward ourselves—even when we mess up.

"It may feel impossible, but sometimes you just have to take the first step, even before you're ready." 

- Sisu, Raya and the Last Dragon

There are about a bajillion quotes about taking the first leap into your very own journey, but these fabulous words from Sisu (voiced by the equally insightful Awkwafina, no less) acknowledge just how difficult that leap can really feel—and give us the courage we need to push forward anyway. 

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our December/January 2022 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE. 

All GIFs via GIPHY | Slider image via @gossipgirl on Instagram

by Kayleigh Roberts | 12/29/2021