The Lighthouse Journal

I loved so many projects in the first half of 2026 that we’re back for part two of my Midyear Wrapup! See part one here.

What is the meaning of time when it never runs out? This is the central question of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The titular Frieren, an elf mage, has such a loose grasp on the passage of time that she might disappear for decades only to return and realize that her human acquaintances have aged drastically. The show is set after a great world-defining battle where she helped save humanity, exploring the “what next” of a character who must find a new purpose while her beloved companions pass on. It’s a wonderful reflection on time and memory and the way people are transformed by those they allow into their lives. Frieren’s pacing often reflects the unbound perspective of its main character, with long stretches of beautiful animation exploring the passage of time in the characters’ lives. However, the viewpoints of other species clash, resulting in frenetic bursts of combat and heartfelt moments of connection between the main characters. The show skillfully uses flashbacks to harken back to Frieren’s past, reminding viewers of her timelessness while showing that, with the inspiration of her human companions, she can learn from her past mistakes and grow alongside them.

Martha Wells’ wildly popular Murderbot Diaries series—now on Apple+ as a TV show—returns with “Platform Decay”, which features the titular Murderbot infiltrating an enemy space station to secure the release of hostages dear to its friends. On some levels, this is a standard Murderbot adventure. However, Wells continues to find creative ways to push her character in new directions. This time, it’s learning to check in with its emotions via a new mental health module while discovering that it hates kids less than other humans, all while keeping its very sarcastic commentary inside. What’s not to love?

The deluxe album is a controversial art that few artists have mastered. Should it contain a few tracks that were cut from the original record? Remixes, lives, or duet versions? Should it be released six to twelve months after the original to bring back the hype… or a week later if the record isn’t selling as well as the label hoped? In the past year or two, artists have developed a new strategy—rather than the deluxe being tacked on, it can serve as a companion EP continuing or elaborating on the album’s story.

Halsey’s The Great Impersonator (Deluxe) isn’t a chronological addition to the story, but it expands on the themes and sonic landscape explored throughout the record while connecting back to elements of her back catalog. Several of the tracks feature heavier instrumentation paired with pop song structures and hooks, creating an experience that feels weighty and emotive while remaining catchy. Halsey’s lyrics are stronger than ever, full of vivid imagery conveying the nuances of her experience.

In promotion of their album, Arirang, K-pop royalty BTS took to Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square to perform their first show in four years to a sea of fans and Netflix viewers around the world. The venue was a strategic choice on the band’s part. Arirang connects BTS’ story to Korean heritage—what better place to perform those songs than in front of a palace?

The setlist featured twelve songs, including several from the new album, as well as frequent moments for the band to thank their fans and reflect on the meaning of a comeback after so many years away (many in K-pop terms, that is). Despite a few lackluster songs, BTS’ members each had moments to shine, whether in vocal performance or the choreography. This show will be remembered as an important milestone in the history of one of the biggest bands in the world, signaling that a Korean band can take years off and still capture international attention.

After multiple wildly successful second-world fantasy YA series, Leigh Bardugo’s first foray into adult fiction tackled a subject closer to home. Set at her alma mater, Yale, and inspired by real-life secret societies, Ninth House lives at the blurred edge between reality and everything that lurks beyond. Both in the literal versus magical sense and in the seedy underbelly of one of the country’s most prestigious universities. Muddling through it all at breakneck pace is Alex Stern, a character whose secrets unravel as slowly as the plots she’s trapped in. Bardugo’s novel is compelling in how it builds bonds between unlikely friends, positing companionship as the way through the darkness it plunges into.

Editor’s Note: This novel deals with trauma, including drug use, violence, and sexual assault, and features occult practices. Read at your own discretion.

Since her magnum opus, Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves’ fans have wondered if she’d ever write a comparable project. Middle of Nowhere is her strongest attempt to date, a triumphant and nuanced return to form after a few divisive albums. Musgraves created the project from a period of personal change and self-reflection. In fact, she moved back to her hometown, literally in the middle of nowhere, and that return after years of touring led to a record grounded in her desire for a place to belong.

Despite dealing with loneliness and isolation, Middle of Nowhere embraces permanence, shrugging off opportunities that didn’t work out and moving on to greener pastures. Even the more negative tracks take a tone of curiosity or melancholy rather than anger. A few moments lean into Musgraves’ wry humor, but the majority of the record explores dissonance in the literal country and throughout the country music scene with the acceptance of a woman who knows she can wait until her moment arrives.

The two Spider-Verse movies released so far are incredible pieces of cinema, but before they were films full of color and sound, their lives began as black words on a white page. The screenplay for Into the Spider-Verse already contains the beginnings of everything that made the final product succeed. Miles Morales’ humor and teenage awkwardness come through just as loudly, though conveyed via narrator commentary rather than visuals. The story’s beats, the relationships, and all the internal conflict of Miles’ coming of age blend perfectly into a narrative that hits its breaking point right as Miles hits his own. Even without the powerful shot of Miles falling upside down, the leap of faith is just as emotional on the page because every single moment in the script drove him toward that scene.

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