As 2024 opens many people are reminiscing on the past year, 2023, and all that came with it. With a multitude of AAA games, and award winning movies already behind its belt, many things to have come out of the past year have left a legacy behind for the one to come.
While many games like Sony’s “Spider-Man 2” and “Jedi: Survivor” have been hailed for their story and gameplay; others like “Gollum” and “Starfield” have fallen short in the eyes of the public.
“[‘Spider-Man 2’ had a] good story,” junior Shawn Evelo said. “We don’t talk about [‘Gollum’]. We don’t talk about it. That was a mistake.”
A large variety of movies and TV shows also hit theaters and the small screen this past year like “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” [DVD box oddities and all], “Across the Spiderverse,” and “Ahsoka,” all of which being nominated for awards this season.
2023 also saw the release of one of the biggest internet crazes in the form of Barbenhiemer over the summer, based on the release of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated “Oppenhiemer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.”
It’s not just video games and movies that stood out to the general public last year, with many major world events, humorous or not, sharing the spotlight.
Early on in 2023, many Americans were alerted to a large Chinese spy balloon crossing over the country, with the object even being visible from Billings, Montana.
As 2023 settled in, COVID-19 became the least of everyone’s worries. On May 11, 2023, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] declared COVID-19 was no longer a pandemic.
“I think that COVID-19 is certainly less abundant,” junior Paul Cox said. “And now people don’t even question whether or not they have the flu or COVID because it could be either, but I don’t think that people will even make the distinction between the two anymore.”
I think that COVID-19 is certainly less abundant. And now people don’t even question whether or not they have the flu or COVID because it could be either, but I don’t think that people will even make the distinction between the two anymore.
— junior Paul Cox
Further in the year 2023, the Titan Submersible imploded, causing death to all five explorers. This tragic event was meant to innocently see the Royal Mail Ship Titanic [R.M.S. Titanic] nearly 13,000 feet deep in the ocean.
The students and staff of Powell High School [PHS] have also experienced a year full of memorable activities.
Girls cross country would go on to win state this past season with juniors Kinley Cooley and Kenna Jacobsen being standouts in the sport.
“[State] was amazing,” cross country Coach Ashley Hildebrand said. “It was amazing because the girls that we have just worked so hard and they’re so talented. Liam Taylor won all-conference honors this season and he and Korbyn Warren also ran times that put them on our all time top ten list.”
The PHS football team also had an outstanding season, though enjoyers and players of the sport alike agree that it came to a rough ending with the final game against Buffalo being 35-21.
The Fall season also celebrated the election of homecoming royalty in mid-September with students of the high school voting for their classmates to receive the honor.
“I felt pretty cool,” sophomore royalty Mason Coombs said. “I really, really enjoyed it. I loved throwing candy to everyone [during the homecoming parade.]”
After 2023 has finally drawn to a close, many people are left reminiscing over the past year. From record-breaking movie crazes to Chinese spy balloons, and the continuing presence of Australian Minions, 2023 has left a legacy like none other for 2024 to follow up on.
