The Red Thread: February

The Red Thread: February

Welcome to the fifth edition of The Red Thread, where we’ve gathered a collection of engaging articles covering a variety of topics. Explore Duolingo with Lotte; Analyze series with Anne; Managing Drinks and Sports with Sean; and Judge German politics with Jochem. Enjoy the read!

Another marketing stunt?
Lotte Witke

Killed. That’s the shocking fate of Duo, Duolingo’s beloved green owl mascot, according to the company’s latest viral marketing stunt. Last week, Duolingo announced that their iconic bird met an untimely end in a hit-and-run accident involving a Tesla Cybertruck. The dramatic scene, complete with a staged crime scene and a social media frenzy, left users both amused and confused, sparking endless speculation about what the company is planning next. Is it just another marketing stunt? Are they really going for a rebrand? Will we miss our beloved green owl on our screen forever?

Keeping up with its tradition of edgy, meme-driven marketing, Duolingo has once again found a way to dominate online conversations. The company, known for its humorous take on user engagement, has long played into the joke that Duo "haunts" users with reminders to complete their language lessons. Now, by seemingly “killing” its most famous character, Duolingo has pushed the limits of creative advertising.

Kicking off the campaign with cryptic social media posts, Duolingo encouraged speculation about Duo’s fate. Fans flooded the internet with memes, mourning the loss of the owl, while others debated whether this was a permanent change or the setup for a grand comeback. Theories ranged from a rebranding of the mascot to an even darker, more persistent version of Duo returning for revenge.

Keen-eyed fans are now waiting for the next twist. Will Duo return, stronger than ever? Or has the era of the green owl truly come to an end? Only time will tell.

Missing You (3,2/5)
Anne Alberts

Recently a new short thriller series got available on Netflix, Missing you. The series is adapted from the book with the same name by Harlan Coben from 2014. Like many of Coben’s adaptations, Missing You combines mystery, drama, and unexpected revelations, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

Detective Kat Donovan discovers her missing fiancé on a dating app. They have not seen each other for over a decade since his disappearance. Meanwhile, Kat has multiple cases to solve. Someone has gone missing, and strange transactions have been made in their name. Then, out of nowhere, 19-year-old Brendan shows up, asking for help in finding his missing mother. At the same time, Kat is still determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s unsolved murder, who was also a police officer.

The storyline includes many side plots, which sometimes distract from the main thread and make the story feel incoherent. Additionally, there are quite a few coincidences that conveniently drive the plot toward its end, making it feel less believable. However, the twists kept me engaged, and I wanted to see where each storyline was heading. The series is enjoyable to watch, but there are certainly better thrillers out there. Other adaptations of Coben’s books, such as fool me once, are more compelling and well-executed, with tighter storylines and fewer coincidences.

A Look into Intense Borreling and Workouts
Sean Lee

Exaclty, a truly disciplined athlete follows strict routines, consistent training, no distractions. But what about those who train hard while still embracing student life? That’s me: the hybrid athlete. Balancing intense Judo sessions with wild nights out proves that both can coexist.

Judo demands focus, strength, and endurance, but so does navigating student life. Some weeks, I’m in top shape, training hard, eating well, and feeling unstoppable. Other weeks, I’m running purely on caffeine, questionable food choices, and regrets. Yet, somehow, both lifestyles complement each other. Training builds discipline, and so does committing to one more round with friends when you probably shouldn’t.

Being a hybrid athlete isn’t about being reckless, it’s about knowing when to push and when to recover. It’s about balance. One day, I’m executing perfect throws; the next, I’m just trying to stay awake in class. If I can handle being slammed onto the tatami, I can survive the occasional rough morning.

Success isn’t about choosing between sports and social life. It’s about embracing both. Work hard, train hard, and enjoy life.

Berlin, Not Washington: The Vote That Matters
Jochem van den Bosch

Though many consider the 2024 U.S. presidential election to be the most significant for the Netherlands, this is not the case. Experts agree that no election impacts our economy more than Germany’s. While it’s well known that Germany is the Netherlands' largest trading partner, few realize that the Netherlands is also Germany’s largest trading partner. Given this deep economic connection, the upcoming German elections deserve our full attention.

The last federal elections in Germany took place in 2021. For the first time in over 15 years, the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) lost its dominance, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) emerged as the largest party. This led to the formation of the so-called "traffic light coalition", consisting of the SPD (red), the Greens (green), and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) (yellow), with Olaf Scholz (SPD) becoming Chancellor. However, ongoing tensions within the coalition caused the FDP to withdraw from the government, triggering snap elections in February.

The upcoming elections are expected to be disastrous for both the SPD and FDP. The FDP, which secured 10.7% of the votes in 2021, is now polling below the critical 5% electoral threshold, putting its parliamentary future in danger. Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is on the rise and is likely to become Germany’s second-largest party. But the biggest takeaway? Friedrich Merz is poised to become Germany’s next Chancellor. The CDU/CSU is overwhelmingly favored to win, with a 90%+ probability of leading the next government. While Friedrich Merz seems the most likely candidate for the Chancellorship, the real question is what kind of coalition will emerge after the elections. Only once the final results are in and the negotiations begin will we truly understand what the future of Germany will look like.