Grand Admiral Thrawn fans rejoice! The brilliant villain is featured heavily this week as he catches Hera when she attempts to retrieve a family heirloom from her home on a now Imperial occupied Ryloth.
Grand Admiral Thrawn fans rejoice! The brilliant villain is featured heavily this week as he catches Hera when she attempts to retrieve a family heirloom from her home on a now Imperial occupied Ryloth.
The episode titled “Hera’s Heroes” kicks off with Cham Syndullah being pursued by a pair of Scout Troopers on speeder bikes right as the Ghost swoops in to rescue him. It’s a fun chase scene that ends hilariously after a Scout Trooper manages to board the Ghost just after Cham makes his way up the ramp to safety. Now surrounded by the rebels, Zeb asks “You didn’t think that through did you?”.
Zeb has been oddly quiet during this season so far. It was nice to have him in the mix even if we only got a quick line or two.
Cham managed to escape barely with his life. Unfortunately, there was a family heirloom that was left behind which belonged to Hera’s mother and she’s not leaving Ryloth without it. Luckily the rebels just acquired the uniform of a Scout Trooper they can use to infiltrate her old home.
Outside of the Syndullah home, a crashed Y-Wing lays in the dirt. Hera reveals this is where she first retrieved Chopper from after it was downed during the Clone Wars. Not much is known about the little punk of a droid but after seeing him depressed as he gazed upon the Y-Wing, it seems like his bad attitude might just be a cover for a painful past spent in battle.
ENTER THRAWN. My favorite thing about him in this episode was that no matter how terrifying he was, the Grand Admiral was equally polite and respectful. Thrawn says one especially interesting line before he leaves Captain Slavin to deal with the rebels. He tells him he must continue conducting an unknown experiment. I think the experiment is actually what is unfolding on Ryloth. Thrawn is not just one, but a few steps ahead of the rebels. I think he knew Hera was coming and was using this as an opportunity to get to know her face to face. Thrawn most certainly recognized Hera the instant he laid eyes on her outside her father’s office, almost like he was waiting for her.
Captain Slavin then sets up a prisoner exchange. He’ll let Hera and Ezra go as long as he turns himself in. Thrawn returns to his ship and watches over the exchange knowing full well Hera isn’t going down without a fight. Hera makes the choice to sacrifice her old family home so that her new family can survive. Thrawn holds back and deliberately lets the rebels escape, not just because he respects the victory they’ve earned for themselves — but he knows how important this band of rebels is to the rebellion and he’s playing the long game.
This week was a step up from the smaller episode that came before it. Overall it was great and gave us the Thrawn we have been waiting to see. The Grand Admiral is taking his time, doing his research and analyzing our beloved heroes so he can inflict the most damage possible on them and the Rebel Alliance. The heroes definitely have their work cut out for them this year.
Sweet Christmas. Harlem’s hero is here and its about damn time. The new Marvel Netflix series Luke Cage made it’s debut over the weekend, crashing Netflix’s servers along with it. The bulletproof superhero is a well-written, well-cast series that continues to push the bounds of what is achievable on television. Mike Colter is a force as Luke. He wasn’t just playing Luke Cage. He is Luke Cage.
A hero meant to inspire hope and the battle for Harlem’s soul.
Sweet Christmas. Harlem’s hero is here and it’s about damn time. The new Marvel Netflix series Luke Cage made its debut over the weekend, crashing Netflix’s servers along with it. The bulletproof superhero is a well-written, well-casted series that continues to push the bounds of what is achievable on television. Mike Colter is a force as Luke. He wasn’t just playing Luke Cage. He is Luke Cage.
The first episode takes its time introducing us to the world of Harlem and the culture that is integral to the show. This is the first Marvel series that feels as if it not only takes place in our world, Luke Cage is now.
By the end of episode two, the story kicked into high gear and Luke began his journey to become a hero. The loss of Pops (Frankie Faison) was tragic but necessary. Luke needed his call to action and there couldn’t have been a more powerful way of thrusting him into the center of the drama. Luke knew the only way to shut down Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali) was to destroy him one piece at a time until there was nothing left. But you could tell the clock was already ticking for the villains. These gangsters were doing a good enough job at tearing each other apart. Luke helped accelerate their downfall.
Mike Colter as Luke Cage. (Netflix)
The fourth episode was no doubt one of the best in the series. The flashbacks were seamlessly integrated with the present day storyline and featured some incredible editing in the sequence where Luke punched his way out of prison in the past and the rubble in the present.
The villains of the show are a mixed bag but for the most part positive. Theo Rossi is a talented actor, however. His performance as Shades wasn’t that great at first. I don’t think he realized it, but the moment he stepped into the room with Mahershala Ali, he was gobbled up by Ali’s talent. Rossi was cheesy and seemed out of place. But as the episodes went on, especially once he started having scenes with Alfre Woodard, he evolved and elevated his performance to the same level as the cast around him.
Mahershala Ali as Cottonmouth gives Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk a run for his money. He was brilliantly unpredictable as the suave gangster at the top of Harlem. His sense of humor provided a levity that made him likable so when it came time for his origin story you truly felt for him. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the guy. It didn’t matter how high he rose in power; he would always be standing on that balcony looking down on the club’s musicians with envy. What moved me most about his character was the look of admiration in his eye whenever Luke was in the room. Luke possessed the integrity that he lost forever when he was forced to murder his Uncle.
Mahershala Ali as Cornell Stokes A.K.A. Cottonmouth. (Netflix)
Where the series faltered was the way in which its criminals were handled. Cottonmouth was dangerous. His goons, not so much. They were cheesy and it takes you out of the gritty realism that is present throughout much of the show. They sure did some shady stuff out in the daytime huh? But in a way that cheese factor helped lend itself to a Marvel meets The Wire sort of feel.
Alfre Woodard was exceptional as she played Mariah Dillard with tremendous conviction. As corrupt and as criminal as she was, I had so much respect for how far she was willing to go to improve Harlem. It was truly shocking when she murdered her cousin Cottonmouth. Nobody expected his death so early. It was disappointing to see such a talent exit with six episodes left to go but it made sense. Cottonmouths death was crucial to the destabilization of the criminal climate in Harlem. The show would have also risked feeling overcrowded with villains if he was still in the mix once Diamondback finally made his debut.
Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard in Luke Cage. (Marvel/Netflix)
The midpoint of this series was unbelievable. From Luke being shot to Cottonmouths death, it was twist after twist after twist. My head was spinning. It felt like anything could happen at that point. No one was safe.
As grounded as this series was, even with super strength and cellular regeneration in the mix, it was the introduction of bullets made from alien technology that helped take this show to the next level while still remaining inherently street. Episode six felt like it could have been a finale but the twists of the sixth, seventh, and eighth installments helped set a new stage and rejuvenate the series’ life for the final five episodes, making this one of the most binge-worthy shows ever. (Daredevil should take note of this.)
The final five episodes were exceptional. We got to fully discover Luke’s backstory in Georgia and out came the heartbreaking truth about Reva. It had been frustrating me that we didn’t know more about the history of these characters as I was watching but the brilliant writers held back, waiting for the perfect moments to dole out the truth of the past, having the most impactful effect possible on the present.
Luke coming to the understanding that he wasn’t in love with Reva, rather he was infatuated with the idea of Reva was probably the most real moment in the entire show. Luke is good, though. He and Claire are already Mom and Dad.
The dynamic between Misty Knight and her Lieutenant was also impressive. Instead of Misty butting heads with the L.T. for the duration of the series, instead, she began to learn from her superior and grew because of it. Without that, I don’t think Misty would have been able to survive the series. Thank god she did because she is amazing. The way she was edited back into the crime scenes for her visions was incredible.
The end of the series was incredibly powerful and inspirational as a bulletproof black man in a hoodie became a hero. Luke battled for his and Harlem’s soul in the street with Diamondback (Erik LaRay Harvey), sporting a hammer tech suit that was a perfect adaption of his look from the comics. Diamondback was scary and entertaining but I thought he overplayed most of the time, however. He did come to play ball in the climactic showdown with Luke. The action in the Netflix corner of the MCU isn’t as epic as the feature films but that’s what makes it stand out. It’s raw and the fights are much more creative and artistic with the stunts and camera operation. How awesome was it when Luke delivered that last hit launching Diamond back into the air and leaving him nothing more but a broke ass?
What I loved the most about the finale is that all of the villains who were alive at the beginning were still alive at the end. In Luke Cage, the bad guys can win. We can assume we’ll see the return of Mariah Dillard and Diamondback in the inevitable second season.
Luke is heading back to prison but we know that isn’t going to last.
Luke Cage comes at a time when a bulletproof black man couldn’t be any more relevant. Speaking with students at Morgan State University on Thursday, Showrunner Cheo Hodari Choker discussed the shows ‘inclusive blackness’.
Luke Cage comes at a time when a bulletproof black man couldn’t be any more relevant. Speaking with students at Morgan State University on Thursday, Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker discussed the shows ‘inclusive blackness.’
I see ‘Luke Cage’ as what I call ‘inclusive blackness.’ When I say that the show is ‘inclusively black.’ I mean that it is a deep meditation on our culture, but it’s done in such a way that when people watch the show, they don’t feel like they’re excluded from the story or the experience of watching the story.
The show features a mostly African-American cast and it’s incredibly refreshing. Even though the show is dealing with superpowers, theres something about it that feels more true to life than anything else Marvel has done in the past.
Coker also commented on the current state of racism in Hollywood.
The racism in Hollywood is not usually just ‘Oh, you’re black, you can’t do it.’ The new racism is not getting the benefit of the doubt, meaning that you’re not considered for projects because you’re black.
My hope is that the show will be looked back on as a milestone in entertainment history. One that paved the way for superheroes of all races leading their own films or television shows.
I’m currently nine episodes deep into the series and thoroughly enjoying it. Mike Colter is fantastic as Luke and Misty Knight(Simone Missick) is sure to be the fan favorite, however. The stand out performances are coming from the antagonists Mariah Stokes (Alfre Woodard) and Cornell Stokes a.k.a. Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali).
Diggle’s got a brand new helmet and its still just as goofy. Since his character was first given a helmet in season 3, there has been an outcry for a replacement that doesn’t look horrible. The new helmet which was revealed in a promotional video for The CW’s fall lineup looks something like Magneto meets Megaman.
Diggle’s got a brand new helmet and its still just as goofy. Since his character was first given a helmet in season 4, there has been an outcry for a replacement that doesn’t look horrible. The new helmet which was revealed in a promotional video for The CW’s fall lineup looks something like Magneto meets Megaman.
The new helmet, designed by Cisco at Star Labs, features a red visor to help conceal Diggles identity on the mean streets of Star City. While it is an improvement, its not enough to make a difference. I guess we will have to be satisfied that it isn’t lopsided like his previous helmet.
Arrow season 5 premieres Wed. Oct 8th at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
Entertainment Weekly just reported that Susanna Thompson will be reprising her role as Moira Queen for Arrow’s upcoming 100th episode! How she will be returning is still unknown but it would be safe to say it will be in the shows flashbacks.
Entertainment Weekly just reported that Susanna Thompson will be reprising her role as Moira Queen for Arrow’s upcoming 100th episode! How she will be returning is still unknown but it would be safe to say it will be in the shows flashbacks.
Susanna Thompson originally left the show when Moira Queen was killed off towards the end of season 2 by Deathstroke(Manu Bennett), who will also be returning this season. If the flashbacks take place in Star(ling) City during the shows 100th episode, it’s likely we’ll also get to see the return of Tommy Merlyn(Colin O’Donnell) and Laurel Lance(Katie Cassidy). As weary as I am to get back into the show, all this news definitely has my attention. Season 5 is shaping up to be pretty exciting!
Arrow season 5 premieres Wed. Oct 8th at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
In an interview posted this past Tuesday by Take Two, Executive Producer Shawn Levy discusses his experience producing the Netflix Original Series Stranger Things and why the show has become a pop-culture phenomenon.
In an interview posted this past Tuesday by Take Two, Executive Producer Shawn Levy discusses his experience producing the Netflix Original Series Stranger Things and why the show has become a pop-culture phenomenon.
The world felt safer. The world, and it breaks my heart to say this, but the world was safer. And I know that a lot of us yearn for the relative innocence of that– And I do think that the show transports us back to a cultural and global climate that was fundamentally more comforting. It was fundamentally less scary.
Levy also describes season two as “next level” but will still service the shows core characters. The show will grow along with its young cast.
It’s clear Levy was inspired by The Duffer Brothers and the pilot script for Stranger Things immediately. Inspiration seems to be the word coming from everyones mouth involved with the show. From the editors to the production designer, The Duffers brought out the best in everyone resulting in the magical experience that is Stranger Things.
To listen to the full interview head on over to Take Two.
This year The CW’s mega-crossover event will feature The Dominators as the main villains set to take on the heroes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. The four-episode event will be the networks biggest crossover event in history.
This year The CW’s mega-crossover event will feature The Dominators as the main villains set to take on the heroes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. The four-episode event will be the network’s biggest crossover event in history.
In an interview with THR, Marc Guggenengheim said:
“We’re taking inspiration from a DC crossover from the late 1980s known as Invasion!, which featured an alien race called The Dominators, who’d previously vexed the Legion of Superheroes. We’re using cutting-edge prosthetics and computer effects to achieve a feature film-quality look which is faithful to Invasion! artist Todd McFarlane’s interpretation of the characters.”
It sounds promising but time will tell whether or not the producers were able to achieve film-quality effects on a television budget.
For those unfamiliar with The Dominators, they are an alien race who are interested in the genetic potential of the human race. Specifically, the metagene, which is the fictional gene that changes one from a human to a metahuman.
The Flash season three premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., Arrow season five premieres Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m., Supergirl season two premieres Monday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. and Legends of Tomorrow season two premieres Thursday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Killing is back on the table in the new trailer for the fifth season of The CW’s Arrow. Posted today by the shows official twitter account, the new trailer shows us the Green Arrow reverting back to his old ways as he ruthlessly murders several baddies.
Killing is back on the table in the new trailer for the fifth season of The CW’s Arrow. Posted today by the show’s official twitter account, the new trailer shows us the Green Arrow reverting back to his old ways as he ruthlessly murders several baddies.
Prometheus must be pretty bad considering Ra’s Al Ghul and Damien Darhk weren’t enough to make Oliver kill again. It will be interesting to see Oliver’s past come full circle as he has a history with Prometheus. Co-showrunner Wendy Mericle said in an interview with IGN last month, “He has a very personal grudge and axe to grind with Oliver and he’s going to come at him in a really interesting, sociopathic kind of way.” The show won’t waste any time introducing him as he is set to make his debut in the season premiere.
I’m excited to see Curtis begin his journey towards becoming Mr. Fantastic but I’m not sold on Evelyn or Wild Dog just yet. Arrow has some work to do as far as winning me and much of the audience back. Hopefully the show won’t bore us with Olicity anymore. It’s time the producers realize relationship drama doesn’t make for interesting television. With Marc Guggenheim returning as co-showrunner, I’m hopeful the show will move back towards the tone of the earlier seasons.
Arrow Season 5 premieres Wednesday, October 5th at 8p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
Alternate World 