I was pretty hyped for this episode after the effective cliffhanger from last episode. While that often leads to hype backlash, this episode largely lived up to the potential.
Connor Hawke, the new Green Arrow, proves himself to be just as badass as his predecessor. While it would be difficult to orchestrate a return appearance, I would not be averse to it. Maybe have him join the Legends in a future season?
Even that would be rather tricky, though, as this is a timeline that is likely to be negated. This leads to a fair bit of conflict between Sara (who wants to help now) and Rip who insists that they can fix it later. While he's portrayed as more callous for holding this view, I can't say that he's entirely wrong. They could just go back and prevent it from ever happening in the first place. Sara's concern is endearing and given her tie to the city, it's in character, but the fact that they have a time machine seemed to elude her for some reason.
Future-Oliver says that they never came back (at least not in this timeline) which would either be grim foreshadowing or proof that this mission won't be so simple as to be wrapped up in one season.
The episode isn't without its downsides. It's frustrating to see the group splinter off again. There are times where it makes sense, but it would be nice to see the whole group working as a team for an episode. The fetch quest to get the macguffin from the former Palmer building arguably could have been avoided, but it did bring Oliver into the fold, so at least that yielded some positive results.
The love triangle with Jax, Kendra, and Ray was also something of a weak link. It comes out of nowhere and is resolved so abruptly that you wonder what the point was. Ray's confusion about the issue when Stein tries to run interference was well handled. His "I never really thought about it" stance was rather refreshing while it lasted. Though, in somewhat forced irony, it is this conversation that leads him to consider the possibility, thus bringing the triangle to completion. Not that it matters as Kendra's not really looking for love. Like I said, it was a bit of a cul-de-sac. The exchange between Ray and Jax about who would have "won" was somewhat amusing. I don't think those two have interacted that much, so it was good to see some comaraderie start to form.
I have mixed feelings about Deathstroke 2.0 as a villain. There was something poetic about Slade's son taking on Oliver's successor, but the episode doesn't really have time to delve into it. The actor playing him does fine, but he's really just a placeholder villain. Still, it was good to see someone besides Savage be responsible. I think that my idea that this was the aftermath of the crisis was a good one, but this was a bit more streamlined. As TvTropes notes though, said crisis does explain why Barry was never called on when things got bad, as he had disappeared decades before. Of course, there's still a slew of others like Vixen and Constantine, but that's one of the downsides to having such an expansive shared universe.
As far as character arcs go, the changing dynamic between Snart and Mick has to win the gold. Mick's affinity for this future makes perfect sense given his mindset, but it drives a wedge between him and Snart, as the latter is starting to change as a result of his time with the group. "Hero" may not have initially been on his resume, but he's starting to move into that area.
Unlike the love triangle, which goes nowhere, this plot isn't wrapped up so neatly. Even the next episode shows that Mick isn't too pleased with how this endeavor is working out. It makes you wonder how long he's going to stick around. One of the common "wild mass guesses" was that he would bite the dust. All things considered, he's fared pretty well, but his attitude was a problem waiting to happen.
One area where the episode excelled, was in the final confrontation. You had two Green Arrows in action as well as the entire Legends roster. It made for a jaw dropping climax that acts as one of the highlights of the entire show.
Overall, this was a fun episode. It was largely a one and done, which worked well. The future setting also worked to the episode's advantage as it established a solid atmosphere. Even though this was just a hypothetical, it still seemed like the stakes were raised. There were things that could have been handled better, but the good far outweighed the bad in my opinion.
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Saturday, February 27, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Donut-Peanut Butter Cup-Peanut Butter-Ice Cream Sandwich
Vanilla Ice Cream, Peanut Butter, Crushed Reese's Peanut Butter Cups sandwiched in a Glazed Donut
Posted by Love Food on Thursday, February 18, 2016
It's not the smoothest title, I'll admit, but what do you even call this? I mean besides delicious.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Montage
Seeing as it's almost the weekend, I thought a little montage music would be appropriate to give everyone a morale boost.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
The X-Files Season 10, Episode 3: Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster
While "The X-Files" didn't veer into comedy as much as, say, "Supernatural"; every once in a while, the show would take a step back from the aliens and the spookiness to give viewers something more humorous. In keeping with this miniseries bringing a little bit of everything, this episode follows that pattern and lampoons most of the tropes commonly seen in the show.
The results are nothing short of amazing. The script was incredibly well put together and it led to one of the most enjoyable hours of television in recent history. I can say without exaggeration that this was funnier than "Deadpool". It really was, I laughed harder and more frequently here than I ever did in the theater. It's amazing. You wouldn't think that an attempted suicide by cop could be played for laughs, but this episode pulled it off. Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
It was kind of sad to see Mulder in an existential crisis. He's doubted before, but it comes off as more genuine here as he notes that most of the things he used to pursue have been debunked. You'd think that the stuff he's already seen would lend some credence to his beliefs, but no dice, apparently. While Scully doesn't play "the believer", she is clearly trying to lift his spirits and its subtly adorable.
At the very least, Mulder's malaise does give the episode a bit more weight, as well as a small character arc, as Mulder's passion is re-awakened.
A lot of the episode thrives on the viewer not knowing just where the episode is going, as such, I'm reluctant to go into too great a detail about the nature of what's happening. As noted, it subverts and plays with a lot of the ideas that most episodes normally showcase. It gets to the point where Mulder is able to recite Scully's dialogue in a hypothetical conversation about the investigation almost to a tee.
There is a "humans are the real monsters" theme throughout. Normally in horror and science fiction, this is a concept invoked solely for preachy pretentiousness, but the episode is so goofy that you can't really take any of it to heart. It does, however, allow for some rather amusing observations about the way we live.
This episode was a gem. Honestly, this alone justifies the show's revival. Every joke lands. The cast was clearly having fun with it and it paid off. I wouldn't be surprised if this goes down as the best of the six.
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The results are nothing short of amazing. The script was incredibly well put together and it led to one of the most enjoyable hours of television in recent history. I can say without exaggeration that this was funnier than "Deadpool". It really was, I laughed harder and more frequently here than I ever did in the theater. It's amazing. You wouldn't think that an attempted suicide by cop could be played for laughs, but this episode pulled it off. Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
It was kind of sad to see Mulder in an existential crisis. He's doubted before, but it comes off as more genuine here as he notes that most of the things he used to pursue have been debunked. You'd think that the stuff he's already seen would lend some credence to his beliefs, but no dice, apparently. While Scully doesn't play "the believer", she is clearly trying to lift his spirits and its subtly adorable.
At the very least, Mulder's malaise does give the episode a bit more weight, as well as a small character arc, as Mulder's passion is re-awakened.
A lot of the episode thrives on the viewer not knowing just where the episode is going, as such, I'm reluctant to go into too great a detail about the nature of what's happening. As noted, it subverts and plays with a lot of the ideas that most episodes normally showcase. It gets to the point where Mulder is able to recite Scully's dialogue in a hypothetical conversation about the investigation almost to a tee.
There is a "humans are the real monsters" theme throughout. Normally in horror and science fiction, this is a concept invoked solely for preachy pretentiousness, but the episode is so goofy that you can't really take any of it to heart. It does, however, allow for some rather amusing observations about the way we live.
This episode was a gem. Honestly, this alone justifies the show's revival. Every joke lands. The cast was clearly having fun with it and it paid off. I wouldn't be surprised if this goes down as the best of the six.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: 'Odyssey' by Hi-Finesse
You might recognize this as the piece that played during the teaser for "Infinity War". It worked really well there, though it is a fantastic enough piece that to be deemed awesome on its own merits. It's awe-inspiring and oddly motivating. It makes you want to go out and do something amazing. While I am, admittedly, a sucker for epic trailer music, I think that this will still grab you.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Avengers trailers
This video was posted on the original blog on March 1st, 2012. While it's still a pretty cool trailer, it is rather out of date as the MCU has moved well past this point. Luckily, I can still justify embedding this video as I recently stumbled across something a bit more recent to accompany it, a teaser for the upcoming two part "Infinity War" movies. It's unofficial and largely made up of quotes and scenes from other movies, but that is to be expected as the movie isn't set to come out for a couple of years. It is still pretty cool and builds up hype for what is likely to be one of the biggest superhero movies of all time.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Legends of Tomorrow episode 5: 'Fail-Safe'
Picking up where the last episode left off, Rip has to come up with a plan to break Ray, Stein, and Mick out of a Soviet gulag. Stein is of especially critical importance as we see that the present would be much bleaker if the Soviets figure out how to create their own Firestorm.
As such, Rip tells Sara that she may have to kill Stein if they can't get to him in time. It's noted that it's a cold move, but one can't argue the practicality of it. It's one of those "needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" dilemmas. While Stein is never let in on the plan, you'd have to think that he would have been OK with it, but that's conjecture.
While the team does have to recruit the Russian mob to help, the team also benefits from Snart's background as he notes that this isn't his first prison break. Did anyone else notice how Miller slightly turned his head towards the camera as he smirked after saying that? It wasn't quite breaking the fourth wall, but it was pretty close.
I have to say, though, Snart's writing overall was inconsistent here. While he is ultimately the one to talk Sara out of pulling the trigger on Stein; he's the first to suggest leaving others behind, choosing instead to focus on rescuing Mick. It seems like it makes sense, as he and Mick go way back and he is a pragmatic criminal, but don't forget that Snart has often put emphasis on the crew and honorable loyalty. He chided Rip for ordering the retreat and leaving people behind in the last episode. He was also the one to swear that Vandal killing Carter made it personal for him despite the fact that Snart was barely acquainted with the hero.
It's counter-balanced by Mick, who actually starts to form a grudging respect for Ray after seeing how he behaved in the gulag. The hardened criminal rightly chides him for trying to be chummy, but seeing him provoke the guards to provoke him instead of Mick really changed his perception of the scientist. Or, at the very least, it gave him cause enough to carry Ray's unconscious body out when they were escaping.
There were a few action beats, though they were more understated. While Sara got a chance to show off her fighting prowess, Rip's fist fight with the big Russian gangster was probably the standout moment. He doesn't have the training, but he held his own fairly well all things considered. With the drastic difference between Rip's physique and his opponent's, it could have gone a lot worse.
Ray has his own fight with a big Russian, though it doesn't go so well. He gets one good punch in, but that's about it. He got to shine on other fronts, though. His mocking of the guard was effective and there was something charming about seeing him try to make friends with convicts. Even the guards refer to him as "boy scout". It wasn't milked as much as Miller's reference to his past acting roles, but that was most definitely not accidental.
As the previews showed, the Russians do (somewhat) succeed in creating their own Firestorm. It would have been cool to see the team try to take it down, but alas, it sort of defeats itself as the fusion isn't stable. It does give Jax a moment to shine, though, as he is able to motivate Stein to keep fighting until Jax can break up the fusion. It also allows the two to put aside their differences, but it still seems like a missed opportunity as far as climactic battles go.
Overall, the episode was a worthy conclusion to what came before. There were some hiccups here and there, but it was entertaining. It also succeeded in providing a worthy challenge for the team to overcome.
One thing that hurts it, though, is the cliffhanger ending. It's not that it's bad. It's that it's so good that it kind of upstages everything else. After a run in with the walking plot device called Chronos, the team crash lands in Star City in the year 2046. Suffice it to say, things aren't looking too good. In fact, the city is in ruins. Though the former Palmertech building (now labelled with the name Smoak) still stands.
This alone sets up all sorts of story telling possibilities. Is this the aftermath from the 2024 crisis teased in the "Flash" pilot? It's more likely that it's just Savage's doing, but the writers could use this to lay down some serious foreshadowing for something big if they wanted to.
As if that weren't enough, there's a guest appearance by the Arrow. The scene is played very effectively as both Sara and Ray act completely casual when he initially confronts them. After all, they are known allies of the vigilante, only (as they soon discover) this isn't Oliver Queen. Even though it was basically spoiled by the internet, the appearance of this new vigilante still made for a great cliffhanger as he draws his bow on the team before the credits roll.
"Flash" is always a blast, but with Vixen showing up on "Arrow" next week, and this show jumping to the future; the next entries in the DCW look like they're going to be hits across the board. I'm really looking forward to it.
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As such, Rip tells Sara that she may have to kill Stein if they can't get to him in time. It's noted that it's a cold move, but one can't argue the practicality of it. It's one of those "needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" dilemmas. While Stein is never let in on the plan, you'd have to think that he would have been OK with it, but that's conjecture.
While the team does have to recruit the Russian mob to help, the team also benefits from Snart's background as he notes that this isn't his first prison break. Did anyone else notice how Miller slightly turned his head towards the camera as he smirked after saying that? It wasn't quite breaking the fourth wall, but it was pretty close.
I have to say, though, Snart's writing overall was inconsistent here. While he is ultimately the one to talk Sara out of pulling the trigger on Stein; he's the first to suggest leaving others behind, choosing instead to focus on rescuing Mick. It seems like it makes sense, as he and Mick go way back and he is a pragmatic criminal, but don't forget that Snart has often put emphasis on the crew and honorable loyalty. He chided Rip for ordering the retreat and leaving people behind in the last episode. He was also the one to swear that Vandal killing Carter made it personal for him despite the fact that Snart was barely acquainted with the hero.
It's counter-balanced by Mick, who actually starts to form a grudging respect for Ray after seeing how he behaved in the gulag. The hardened criminal rightly chides him for trying to be chummy, but seeing him provoke the guards to provoke him instead of Mick really changed his perception of the scientist. Or, at the very least, it gave him cause enough to carry Ray's unconscious body out when they were escaping.
There were a few action beats, though they were more understated. While Sara got a chance to show off her fighting prowess, Rip's fist fight with the big Russian gangster was probably the standout moment. He doesn't have the training, but he held his own fairly well all things considered. With the drastic difference between Rip's physique and his opponent's, it could have gone a lot worse.
Ray has his own fight with a big Russian, though it doesn't go so well. He gets one good punch in, but that's about it. He got to shine on other fronts, though. His mocking of the guard was effective and there was something charming about seeing him try to make friends with convicts. Even the guards refer to him as "boy scout". It wasn't milked as much as Miller's reference to his past acting roles, but that was most definitely not accidental.
As the previews showed, the Russians do (somewhat) succeed in creating their own Firestorm. It would have been cool to see the team try to take it down, but alas, it sort of defeats itself as the fusion isn't stable. It does give Jax a moment to shine, though, as he is able to motivate Stein to keep fighting until Jax can break up the fusion. It also allows the two to put aside their differences, but it still seems like a missed opportunity as far as climactic battles go.
Overall, the episode was a worthy conclusion to what came before. There were some hiccups here and there, but it was entertaining. It also succeeded in providing a worthy challenge for the team to overcome.
One thing that hurts it, though, is the cliffhanger ending. It's not that it's bad. It's that it's so good that it kind of upstages everything else. After a run in with the walking plot device called Chronos, the team crash lands in Star City in the year 2046. Suffice it to say, things aren't looking too good. In fact, the city is in ruins. Though the former Palmertech building (now labelled with the name Smoak) still stands.
This alone sets up all sorts of story telling possibilities. Is this the aftermath from the 2024 crisis teased in the "Flash" pilot? It's more likely that it's just Savage's doing, but the writers could use this to lay down some serious foreshadowing for something big if they wanted to.
As if that weren't enough, there's a guest appearance by the Arrow. The scene is played very effectively as both Sara and Ray act completely casual when he initially confronts them. After all, they are known allies of the vigilante, only (as they soon discover) this isn't Oliver Queen. Even though it was basically spoiled by the internet, the appearance of this new vigilante still made for a great cliffhanger as he draws his bow on the team before the credits roll.
"Flash" is always a blast, but with Vixen showing up on "Arrow" next week, and this show jumping to the future; the next entries in the DCW look like they're going to be hits across the board. I'm really looking forward to it.
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'Deadpool' Movie Review
You can read my review of the movie here.
Cons
- I found the humor lacking. It gets better in the second half, but a lot of jokes fell flat for me. Considering Deadpool is supposed to be "the funny one", it's rather disappointing.
Overall
There's no doubt that this is a much better showing for the character than his last cinematic outing. It is more faithful to the character, but given the hype, it was a bit of a letdown. The humor is very crude, which really didn't do anything for me. It works for some people, so if that's your thing, than this might do a better job winning you over than it did me. Personally, I'd mark any of the "Iron Man" movies as being funnier.
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Pros
- Colossus. Colossus was amazing
- The action sequences were very well done. They were exciting and brutal. They still manage to drop your jaw, even though there are no cities being leveled.
Cons
- I found the humor lacking. It gets better in the second half, but a lot of jokes fell flat for me. Considering Deadpool is supposed to be "the funny one", it's rather disappointing.
Overall
There's no doubt that this is a much better showing for the character than his last cinematic outing. It is more faithful to the character, but given the hype, it was a bit of a letdown. The humor is very crude, which really didn't do anything for me. It works for some people, so if that's your thing, than this might do a better job winning you over than it did me. Personally, I'd mark any of the "Iron Man" movies as being funnier.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Beavis and Butt-Head Relaunch
*Originally posted on 12/2/11
*This is a holdover from the original "daily dose of awesome" blog. Sadly, I don't think the show ever came back, but it was fun while it lasted.
I have to admit, I was skeptical when MTV announced that they were bringing back Beavis and Butt-head. I watched, and enjoyed, it back when it was originally on the air, but it seemed like something relegated to the 90's. As it turns out, I was completely wrong, and the show is funnier than ever.
Just as it was in the original iteration, each episode centers on the titular pair as they wander into various misadventures as they try to get chicks. Don't expect any continuity between episodes. The stories rarely wrap up, and some become so ludicrous that it would be impossible to "follow up" with any sort of ongoing consistency.
You might think that with MTV rarely showing music videos, that half of the appeal of the show (seeing the two heckle the aforementioned music videos) would disappear. This was not the case, the two still make fun of music videos, but they've also added the slew of MTV reality shows to their riffing repertoire. These make for some of the funniest parts of the series as they riff on things like Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant.
This show is "stupid" humor done right. Forget Family Guy or Adult Swim (sans Venture Bros. of course). If you want a genuinely hilarious show that thrives on ludicrous premises and centers on morons without delving into Flanderization, this is a show that is definitely worth checking out.
*This is a holdover from the original "daily dose of awesome" blog. Sadly, I don't think the show ever came back, but it was fun while it lasted.
I have to admit, I was skeptical when MTV announced that they were bringing back Beavis and Butt-head. I watched, and enjoyed, it back when it was originally on the air, but it seemed like something relegated to the 90's. As it turns out, I was completely wrong, and the show is funnier than ever.
Just as it was in the original iteration, each episode centers on the titular pair as they wander into various misadventures as they try to get chicks. Don't expect any continuity between episodes. The stories rarely wrap up, and some become so ludicrous that it would be impossible to "follow up" with any sort of ongoing consistency.
You might think that with MTV rarely showing music videos, that half of the appeal of the show (seeing the two heckle the aforementioned music videos) would disappear. This was not the case, the two still make fun of music videos, but they've also added the slew of MTV reality shows to their riffing repertoire. These make for some of the funniest parts of the series as they riff on things like Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant.
This show is "stupid" humor done right. Forget Family Guy or Adult Swim (sans Venture Bros. of course). If you want a genuinely hilarious show that thrives on ludicrous premises and centers on morons without delving into Flanderization, this is a show that is definitely worth checking out.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The X-Files Season 10,Episode 2: Founder's Mutation
So, falling several episodes behind wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I decided to start writing about this mini-series. With any luck, I'll be able to get caught up in time for the finale. It'll make for an interesting bookend, having the first and last episodes being discussed in a timely manner.
Where the premiere largely fell flat, this was much improved. As such, it was a real return to form for the show. Where the script and acting was phoned in last episode, it feels like we're actually seeing the characters here.
Rather than follow up on any of the myth-arc elements, this was (for the most part) a monster of the week episode. The agents investigate the suicide of a scientist that leads them to suspect that genetic experiments are being performed on children for unknown reasons. While it does play out like a one and done, it is implied that the experiments are tied to "the project" to create an alien/human hybrid. As such, it's an interesting blend of the two. I remember there was one episode back in the show's first run that tried to blend the two styles with mixed results, this pulls it off much more effectively. As it was said that the episodes would be split half and half between story arc and monster of the week, I am curious which one this falls under. Keep in mind, it wasn't said definitively that this was the syndicate's work, so it could easily be something else entirely.
It should come as no surprise that this case hits a nerve with the agents, given what happened to their son, William. It was good to see that he hasn't been entirely forgotten. Admittedly, I don't really remember where the show left him, but from what we see here, he was well cared for by both agents. Then again, those could also be interpreted as "what could have been" sequences where the agents wonder what life would have been like. It's not really made clear, but it is arguably moot as it still hits hard either way.
Of course, forgetting that William happened would have been eyebrow raising, but the mention also gives the episode more emotional weight as it personally links the agents to the case much more than most of their investigations. It worked well and added some drama without shoehorning it in like the last episode did.
Sadly, Skinner isn't given a whole lot to do, but he still manages to get a stronger showing than he did in the premiere. His handling of the agents when the DOD tries to wrap it up was very much in character and it was, oddly enough, a highlight for the episode.
Where the premiere had me worried that the franchise had no more juice left, this episode shows that it could still work. It was a nice (and perhaps necessary) counter balance. If the remaining episodes are like this, than it could be the franchise invigorating kick start that Fox was likely hoping for.
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Where the premiere largely fell flat, this was much improved. As such, it was a real return to form for the show. Where the script and acting was phoned in last episode, it feels like we're actually seeing the characters here.
Rather than follow up on any of the myth-arc elements, this was (for the most part) a monster of the week episode. The agents investigate the suicide of a scientist that leads them to suspect that genetic experiments are being performed on children for unknown reasons. While it does play out like a one and done, it is implied that the experiments are tied to "the project" to create an alien/human hybrid. As such, it's an interesting blend of the two. I remember there was one episode back in the show's first run that tried to blend the two styles with mixed results, this pulls it off much more effectively. As it was said that the episodes would be split half and half between story arc and monster of the week, I am curious which one this falls under. Keep in mind, it wasn't said definitively that this was the syndicate's work, so it could easily be something else entirely.
It should come as no surprise that this case hits a nerve with the agents, given what happened to their son, William. It was good to see that he hasn't been entirely forgotten. Admittedly, I don't really remember where the show left him, but from what we see here, he was well cared for by both agents. Then again, those could also be interpreted as "what could have been" sequences where the agents wonder what life would have been like. It's not really made clear, but it is arguably moot as it still hits hard either way.
Of course, forgetting that William happened would have been eyebrow raising, but the mention also gives the episode more emotional weight as it personally links the agents to the case much more than most of their investigations. It worked well and added some drama without shoehorning it in like the last episode did.
Sadly, Skinner isn't given a whole lot to do, but he still manages to get a stronger showing than he did in the premiere. His handling of the agents when the DOD tries to wrap it up was very much in character and it was, oddly enough, a highlight for the episode.
Where the premiere had me worried that the franchise had no more juice left, this episode shows that it could still work. It was a nice (and perhaps necessary) counter balance. If the remaining episodes are like this, than it could be the franchise invigorating kick start that Fox was likely hoping for.
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Sunday, February 14, 2016
Friday, February 12, 2016
Legends of Tomorrow episode 4: White Knights
The team jumps ahead to the 80's, right in the middle of the Cold War. There is a lead on Savage, but unfortunately, to get the necessary information, they have to break into the Pentagon to steal a file that the government has on Savage. I guess it would make sense that they would be aware of him, but at the same time, considering he was supposed to be something of an urban legend, it raises some questions.
Oddly enough, Ray's Atom suit isn't put to use here. It seems like a much simpler way to go about it, but I get the desire to go for a cool, coordinated heist sequence. While things go haywire during their exit, the team actually has a pretty easy go of it for the most part. It would be a little concerning from a national security standpoint.
It does lead to some character development as Kendra is revealed to also have a blood lust of her own, courtesy of her mystical background. It's odd that it only decided to pop up now, but it is chalked up to Kendra's grief. As such, Rip tasks Sara with helping her cope. It makes sense, have the person coping with blood lust help the other person, but it doesn't really work that way. It does make for a decent subplot as the two learn that they have to help each other if they're going to deal with their respective demons.
Rip has his own issues to confront as he is tracked down by a fellow time-master, who offers to let him slide if he gives up the crusade. It's painted as a bad thing, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. It is noted that their attempts have resulted in a lot of damage being done to the timeline. On top of that, you can't help but wonder what's stopping the team from just going to confront Savage in the present.
In hindsight, it seems like it would have been the safer way to go. Not only does the timeline (up to this point) remain intact, but we see that their scuffles in the past have spurred Savage on to attempt upping his game.
It was a little odd when the episode tried to paint Savage being around during the Cold War as some urgent threat. There's potential there, arms race and all, but seeing as the world is just fine in 2016, it seems like Savage is doomed for failure at this stage. However, once you see what he's trying to accomplish, you can see the legitimate threat that he poses right now...or then. It also reminds you that they have changed things so the present as we see it isn't guaranteed.
Ray and Snart's subplot is a bit of a mixed bag. The two have a good dynamic, and there are some great exchanges, but the "love triangle" aspect fell flat. No one is really interested in anyone else, so it comes off as odd. Maybe it was an intentional subversion of the trope, but it was one of the weaker aspects of the episode.
While it seems like the action is a bit underwhelming, this is the first of a two-parter, so it makes sense that this is just building things up. There are a few small action beats here and there, but nothing jaw dropping. It was impressive, though, how both Firestorm and Heat Wave were able to let loose in a forest without a single tree catching fire.
There is a pretty solid cliffhanger as several members of the team are held captive and Stein is being strong-armed into helping Savage, lest his friends die.
Given Stein's issues this episode, he may take the threat more to heart, despite others saying that Stein is tougher than he looks. His deteriorating relationship with Jefferson is somewhat sad given that the two started off fairly strong, but it allows Stein to make a nice nod to what happened to Ronnie.
Ray also gets the chance to allude to the past. While he gets to show off his energetic, geeky side, his attempts at seduction are reminiscent of his early scenes with Felicity on "Arrow", where many chided him as coming off as more quasi-stalker than anything else.
The episode wasn't without its flaws, but it was a strong outing. The change in setting helped and the Soviets prove to be a worthy adversary. Having the story spread out over two episodes expands the scope, but also allows more time for the characters to come together. They still have a long way to go, but we do see that they are slowly getting there.
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Oddly enough, Ray's Atom suit isn't put to use here. It seems like a much simpler way to go about it, but I get the desire to go for a cool, coordinated heist sequence. While things go haywire during their exit, the team actually has a pretty easy go of it for the most part. It would be a little concerning from a national security standpoint.
It does lead to some character development as Kendra is revealed to also have a blood lust of her own, courtesy of her mystical background. It's odd that it only decided to pop up now, but it is chalked up to Kendra's grief. As such, Rip tasks Sara with helping her cope. It makes sense, have the person coping with blood lust help the other person, but it doesn't really work that way. It does make for a decent subplot as the two learn that they have to help each other if they're going to deal with their respective demons.
Rip has his own issues to confront as he is tracked down by a fellow time-master, who offers to let him slide if he gives up the crusade. It's painted as a bad thing, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. It is noted that their attempts have resulted in a lot of damage being done to the timeline. On top of that, you can't help but wonder what's stopping the team from just going to confront Savage in the present.
In hindsight, it seems like it would have been the safer way to go. Not only does the timeline (up to this point) remain intact, but we see that their scuffles in the past have spurred Savage on to attempt upping his game.
It was a little odd when the episode tried to paint Savage being around during the Cold War as some urgent threat. There's potential there, arms race and all, but seeing as the world is just fine in 2016, it seems like Savage is doomed for failure at this stage. However, once you see what he's trying to accomplish, you can see the legitimate threat that he poses right now...or then. It also reminds you that they have changed things so the present as we see it isn't guaranteed.
Ray and Snart's subplot is a bit of a mixed bag. The two have a good dynamic, and there are some great exchanges, but the "love triangle" aspect fell flat. No one is really interested in anyone else, so it comes off as odd. Maybe it was an intentional subversion of the trope, but it was one of the weaker aspects of the episode.
While it seems like the action is a bit underwhelming, this is the first of a two-parter, so it makes sense that this is just building things up. There are a few small action beats here and there, but nothing jaw dropping. It was impressive, though, how both Firestorm and Heat Wave were able to let loose in a forest without a single tree catching fire.
There is a pretty solid cliffhanger as several members of the team are held captive and Stein is being strong-armed into helping Savage, lest his friends die.
Given Stein's issues this episode, he may take the threat more to heart, despite others saying that Stein is tougher than he looks. His deteriorating relationship with Jefferson is somewhat sad given that the two started off fairly strong, but it allows Stein to make a nice nod to what happened to Ronnie.
Ray also gets the chance to allude to the past. While he gets to show off his energetic, geeky side, his attempts at seduction are reminiscent of his early scenes with Felicity on "Arrow", where many chided him as coming off as more quasi-stalker than anything else.
The episode wasn't without its flaws, but it was a strong outing. The change in setting helped and the Soviets prove to be a worthy adversary. Having the story spread out over two episodes expands the scope, but also allows more time for the characters to come together. They still have a long way to go, but we do see that they are slowly getting there.
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Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Gabrielle Giffords
*Originally published on 8/2/11
You'll recall some time ago, a crazed gunman went on a rampage, shooting several people including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She ended up taking a gunshot to the head, but managed to survive the ordeal.
This, in and of itself, is amazing in and of itself, but shortly after the incident, she made a point to attend the vote regarding the debt ceiling crisis that was dominating the air waves ever since it started to snowball. When asked about it, she said that she couldn't stand by and do nothing. She was so determined to have her voice heard that she cast her vote.
As she did so, everyone in the House gave her a standing ovation, noticing the magnitude of what was happening.
Considering what she had been through, I felt obliged to tip my hat to the woman for enduring and standing up for what she believes in, even though she had more than enough reason to sit this one out.
You'll recall some time ago, a crazed gunman went on a rampage, shooting several people including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She ended up taking a gunshot to the head, but managed to survive the ordeal.
This, in and of itself, is amazing in and of itself, but shortly after the incident, she made a point to attend the vote regarding the debt ceiling crisis that was dominating the air waves ever since it started to snowball. When asked about it, she said that she couldn't stand by and do nothing. She was so determined to have her voice heard that she cast her vote.
As she did so, everyone in the House gave her a standing ovation, noticing the magnitude of what was happening.
Considering what she had been through, I felt obliged to tip my hat to the woman for enduring and standing up for what she believes in, even though she had more than enough reason to sit this one out.
Friday, February 5, 2016
Legends of Tomorrow episode 3: Blood Ties
After two episodes that showed the spectacle of a superhero team, this one takes a more low key approach. Part of this is by necessity as the team is stuck. They can't kill Vandal Savage because Hawkgirl's out of commission and they can't travel through time because the ship is still in need of repair. While it may have been unrealistic to expect every episode to provide mind blowing action sequences, it is an odd place to hit the brakes.
That's not to say that the episode is a total bust. It does allow for some decent character arcs, though again, we have a sub-plot heavy episode where everybody goes off to do their own thing.
Snart's story probably has the most pathos, though you could argue that his was the most superfluous. Not surprisingly, the two criminals get stir crazy and decide to take the scout ship out for a joy ride. It was good to see Jackson initially rebuke their offer to help them go steal stuff (even Snart commends him for the cajones) though he does eventually acquiesce.
This is no simple joy ride, though (which is a shame as that could have been a fun sequence). Per his stated intent in the pilot, Snart aims to steal some stuff. In an interesting twist, he wants to steal for the greater good; more specifically, he wants to alter the timeline so his father doesn't end up in prison.
Considering what we saw of Papa Snart in "The Flash" this is a big gesture. Cold does say that his father only got bad after his time in prison, adding some layers to the seemingly one off character, but it also shows that Snart isn't above doing the occasional deed for someone else's benefit.
You'd think that this would open up a Pandora's box of temporal paradoxes, but time is obstinate. Between said paradoxes and the butterfly effect, Snart probably got off lucky, as changing the timeline that drastically could have really messed things up.
Ray's subplot essentially has him go all "Fantastic Voyage" in order to remove dagger debris from Kendra's body before it kills her. No arc reactors here, I'm afraid. Surprisingly, no one mentions the movie ("Fantastic Voyage, not "Iron Man" though I suppose referencing that wouldn't have been out of left field either.) Usually when a show uses this sort of story, someone alludes to it. It's especially odd as you'd think that Ray would be the person to lampshade it. Oh well.
We see that he's still suffering from an existential crisis, resulting in some angsty self doubt, though it does result in developing a stronger bond with Professor Stein. They may not be "Science bros" yet, but they did move a bit closer to that field.
Probably the most relevant subplot to the ongoing story centers on Sara and Rip. While they can't kill Savage, Sara does suggest hitting him in the wallet to hinder his conquest. It's not a bad plan, though their strategy isn't the most effective.
Oddly enough, this episode establishes that Rip and Vandal have a history. We see that Rip did indeed try to kill Savage back in Ancient Egypt and failed. It makes sense that Rip would try this, though having them suddenly become sworn enemies when Savage didn't take notice of him before is a bit odd.
Also, Vandal apparently has eidetic memory as he declares that he's looking forward to killing Rip's family, when the ex-Time Master lets their names slip whilst avenging them. It was a great taunt that really turned things around as Savage went from being at Rip's mercy (sort of) to getting into Rip's head and robbing him of his resolve.
Really, while Vandal didn't have as much screen time, he seemed to have the most villainous presence here. He was far more menacing and unnerving than he had been in prior appearances. The cult is a bit too Ra's al Ghul-esque but it worked out here for the most part. The ritual was creepy and added an ominous atmosphere to the climax.
Of course, Sara isn't without her own character development as she continues to contend with the effects of the pit (something even Rip doesn't seem to know a lot about). It's an interesting arc, coming on the heels of "Arrow" where Thea was coping with similar issues. Here, Rip suggests that Sara just overcome the blood lust through force of will, but as we saw with Thea, that clearly doesn't work. Also, the fact that Sara did take some people out in battle should mean that the desire to kill is subsided, if only for a while, right?
The episode ends on a bittersweet moment as they say one final goodbye to Hawkman. It looks like he's really dead, though Kendra does say "come back to me". It would have been interesting if they had gone to the future to find Carter's reincarnated self and Kendra suddenly found herself trying to get him to discover his true nature. Maybe they'll do that eventually, right now though, it seems that the team is heading to the 80's. It isn't the most drastic change in setting, but it should still be interesting.
Overall, the episode lacked the wow factor that the first two episodes had, but it did manage to bring a lot to the table. Savage got to score a few bad guy points and the various plots were well balanced. It would be nice to see the team stick together every once in a while, but so far everyone has had a chance to shine, which is no easy feat with a cast like this.
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That's not to say that the episode is a total bust. It does allow for some decent character arcs, though again, we have a sub-plot heavy episode where everybody goes off to do their own thing.
Snart's story probably has the most pathos, though you could argue that his was the most superfluous. Not surprisingly, the two criminals get stir crazy and decide to take the scout ship out for a joy ride. It was good to see Jackson initially rebuke their offer to help them go steal stuff (even Snart commends him for the cajones) though he does eventually acquiesce.
This is no simple joy ride, though (which is a shame as that could have been a fun sequence). Per his stated intent in the pilot, Snart aims to steal some stuff. In an interesting twist, he wants to steal for the greater good; more specifically, he wants to alter the timeline so his father doesn't end up in prison.
Considering what we saw of Papa Snart in "The Flash" this is a big gesture. Cold does say that his father only got bad after his time in prison, adding some layers to the seemingly one off character, but it also shows that Snart isn't above doing the occasional deed for someone else's benefit.
You'd think that this would open up a Pandora's box of temporal paradoxes, but time is obstinate. Between said paradoxes and the butterfly effect, Snart probably got off lucky, as changing the timeline that drastically could have really messed things up.
Ray's subplot essentially has him go all "Fantastic Voyage" in order to remove dagger debris from Kendra's body before it kills her. No arc reactors here, I'm afraid. Surprisingly, no one mentions the movie ("Fantastic Voyage, not "Iron Man" though I suppose referencing that wouldn't have been out of left field either.) Usually when a show uses this sort of story, someone alludes to it. It's especially odd as you'd think that Ray would be the person to lampshade it. Oh well.
We see that he's still suffering from an existential crisis, resulting in some angsty self doubt, though it does result in developing a stronger bond with Professor Stein. They may not be "Science bros" yet, but they did move a bit closer to that field.
Probably the most relevant subplot to the ongoing story centers on Sara and Rip. While they can't kill Savage, Sara does suggest hitting him in the wallet to hinder his conquest. It's not a bad plan, though their strategy isn't the most effective.
Oddly enough, this episode establishes that Rip and Vandal have a history. We see that Rip did indeed try to kill Savage back in Ancient Egypt and failed. It makes sense that Rip would try this, though having them suddenly become sworn enemies when Savage didn't take notice of him before is a bit odd.
Also, Vandal apparently has eidetic memory as he declares that he's looking forward to killing Rip's family, when the ex-Time Master lets their names slip whilst avenging them. It was a great taunt that really turned things around as Savage went from being at Rip's mercy (sort of) to getting into Rip's head and robbing him of his resolve.
Really, while Vandal didn't have as much screen time, he seemed to have the most villainous presence here. He was far more menacing and unnerving than he had been in prior appearances. The cult is a bit too Ra's al Ghul-esque but it worked out here for the most part. The ritual was creepy and added an ominous atmosphere to the climax.
Of course, Sara isn't without her own character development as she continues to contend with the effects of the pit (something even Rip doesn't seem to know a lot about). It's an interesting arc, coming on the heels of "Arrow" where Thea was coping with similar issues. Here, Rip suggests that Sara just overcome the blood lust through force of will, but as we saw with Thea, that clearly doesn't work. Also, the fact that Sara did take some people out in battle should mean that the desire to kill is subsided, if only for a while, right?
The episode ends on a bittersweet moment as they say one final goodbye to Hawkman. It looks like he's really dead, though Kendra does say "come back to me". It would have been interesting if they had gone to the future to find Carter's reincarnated self and Kendra suddenly found herself trying to get him to discover his true nature. Maybe they'll do that eventually, right now though, it seems that the team is heading to the 80's. It isn't the most drastic change in setting, but it should still be interesting.
Overall, the episode lacked the wow factor that the first two episodes had, but it did manage to bring a lot to the table. Savage got to score a few bad guy points and the various plots were well balanced. It would be nice to see the team stick together every once in a while, but so far everyone has had a chance to shine, which is no easy feat with a cast like this.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Buffalo Goes for a Car Ride
how you should transport your pets :D
how you should transport your pets :D
Posted by I Can't Live Without Cars on Saturday, January 23, 2016
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Legends of Tomorrow Episode 2: Pilot part 2
It turns out that Vandal Savage's intentions with the warhead he acquired aren't what you would expect. You'd think he'd use it for destructive purposes or perhaps conquest, but no, he wants to sell it. It's odd as immortality is usually shown to result in immense wealth, but I guess he has to do something to pass the time.
It does make for a nice red herring for the team as they decide to infiltrate an illegal arms auction under the impression that he aims to acquire said nuke. Many wondered why two criminals were brought along for the mission. They end up being rather useful, helping sell their status as criminals here and later breaking into a house to steal a magical dagger that could kill Savage.
It's one of several subplots that the episode showcases when the team disperses. Not only does it allow characters to go on their own journey, but it is also symbolic of the fractured state of the team. It turns out that Rip's dishonesty has robbed him of any credibility. As such, the heroes decide to do things their own way with varying degrees of success.
While the big brawl that broke out at the arms auction made for a fantastic action set piece, it causes a problem as a piece of the Atom's suit got broken off and was acquired by Savage. For the sake of the timeline, it is essential that it gets retrieved before Savage can master it and use it to serve his own nefarious ends. You'd think that such a feat leaves the heroes a lot of time to retrieve it, but Savage has ways of motivating those in his employ to get it to work in short order.
As such, Stein, Sara, and Jax venture out to find Stein's younger self so that he can help them track a specific energy that is emitted by Ray's tech. Admittedly, this plot line really makes no sense. If younger Stein knew about it, wouldn't older Stein possess this knowledge too? And why can't they just use the advanced tech from the futuristic aircraft to track the energy?
It seems that the MST3K rule applies here as the real goal is to flesh out Stein. It seems he doesn't like who he was, or more specifically, the fact that he hasn't changed that much. It worked well and both Sara and Jax seemed to get a kick out of seeing Stein in his younger days, allowing for some laughs to be had as well.
The subplot also features a nice nod to "Back to the Future" as Stein inadvertently jeopardizes his own future marriage. It's the sort of thing that has to come up at some point when dealing with time travel, but it lacks tension as the episode doesn't have time to build on it at all. It amounts to Stein's ring disappearing, and then showing up again at the end of the episode as the result of some last minute intervention from Rip. We never really feel the loss as it is never treated as anything more than an afterthought.
The other two plot lines center on the dagger mentioned earlier. Kendra tries to remember the specific nature of the thing while Ray, Cold, and Heat Wave try to steal it. The latter works as the idealistic Ray forms an odd dynamic with the two jaded criminals. One minute they seem to get along and then the next they fight. It makes sense and results in an unpredictable relationship.
Kendra's story is uneven. By and large, she and Hawkman have the same conversations they've been having as he is in love with her and wants to go back to that, but she doesn't like the idea of destiny telling her who to love.
It yields results as he ends up getting killed in the climactic confrontation with Savage. The reveal that she had just then fallen in love with him at that final moment was a bit of a stretch, but I guess they needed a reason for it to hit her hard. Apparently, just losing a friend in battle doesn't cut it anymore.
Between the time travel and the reincarnation (plus isn't he a cast regular?), you wouldn't think that this would be a big deal. You wouldn't be wrong in thinking that it would amount to "Oh my God, they killed Hawkman!" "You bastards!" but it seems more permanent as not only does Savage swallow Hawkman's soul, but his death ends up being a unifying force for the others. Whether this is an intentional nod to Coulson in "The Avengers" is unclear, but even Cold doesn't take kindly to someone on his crew being taken down.
Where the last episode had a lot of exposition to get through, this is able to get more into character. The element of fun is still there and the action set pieces remain amazing. Both the arms deal fight and the final battle really are jaw dropping, especially for a TV show budget.
Having Damien Darrkh make a cameo at the beginning of the episode was also a nice touch. It's clear that the team still has a long way to go before they become legends, but we do see them taking steps towards that ultimate goal.
All in all, this episode does a good job of picking up the momentum from the last episode and building on it. It manages to successfully balance a fairly large ensemble while also delivering epic spectacle. Hopefully things can just keep getting better from here.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
It does make for a nice red herring for the team as they decide to infiltrate an illegal arms auction under the impression that he aims to acquire said nuke. Many wondered why two criminals were brought along for the mission. They end up being rather useful, helping sell their status as criminals here and later breaking into a house to steal a magical dagger that could kill Savage.
It's one of several subplots that the episode showcases when the team disperses. Not only does it allow characters to go on their own journey, but it is also symbolic of the fractured state of the team. It turns out that Rip's dishonesty has robbed him of any credibility. As such, the heroes decide to do things their own way with varying degrees of success.
While the big brawl that broke out at the arms auction made for a fantastic action set piece, it causes a problem as a piece of the Atom's suit got broken off and was acquired by Savage. For the sake of the timeline, it is essential that it gets retrieved before Savage can master it and use it to serve his own nefarious ends. You'd think that such a feat leaves the heroes a lot of time to retrieve it, but Savage has ways of motivating those in his employ to get it to work in short order.
As such, Stein, Sara, and Jax venture out to find Stein's younger self so that he can help them track a specific energy that is emitted by Ray's tech. Admittedly, this plot line really makes no sense. If younger Stein knew about it, wouldn't older Stein possess this knowledge too? And why can't they just use the advanced tech from the futuristic aircraft to track the energy?
It seems that the MST3K rule applies here as the real goal is to flesh out Stein. It seems he doesn't like who he was, or more specifically, the fact that he hasn't changed that much. It worked well and both Sara and Jax seemed to get a kick out of seeing Stein in his younger days, allowing for some laughs to be had as well.
The subplot also features a nice nod to "Back to the Future" as Stein inadvertently jeopardizes his own future marriage. It's the sort of thing that has to come up at some point when dealing with time travel, but it lacks tension as the episode doesn't have time to build on it at all. It amounts to Stein's ring disappearing, and then showing up again at the end of the episode as the result of some last minute intervention from Rip. We never really feel the loss as it is never treated as anything more than an afterthought.
The other two plot lines center on the dagger mentioned earlier. Kendra tries to remember the specific nature of the thing while Ray, Cold, and Heat Wave try to steal it. The latter works as the idealistic Ray forms an odd dynamic with the two jaded criminals. One minute they seem to get along and then the next they fight. It makes sense and results in an unpredictable relationship.
Kendra's story is uneven. By and large, she and Hawkman have the same conversations they've been having as he is in love with her and wants to go back to that, but she doesn't like the idea of destiny telling her who to love.
It yields results as he ends up getting killed in the climactic confrontation with Savage. The reveal that she had just then fallen in love with him at that final moment was a bit of a stretch, but I guess they needed a reason for it to hit her hard. Apparently, just losing a friend in battle doesn't cut it anymore.
Between the time travel and the reincarnation (plus isn't he a cast regular?), you wouldn't think that this would be a big deal. You wouldn't be wrong in thinking that it would amount to "Oh my God, they killed Hawkman!" "You bastards!" but it seems more permanent as not only does Savage swallow Hawkman's soul, but his death ends up being a unifying force for the others. Whether this is an intentional nod to Coulson in "The Avengers" is unclear, but even Cold doesn't take kindly to someone on his crew being taken down.
Where the last episode had a lot of exposition to get through, this is able to get more into character. The element of fun is still there and the action set pieces remain amazing. Both the arms deal fight and the final battle really are jaw dropping, especially for a TV show budget.
Having Damien Darrkh make a cameo at the beginning of the episode was also a nice touch. It's clear that the team still has a long way to go before they become legends, but we do see them taking steps towards that ultimate goal.
All in all, this episode does a good job of picking up the momentum from the last episode and building on it. It manages to successfully balance a fairly large ensemble while also delivering epic spectacle. Hopefully things can just keep getting better from here.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Daily Dose of Awesome: Walk in Pantry Located Behind Refrigerator
You can add this to the list of things that I'd love to add if I ever buy a house.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Dog Wants to Jump on the Bed
This is the cutest thing I've watched today!
This is the cutest thing I've watched today!
Posted by WorkoutHealthy on Friday, January 15, 2016
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