Given the title, perhaps it's fitting that this episode was something of a struggle. It was sitting on our DVR for some time, just waiting to be watched, but the cable box went all fubar and needed to be replaced, meaning that all the recorded stuff was lost. No big deal, though, it was on Hulu. That's where I watched "Babylon", so no harm done. Oh, Hulu took season 10 down a couple of days ago. There's On-Demand; oh, wait, nope, they only have 1 episode ("Founder's Mutation" of all things, you'd think that "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" would be the pick if you were going to just keep one up there.) Fox's website wouldn't let me watch it, nor would their app. So, I had to go through Amazon's Instant Video in order to watch the episode so that we can finally put this one to bed.
At first, I wasn't feeling this episode, it seems to take the worst parts of the re-launch (namely the weak plot introduced in the pilot, as well as agents Miller and Einstein) but things do get better as it goes on. Hearing people refer to Einstein by name still sounded bizarre. It would be one thing if she were a one-off joke character, which it really seemed like she was, but suddenly the show is trying to play her straight and it doesn't flow particularly well.
While no direct mention is made of the trumpets, they did seem to be a herald of sorts as people's immune systems are breaking down across the globe, causing all sorts of health catastrophes.
You see in the credits that two doctors helped write the script. On the one hand, it's good as it brings at least some legitimacy to the technobabble, but man, is there a lot of technobabble. A lot of the episode is just exposition explaining the specifics of how and why this is all happening. It's nice to have details and work real world science in, but I think that they could have toned it down a bit.
Once again, this episode completely throws away the established story line to establish new plot points. While the endeavors and motivations of the syndicate were directly stated on more than one occasion, this presents a whole new endgame.
I'll grant you, on second thought, it's close. There are aliens, and the syndicate seemed to be working to keep themselves safe, but instead of spreading the black oil for recolonization and enslavement, they want to wipe out humanity through altered vaccines because of pollution. It just sounds wrong when Smoking Man is revealing to Mulder the elaborate machinations that have been afoot for decades when we know that this wasn't how any of it worked.
By the by, as much flack as the last episode got, I'm surprised that there wasn't more backlash here. Admittedly, Scully fights fire with fire by coming up with her own vaccine to counter-act the bad vaccine, but it does seem to legitimize the "anti-vaxxer" mindset.
On the plus side, the scope of the threat is well on display. You see chaos erupting all around and it does seem like humanity is on its last legs. It really ramps up the tension and backs the heroes into a corner. Not only is saving the world a lofty task for a handful of FBI agents, but they too fall victim to the problem, adding another ticking clock to the proceedings.
It was oddly nice to see Reyes again. Yes, she and Doggett got a lot of grief, but it's still good that they weren't swept completely under the rug.
I knew ahead of time that the episode was going to end on a cliffhanger, but it is still an odd choice. You'd think that with a limited mini-series, that the goal would be to wrap things up. Considering the show already had a 9 season run, the idea that it'll get picked up again seems strange. Fox tried to do the same thing with "24" and it didn't make much sense there either.
I'm not sure people are going to care enough, but we'll see if Fox green lights another season. If it does, at least that gives hope to "Supergirl" and "Young Justice"...maybe? I don't know.
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Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: DM's House of Cards
Keep the #dndcaturday train rolling-Law
Posted by Dungeons and Dragons Memes on Saturday, March 26, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Melk Abbey
When traveling through Europe, the churches are often highlights. The art, the elaborate architecture, and the history make them wonders to behold. As impressive as they are, there is one that manages to raise the bar even further. It is known simply as Melk Abbey, and as the name suggests it is an abbey located in Melk, Austria.
I can say with no sense of exaggeration, that this place is jaw dropping. Its immense size is impressive enough, but then you get inside and it only goes uphill from there. Everything about it just amazes. The building is elegantly (maybe even divinely?) designed. It just inspires awe. It really is fitting as a symbol of reverence to God. Even if you aren't the religious sort, you'll be amazed at all the work and craftsmanship that went into this building.
There's gorgeous artwork all over the place. Some of it comes in the form of paintings, but the ceilings are also adorned with majestic artwork that is impressive in its own right.
In addition to art, the abbey also sports an impressive array of religious artifacts. It adds to the sense of history while also providing a bevy of information for those who wish to learn more about said history. For the photography junkie, this place is a mother lode. You'll want to take pictures of everything. Odds are you won't be able to get everything because there's just that much.
One of the major draws for the abbey is the library. It is ranked as one of the world's biggest and most gorgeous and, again, that's no hyperbole. Only a small fraction of the library is open to the public and even that will leave your mouth hanging agape. It's multiple floors and multiple rooms of floor to ceiling bookshelves. The downside is that this is the one room in the entire complex that doesn't allow you to take photos or videos of any kind. I would have so loved to be able to do a vlog and put it up on Youtube. Honestly, I would have gladly sacrificed being able to take photos in one of the artifact display rooms if it meant that I could show people the mind boggling nature of this library. At the same time, I can't fault the logic. As noted, it is a major highlight, so seeing it in person acts as a great incentive to travel out to see it.
Of course, the church itself is also amazing in its own right. It's huge and gloriously designed. They actually hold services there. Sadly, I didn't get to witness that, but I can imagine that they draw in quite a crowd.
Whether you're visiting the abbey alone, or if it is a stop on part of a cruise, Melk Abbey is definitely worth checking out. Even if you aren't religiously inclined, everything about it is just amazing. You should still be able to garner some enjoyment just from the art, history, and architecture alone. If you are the religious type, I think it will only add to your enjoyment. There's so much there that it is definitely worth the price of admission. Of course, if you're a bookworm, the library alone is worth the price of admission because, seriously, that library has to be seen to be believed.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Daredevil Season 2, Episode 3: New York's Finest
After two episodes where Matt and Frank throw down, this episode gives us a different sort of confrontation. With Matt chained to a chimney, he and Frank face off in a battle of ideologies. You'd think that Matt would try to appeal to Frank's moral center and point out that he understands the desire but still knows where the line is. Or, I don't know, point out that by killing Frank isn't much better than the people he targets. Instead, Matt is oddly dismissive and openly mocks Frank's psyche when he does glean little details about his new foe's history.
Frank's contempt makes a bit more sense. After all, he views Daredevil as a half measure who isn't willing to finish the job. It's the sort of exchange that you would expect, but it works well nonetheless. Interestingly, just as Matt ignores certain points, Frank never brings up recidivism. It would act as a somewhat decent counter argument to Matt's point. At the very least, it's better than his "I just know that they're garbage" line.
The episode gives Bernthal a lot more to do and it is to the episode's benefit. He pulls off the angry, ruthless persona well enough, but oddly, my favorite scene was when he put on a chummy facade to ward off the building superintendent who was investigating the noise. Given the fact that Frank goes right back to bloodthirsty, you could see it as acting on Frank's part, or a glimpse into how he was before his tragedy. Either way, the scene worked really well.
The moral contrast comes to a head as Frank forces Matt to choose between shooting him or a known criminal, who just happens to be the one that his firm had been representing, lest Frank put the guy down himself. You could argue that it's a little too convenient, but Frank had been pursuing the guy and it does give the viewer someone to whom we're pretty well connected.
It's a tense scene, but it was good to see Matt find a third option...not that it mattered in the end. At the very least, Matt was able to free himself from the chains. It was a good thing too, not only because he can get away, but because his prior attempts to escape looked incredibly silly.
While Matt and Frank scuffle a bit, it is but an appetizer to the main course, where Daredevil takes on an entire gang of angry bikers. I should note it was nice to see Matt be the one to walk away this time after just barely losing the last two fights. The biker fight is clearly an attempt to recapture the glory of the famous hallway fight from season 1. In lesser hands, it would have come off as a poor rehash, but it was still impressive in its own right, even if there were edits involved this time around.
The fight goes on longer, Matt goes up against more people, and he actually fares a lot better. It shows how far Matt has come in terms of fighting prowess since he first started his crusade. As if that weren't enough, it goes across multiple floors, adding another level (heh) to how the fight plays out.
The showdown between vigilantes is the main draw, but both Foggy and Karen are given things to do as well. Not only does it give them chances to shine but it actually does drive the plot as Karen uncovers more information about the Punisher.
For his part, Foggy manages to talk down some angry gang members who wanted to settle their respective scores in a crowded hospital. I wonder why Foggy didn't vouch for the one crook who swore innocence when his rival accused him of putting out a hit. Even though he doesn't know the identity, just saying "hey there's a crazy new vigilante out there, odds are he's the one who did it" could have helped smooth things over. His approach worked, though, so it's probably moot.
Even better, though, is the fact that we get the chance to meet up with Claire again. It has always been fun to see her pop up. Rosario Dawson continues to do a good job, even if life continues to crap on the character as recompense for her involvement with the various metahumans running around. She also gives us the first direct reference to the events of "Jessica Jones", more specifically, she alludes to what happened to her after she helped Luke Cage.
All in all, this was a strong episode. Bernthal has been praised for his portrayal and this episode is a great showcase as to why. The three leads are always strong assets, but I think that the fleshing out of Frank was what really made this episode work the way it did.
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Frank's contempt makes a bit more sense. After all, he views Daredevil as a half measure who isn't willing to finish the job. It's the sort of exchange that you would expect, but it works well nonetheless. Interestingly, just as Matt ignores certain points, Frank never brings up recidivism. It would act as a somewhat decent counter argument to Matt's point. At the very least, it's better than his "I just know that they're garbage" line.
The episode gives Bernthal a lot more to do and it is to the episode's benefit. He pulls off the angry, ruthless persona well enough, but oddly, my favorite scene was when he put on a chummy facade to ward off the building superintendent who was investigating the noise. Given the fact that Frank goes right back to bloodthirsty, you could see it as acting on Frank's part, or a glimpse into how he was before his tragedy. Either way, the scene worked really well.
The moral contrast comes to a head as Frank forces Matt to choose between shooting him or a known criminal, who just happens to be the one that his firm had been representing, lest Frank put the guy down himself. You could argue that it's a little too convenient, but Frank had been pursuing the guy and it does give the viewer someone to whom we're pretty well connected.
It's a tense scene, but it was good to see Matt find a third option...not that it mattered in the end. At the very least, Matt was able to free himself from the chains. It was a good thing too, not only because he can get away, but because his prior attempts to escape looked incredibly silly.
While Matt and Frank scuffle a bit, it is but an appetizer to the main course, where Daredevil takes on an entire gang of angry bikers. I should note it was nice to see Matt be the one to walk away this time after just barely losing the last two fights. The biker fight is clearly an attempt to recapture the glory of the famous hallway fight from season 1. In lesser hands, it would have come off as a poor rehash, but it was still impressive in its own right, even if there were edits involved this time around.
The fight goes on longer, Matt goes up against more people, and he actually fares a lot better. It shows how far Matt has come in terms of fighting prowess since he first started his crusade. As if that weren't enough, it goes across multiple floors, adding another level (heh) to how the fight plays out.
The showdown between vigilantes is the main draw, but both Foggy and Karen are given things to do as well. Not only does it give them chances to shine but it actually does drive the plot as Karen uncovers more information about the Punisher.
For his part, Foggy manages to talk down some angry gang members who wanted to settle their respective scores in a crowded hospital. I wonder why Foggy didn't vouch for the one crook who swore innocence when his rival accused him of putting out a hit. Even though he doesn't know the identity, just saying "hey there's a crazy new vigilante out there, odds are he's the one who did it" could have helped smooth things over. His approach worked, though, so it's probably moot.
Even better, though, is the fact that we get the chance to meet up with Claire again. It has always been fun to see her pop up. Rosario Dawson continues to do a good job, even if life continues to crap on the character as recompense for her involvement with the various metahumans running around. She also gives us the first direct reference to the events of "Jessica Jones", more specifically, she alludes to what happened to her after she helped Luke Cage.
All in all, this was a strong episode. Bernthal has been praised for his portrayal and this episode is a great showcase as to why. The three leads are always strong assets, but I think that the fleshing out of Frank was what really made this episode work the way it did.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2016
The X-Files Season 10, Episode 5: Babylon
Given the premise of this episode, I'll grant you that the timing on this one is a bit on the circumstantially wonky side. However, these write-ups are long overdue and I'd like to get at least one step closer to putting this one to bed.
Rather than dealing with aliens or monsters, this episode pits the agents against a radical Muslim terrorist cell. It should come as no surprise that there was a bit of backlash about the way the religion is portrayed. Now, Scully does throw in a line about how extremists are hardly indicative of the whole, and the terrorist's mother seemed good-hearted and genuinely sympathetic, but the overall execution was still flawed.
I was kind of disappointed to see the two Muslims in the opening be the ones responsible for the bombing. They were so easy going and every prayer they made was innocuous and positive. It seems like you could have easily had it be the work of others, with both he and his friend being victims of the attack, even if you were to say that it was radical Islamic terrorists who were responsible.
Or, if the episode's plot hinged on it being that guy, the writers could have used the black oil as a way to explain the behavior, especially given the drastic shift from "casually nomming on a PB+J" to suicide bombing. It would also bring back the myth arc, which has been surprisingly absent this series.
Those in the Muslim community shouldn't feel too bad, though. This episode stereotypes everybody. The Texans are all stereotypes, the doctor treating the terrorist spouses heavy handed strawperson dialogue, the Homeland Security agents are walking cliches (though at least nothing seemed to come from the "infiltrator" angle that was implied), and even the two guest FBI agents are stereotypes.
Yes we're introduced to a young male "believer" agent named Miller (Get it? It's similar to Mulder) who is played by Robbie "Firestorm" Amell. He is partnered with a red-headed female scientist and doctor agent (Get it? She's like Scully) named Einstein (because she's smart!)
Yeah, this episode is sorely lacking in subtlety. Both Amell and Ambrose (who plays Einstein) do what they can to give their characters distinct traits, but they are hindered by factors outside their control.
The episode isn't without its plus sides, though. Some of the banter is amusing. We also get to see Mulder trip out on shrooms. It was a fun sequence that led to some amusing cameos. It kind of wasted William B. Davis, but we got to see the Lone Gunmen again in a sensible context.
Also, the episode had a solid soundtrack. More shows need to find ways to incorporate Tom Waits' music into episodes.
Oddly, the episode doesn't really have much in the way of supernatural phenomenon. Mulder's attempt to use psychotropic drugs to communicate with someone who is comatose in order to uncover a future plot is about as close as the episode gets.
There is the thing with the trumpets, but nothing's ever done with it. It's basically an afterthought that is used to bookend the episode. It's a shame too, as it made for a great omen that big things beyond either agent's comprehension are about to happen. It would also follow up on the botched "end of the world" plot that the show tried to do with 2012. If anything, the show should have opened with that and built up something over the course of the season. Instead, you get the feeling that the whole thing is going to get rushed, what with only one episode left. I've heard mumblings that another season might be coming, but that has yet to be determined.
This episode had problems. There are things to like, but the writing makes it something of a mess. It's especially bad as you'd think that they would want momentum going into the big finale. Instead, it's a bit of a dud.
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Rather than dealing with aliens or monsters, this episode pits the agents against a radical Muslim terrorist cell. It should come as no surprise that there was a bit of backlash about the way the religion is portrayed. Now, Scully does throw in a line about how extremists are hardly indicative of the whole, and the terrorist's mother seemed good-hearted and genuinely sympathetic, but the overall execution was still flawed.
I was kind of disappointed to see the two Muslims in the opening be the ones responsible for the bombing. They were so easy going and every prayer they made was innocuous and positive. It seems like you could have easily had it be the work of others, with both he and his friend being victims of the attack, even if you were to say that it was radical Islamic terrorists who were responsible.
Or, if the episode's plot hinged on it being that guy, the writers could have used the black oil as a way to explain the behavior, especially given the drastic shift from "casually nomming on a PB+J" to suicide bombing. It would also bring back the myth arc, which has been surprisingly absent this series.
Those in the Muslim community shouldn't feel too bad, though. This episode stereotypes everybody. The Texans are all stereotypes, the doctor treating the terrorist spouses heavy handed strawperson dialogue, the Homeland Security agents are walking cliches (though at least nothing seemed to come from the "infiltrator" angle that was implied), and even the two guest FBI agents are stereotypes.
Yes we're introduced to a young male "believer" agent named Miller (Get it? It's similar to Mulder) who is played by Robbie "Firestorm" Amell. He is partnered with a red-headed female scientist and doctor agent (Get it? She's like Scully) named Einstein (because she's smart!)
Yeah, this episode is sorely lacking in subtlety. Both Amell and Ambrose (who plays Einstein) do what they can to give their characters distinct traits, but they are hindered by factors outside their control.
The episode isn't without its plus sides, though. Some of the banter is amusing. We also get to see Mulder trip out on shrooms. It was a fun sequence that led to some amusing cameos. It kind of wasted William B. Davis, but we got to see the Lone Gunmen again in a sensible context.
Also, the episode had a solid soundtrack. More shows need to find ways to incorporate Tom Waits' music into episodes.
Oddly, the episode doesn't really have much in the way of supernatural phenomenon. Mulder's attempt to use psychotropic drugs to communicate with someone who is comatose in order to uncover a future plot is about as close as the episode gets.
There is the thing with the trumpets, but nothing's ever done with it. It's basically an afterthought that is used to bookend the episode. It's a shame too, as it made for a great omen that big things beyond either agent's comprehension are about to happen. It would also follow up on the botched "end of the world" plot that the show tried to do with 2012. If anything, the show should have opened with that and built up something over the course of the season. Instead, you get the feeling that the whole thing is going to get rushed, what with only one episode left. I've heard mumblings that another season might be coming, but that has yet to be determined.
This episode had problems. There are things to like, but the writing makes it something of a mess. It's especially bad as you'd think that they would want momentum going into the big finale. Instead, it's a bit of a dud.
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Monday, March 21, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Brad Dourif on 'Agents of Shield'
Brad Dourif on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. by CattivoScrittore
I'm working my way through "Agents of Shield" as I want to get caught up on the MCU as a whole. I'm about halfway through the first season when, lo and behold, Brad Dourif makes a guest appearance. Is there any show that wasn't made more awesome by bringing this guy in? I highly doubt it.
His appearance here is especially impressive as his character is in a catatonic state. There isn't much in the way of "acting", but it is clearly his voice coming through the computer. As such, his menace and creepy air comes completely from his voice acting, which is stellar. He still manages to knock it out of the park and deliver the intense creepiness for which he is so well known and loved.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Daredevil Season 2, Episode 2: Dogs to a Gunfight
Where the last episode established the Punisher as the new threat, this episode builds on it, giving us an even greater idea of what Matt is up against.
Again, the gun toting vigilante is largely kept off screen. Instead, we're told more about him through off hand information and rumors. It turns out that Frank's been at this for some time. The way people talk, he's been built up as some sort of boogeyman both by cops and criminals alike. You'd think that it would have been brought to someone's attention before this, what with all the crime rings that he's apparently wiped out between the two seasons, but then again, it was assumed to be a group in the last episode, so I guess it is consistent.
Interestingly enough, the Punisher's rise acts as a nice tie-in to the goings on of the MCU as a whole. Jessica Jones laid down ground work showing us that heroes weren't as well received by the public as you'd think. This takes that ball and continues to run with it, making for some nice build up to the upcoming "Civil War". While no direct mention is made to the registration act, it does go to show that "team Stark" may not be as off base as you may think in regards to heroes needing to be kept in check.
Speaking of Jessica, boy she and Luke Cage sure would come in handy. I'm guessing that the big team up in The Defenders will involve the conflict with the Hand, but I could see Frank posing enough of a threat to warrant some smaller scale heroes to team up and take him down. Personally, I'd rather see both he and Elektra work with the Defenders when we get to that, but you could go either way.
At one point, Karen suggests that Daredevil caused the whole mess, that his existence paved the way for someone like Frank to go out and start a crusade of his own without the restraint. It's a very "Batman" idea, that the hero somehow triggers the rise of villains. While I think it works with the prior (sometimes) I'm not sure it's the case here. Even if Daredevil wasn't around, Frank's trauma, determination, and desire for revenge would have still been present.
If anything, you could argue that Hell's Kitchen is better off with him there. He can, after all, hold the Punisher to a stand still. Contrast that with the cops, who Matt notes are way out of their element here. He's not wrong, though you understand why Foggy would tell him to stay out of it because it's not his fight.
On that note, we are given Frank vs. Matt round 2. Again, it's an exhilarating fight. Both parties land some solid hits on the other. The fact that cops are taking pot shots at both adds another element of suspense as neither one is safe.
Again, Frank gets a last second advantage that makes for the episode cliffhanger. Where he ended the last episode by shooting Matt in the head (implied to be a warning shot given how precise it had to be in order for Matt to survive even with the armored mask), here he takes Matt hostage after the latter gets hit with some surprise tinnitus.
This episode did a good job of escalating things. While Frank clearly poses a physical threat, he's also making for an interesting existential one. Yes, that's usually how the two characters work in the comics, but it makes for interesting philosophical discussions. It might not be the straight forward "one man strives to take down the mob and save his city" arc that made up the first season, but this is shaping up to be a solid watch in its own right.
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Again, the gun toting vigilante is largely kept off screen. Instead, we're told more about him through off hand information and rumors. It turns out that Frank's been at this for some time. The way people talk, he's been built up as some sort of boogeyman both by cops and criminals alike. You'd think that it would have been brought to someone's attention before this, what with all the crime rings that he's apparently wiped out between the two seasons, but then again, it was assumed to be a group in the last episode, so I guess it is consistent.
Interestingly enough, the Punisher's rise acts as a nice tie-in to the goings on of the MCU as a whole. Jessica Jones laid down ground work showing us that heroes weren't as well received by the public as you'd think. This takes that ball and continues to run with it, making for some nice build up to the upcoming "Civil War". While no direct mention is made to the registration act, it does go to show that "team Stark" may not be as off base as you may think in regards to heroes needing to be kept in check.
Speaking of Jessica, boy she and Luke Cage sure would come in handy. I'm guessing that the big team up in The Defenders will involve the conflict with the Hand, but I could see Frank posing enough of a threat to warrant some smaller scale heroes to team up and take him down. Personally, I'd rather see both he and Elektra work with the Defenders when we get to that, but you could go either way.
At one point, Karen suggests that Daredevil caused the whole mess, that his existence paved the way for someone like Frank to go out and start a crusade of his own without the restraint. It's a very "Batman" idea, that the hero somehow triggers the rise of villains. While I think it works with the prior (sometimes) I'm not sure it's the case here. Even if Daredevil wasn't around, Frank's trauma, determination, and desire for revenge would have still been present.
If anything, you could argue that Hell's Kitchen is better off with him there. He can, after all, hold the Punisher to a stand still. Contrast that with the cops, who Matt notes are way out of their element here. He's not wrong, though you understand why Foggy would tell him to stay out of it because it's not his fight.
On that note, we are given Frank vs. Matt round 2. Again, it's an exhilarating fight. Both parties land some solid hits on the other. The fact that cops are taking pot shots at both adds another element of suspense as neither one is safe.
Again, Frank gets a last second advantage that makes for the episode cliffhanger. Where he ended the last episode by shooting Matt in the head (implied to be a warning shot given how precise it had to be in order for Matt to survive even with the armored mask), here he takes Matt hostage after the latter gets hit with some surprise tinnitus.
This episode did a good job of escalating things. While Frank clearly poses a physical threat, he's also making for an interesting existential one. Yes, that's usually how the two characters work in the comics, but it makes for interesting philosophical discussions. It might not be the straight forward "one man strives to take down the mob and save his city" arc that made up the first season, but this is shaping up to be a solid watch in its own right.
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Friday, March 18, 2016
Daredevil Season 2, Episode 1:Bang
True, we didn't talk about the first season here, but it was awesome and the second season just hit the internet, so why not write about it, right?
As you can probably tell by the title, this episode is largely centered on setting up the Punisher as a major antagonist. Interestingly enough, he doesn't appear until the final act. Instead, the episode establishes his presence through other means while keeping him off screen. We see a group of Irish mobsters get gunned down and it is revealed that they weren't the first group taken out.
While you know where it's headed, the episode builds it up well enough that the moment that you hear that it was one man (and not an army as every character had assumed up to this point) the reveal still works. It was a clever way to show just how formidable Frank really is.
As was the case with the first season, one of the real strengths of this episode lies in the three leads. The dynamic between Matt, Foggy, and Karen continues to be utterly charming. The banter adds some levity that acts as a nice counter-balance to the violence and dark atmosphere. Really, until the final sequence, just seeing the three banter and bounce jokes off one another was the highlight of the episode.
It was a little weird to see Karen and Matt start to provide some shipping fuel. It's true, she is a love interest of Matt's in the comic, but considering that the first season spent a lot of time fostering a bond between her and Foggy, it is a bit of a left turn. Hopefully, it doesn't go into love triangle route as that is a bit played out.
When Punisher does make his presence known, he comes out guns a blazin. Yes, I meant that both literally and figuratively. While it would have been impressive to see him sniper a mob member while said member was driving away in a car (also, man, did Frank get to that rooftop quick) it is averted by Daredevil, resulting in the first confrontation between the two vigilantes.
This was a solid fight. While the trailers make it seem like Matt gets his arse handed to him, he holds his own against the Punisher fairly well. As was the case with the final fight with Fisk, the advantage shifted back and forth between the two. Not only does it make for an impressive sequence, but it shows just how good both are at what they do.
Overall, it was a strong opening. It did a good job of picking up where the last season left off, while also seguing into its own arc. Fisk is brought up repeatedly to help show that the events of last season haven't been completely forgotten. In fact, the mobs wrestling for control in his absence is a prominent plot point. Oddly, there's no mention of the Kilgrave ordeal. Even just an offhand mention would have been a nice nod, seeing as they are in the same city and this is a shared universe and all.
Still, looking forward to seeing how the season plays out. No Elektra yet, but it's something to look forward to. The allusion to the brewing war involving the Hand was one of the cooler bits of foreshadowing, so I'm excited to see what comes of that.
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As you can probably tell by the title, this episode is largely centered on setting up the Punisher as a major antagonist. Interestingly enough, he doesn't appear until the final act. Instead, the episode establishes his presence through other means while keeping him off screen. We see a group of Irish mobsters get gunned down and it is revealed that they weren't the first group taken out.
While you know where it's headed, the episode builds it up well enough that the moment that you hear that it was one man (and not an army as every character had assumed up to this point) the reveal still works. It was a clever way to show just how formidable Frank really is.
As was the case with the first season, one of the real strengths of this episode lies in the three leads. The dynamic between Matt, Foggy, and Karen continues to be utterly charming. The banter adds some levity that acts as a nice counter-balance to the violence and dark atmosphere. Really, until the final sequence, just seeing the three banter and bounce jokes off one another was the highlight of the episode.
It was a little weird to see Karen and Matt start to provide some shipping fuel. It's true, she is a love interest of Matt's in the comic, but considering that the first season spent a lot of time fostering a bond between her and Foggy, it is a bit of a left turn. Hopefully, it doesn't go into love triangle route as that is a bit played out.
When Punisher does make his presence known, he comes out guns a blazin. Yes, I meant that both literally and figuratively. While it would have been impressive to see him sniper a mob member while said member was driving away in a car (also, man, did Frank get to that rooftop quick) it is averted by Daredevil, resulting in the first confrontation between the two vigilantes.
This was a solid fight. While the trailers make it seem like Matt gets his arse handed to him, he holds his own against the Punisher fairly well. As was the case with the final fight with Fisk, the advantage shifted back and forth between the two. Not only does it make for an impressive sequence, but it shows just how good both are at what they do.
Overall, it was a strong opening. It did a good job of picking up where the last season left off, while also seguing into its own arc. Fisk is brought up repeatedly to help show that the events of last season haven't been completely forgotten. In fact, the mobs wrestling for control in his absence is a prominent plot point. Oddly, there's no mention of the Kilgrave ordeal. Even just an offhand mention would have been a nice nod, seeing as they are in the same city and this is a shared universe and all.
Still, looking forward to seeing how the season plays out. No Elektra yet, but it's something to look forward to. The allusion to the brewing war involving the Hand was one of the cooler bits of foreshadowing, so I'm excited to see what comes of that.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Everyone I Don't Like is Hitler
Paradoxically, this picture is funny because it's true; but at the same time, it's sad because it's true.
The X-Files Season 10, Episode 4: Home Again
Oh yeah, I was writing about the X-Files mini-series, wasn't I? I should probably get back to that. Seems like a good idea, I think.
Now, contrary to what the title of this one may suggest, this episode does not feature the return of that homicidal inbred family. As fun as it is to have memorable villains come back, this episode focuses on another thing entirely. The closest you get to a callback is another sequence where someone is murdered while a cheery ditty plays over the scene.
While the villain is a mashup of all sorts of things: Vigo the Carpathian, the Golem/Frankenstein, Candy man, and even a hint of Slenderman; it fell flat. Don't get me wrong, the creepy parts were adequately creepy and the monster did kill his victims in a particularly brutal fashion. That being said, there wasn't a whole lot of mystery to it.
Really, circumstances led both Mulder and the viewer by the nose, robbing the episode of some suspense. Also, "band-aid nose man"? You could argue that "Fluke man" wasn't much better, but still. I think the writers could have tried a little harder with that one.
Where was Scully? You ask, well she gets a call saying that her mother is in the hospital and is at death's door. On the one hand, it sidelines her for a majority of the episode, which can be vexing. On the other, it gives the episode some emotional weight as Scully gets sent into a tailspin.
It actually ends up being the more memorable part of the episode, in no small part due to Gillian Anderson's performance. Scully's fairly stoic by nature and it isn't often that Anderson gets to flex her acting muscles, this gave her that chance and she performed admirably.
While the attempt to tie her tragedy into both the mystery of the week, as well as their son's fate was a little on the wonky side, it still managed to resonate for the most part.
I do have to say, though, taking the break might have worked for the best. If you're binge watching this, going from the amazing goofiness of "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" to seeing Scully wrestle with the idea of taking her mother off life support is going to cause some pretty serious mood whiplash.
By and large, though, the episode was decent. Even the social commentary worked. I can't say that it was subtle, but it didn't bend over backwards and send characters on pointless side quests or have them act like idiots in order to hammer the point across. It was just an aspect of the case and the setting. That's a lot more than you'd get in most instances of writer's choosing to get up on a soapbox.
Now the next episode, from what I read, is fairly controversial, so that should be interesting. The promo looked harmless enough, though. Also, Robbie Amell is in it, so seeing the original Firestorm again should be fun.
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Now, contrary to what the title of this one may suggest, this episode does not feature the return of that homicidal inbred family. As fun as it is to have memorable villains come back, this episode focuses on another thing entirely. The closest you get to a callback is another sequence where someone is murdered while a cheery ditty plays over the scene.
While the villain is a mashup of all sorts of things: Vigo the Carpathian, the Golem/Frankenstein, Candy man, and even a hint of Slenderman; it fell flat. Don't get me wrong, the creepy parts were adequately creepy and the monster did kill his victims in a particularly brutal fashion. That being said, there wasn't a whole lot of mystery to it.
Really, circumstances led both Mulder and the viewer by the nose, robbing the episode of some suspense. Also, "band-aid nose man"? You could argue that "Fluke man" wasn't much better, but still. I think the writers could have tried a little harder with that one.
Where was Scully? You ask, well she gets a call saying that her mother is in the hospital and is at death's door. On the one hand, it sidelines her for a majority of the episode, which can be vexing. On the other, it gives the episode some emotional weight as Scully gets sent into a tailspin.
It actually ends up being the more memorable part of the episode, in no small part due to Gillian Anderson's performance. Scully's fairly stoic by nature and it isn't often that Anderson gets to flex her acting muscles, this gave her that chance and she performed admirably.
While the attempt to tie her tragedy into both the mystery of the week, as well as their son's fate was a little on the wonky side, it still managed to resonate for the most part.
I do have to say, though, taking the break might have worked for the best. If you're binge watching this, going from the amazing goofiness of "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" to seeing Scully wrestle with the idea of taking her mother off life support is going to cause some pretty serious mood whiplash.
By and large, though, the episode was decent. Even the social commentary worked. I can't say that it was subtle, but it didn't bend over backwards and send characters on pointless side quests or have them act like idiots in order to hammer the point across. It was just an aspect of the case and the setting. That's a lot more than you'd get in most instances of writer's choosing to get up on a soapbox.
Now the next episode, from what I read, is fairly controversial, so that should be interesting. The promo looked harmless enough, though. Also, Robbie Amell is in it, so seeing the original Firestorm again should be fun.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Legends of Tomorrow episode 8: Night of the Hawk
After going to the future and to outer space, the team of heroes travel back to the past. More specifically, they go to the 1950's. This actually works to their advantage, though, as Savage won't recognize them yet. Fittingly enough, this episode takes a step backwards in many respects.
Once again, the team fractures off, resulting in multiple subplots. Unlike other episodes where the end goals were clearly defined, here, it isn't. Ray and Kendra pose as a married couple to further their shipping and to show that the past wasn't so kind to interracial relationships. It makes you wonder why they paired those two. Wouldn't Sara have been the better partner for that one with Kendra acting as the nurse?
Yeah, Ray and Kendra end up across the street from Savage, but they seem caught off guard by this, which makes you wonder what they were doing. The other subplots are as flimsy, though they just happen to work to the heroes' advantage because the script said that it would.
Really, the whole episode is structured in such a way that the writers were obviously more concerned with preaching and making some attempt at social commentary than advancing the ongoing plot or having the team of heroes become legends. Honestly, every subplot is really just a pretense for this. Maybe this is just a personal gripe, as I have grown tired of heavy-handed writer soapbox preaching, but it got annoying, especially when even the slightest bit of common sense from even one of the characters would have avoided all of it.
It was good to have Vandal back, though. While he is still lacking as a villain in terms of being a threat that needs a team to be taken down (really, it seems like it would be more important that they help Barry take down Zoom), he was still creepy in a small scale murderous psychopath kind of way.
It was weird seeing him try to play normal, if only because Vandal did such a poor job of it. You can't help but wonder how anybody didn't suspect something was up. Crump looked like he was enjoying himself, though, so that's always something.
Having him just kill people would have been enough, but they try to give him some larger endgame and it gets ridiculous. I mean, bird people? They were probably going for some "mad scientist" type thing to fit with the 50's era but it doesn't get enough time and it comes out of nowhere.
Even the bird people themselves don't seem to pose much of a threat. They look silly and they don't ever challenge the heroes to any real extent. As such, the episode is sorely lacking in action. Considering this is supposed to be the epic superhero show, it's really shocking to see.
I was going to chide Kendra's plan to try and take on Savage solo. Yes, she had the dagger now, but Ray fails to remind her that Savage has done this song and dance hundreds of times because girl power or something. To her credit, though, she admits that it was a bad idea later on. So at least she and the writers acknowledged the lapse in judgment.
The episode does end on an intriguing cliffhanger, though. The Chronos attacks are becoming redundant (even Snart reacts to his arrival with a bored "not again" line) but it does drive the team to leave before Ray, Sara, and Kendra can return; leaving them stranded in the past. Considering the show is following Arrow's and Flash's lead and taking a multi-week break, it's not a bad note to end on.
Still, this episode kind of stunk. It wasn't well paced, the characters' actions make no sense, and the plot was utterly lacking on every conceivable front. I'd mark it as the nadir of the season in all honesty. Hopefully the break will do the show some good. It would be a shame to see this go down the tubes. I want to be excited to tune into this week to week, but it has to give me more to work with. I can't help but think that it would be more exciting to see the team just operate in the present without the time jumping. It would still achieve the goal of keeping all of these characters busy so that they can't always swoop in and help Oliver or Barry on their respective shows and it would keep viewers invested by giving them a consistent setting and showing the actual aftermath from their ordeals.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Once again, the team fractures off, resulting in multiple subplots. Unlike other episodes where the end goals were clearly defined, here, it isn't. Ray and Kendra pose as a married couple to further their shipping and to show that the past wasn't so kind to interracial relationships. It makes you wonder why they paired those two. Wouldn't Sara have been the better partner for that one with Kendra acting as the nurse?
Yeah, Ray and Kendra end up across the street from Savage, but they seem caught off guard by this, which makes you wonder what they were doing. The other subplots are as flimsy, though they just happen to work to the heroes' advantage because the script said that it would.
Really, the whole episode is structured in such a way that the writers were obviously more concerned with preaching and making some attempt at social commentary than advancing the ongoing plot or having the team of heroes become legends. Honestly, every subplot is really just a pretense for this. Maybe this is just a personal gripe, as I have grown tired of heavy-handed writer soapbox preaching, but it got annoying, especially when even the slightest bit of common sense from even one of the characters would have avoided all of it.
It was good to have Vandal back, though. While he is still lacking as a villain in terms of being a threat that needs a team to be taken down (really, it seems like it would be more important that they help Barry take down Zoom), he was still creepy in a small scale murderous psychopath kind of way.
It was weird seeing him try to play normal, if only because Vandal did such a poor job of it. You can't help but wonder how anybody didn't suspect something was up. Crump looked like he was enjoying himself, though, so that's always something.
Having him just kill people would have been enough, but they try to give him some larger endgame and it gets ridiculous. I mean, bird people? They were probably going for some "mad scientist" type thing to fit with the 50's era but it doesn't get enough time and it comes out of nowhere.
Even the bird people themselves don't seem to pose much of a threat. They look silly and they don't ever challenge the heroes to any real extent. As such, the episode is sorely lacking in action. Considering this is supposed to be the epic superhero show, it's really shocking to see.
I was going to chide Kendra's plan to try and take on Savage solo. Yes, she had the dagger now, but Ray fails to remind her that Savage has done this song and dance hundreds of times because girl power or something. To her credit, though, she admits that it was a bad idea later on. So at least she and the writers acknowledged the lapse in judgment.
The episode does end on an intriguing cliffhanger, though. The Chronos attacks are becoming redundant (even Snart reacts to his arrival with a bored "not again" line) but it does drive the team to leave before Ray, Sara, and Kendra can return; leaving them stranded in the past. Considering the show is following Arrow's and Flash's lead and taking a multi-week break, it's not a bad note to end on.
Still, this episode kind of stunk. It wasn't well paced, the characters' actions make no sense, and the plot was utterly lacking on every conceivable front. I'd mark it as the nadir of the season in all honesty. Hopefully the break will do the show some good. It would be a shame to see this go down the tubes. I want to be excited to tune into this week to week, but it has to give me more to work with. I can't help but think that it would be more exciting to see the team just operate in the present without the time jumping. It would still achieve the goal of keeping all of these characters busy so that they can't always swoop in and help Oliver or Barry on their respective shows and it would keep viewers invested by giving them a consistent setting and showing the actual aftermath from their ordeals.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Lazy Lions Play With Ball
Voici comment des lions paresseux jouent avec une balle
Posted by Je kiffe on Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Legends of Tomorrow episode 7: Marooned
Between the title and the preview, you might expect a "bottle episode" where the team deals with a crazed Mick while trapped on the Waverider. It's true, Mick still isn't happy about being dragged away from 2046, and cabin fever doesn't help, but he's not the main antagonist of the episode.
Instead, the team finds themselves dealing with space pirates (who I dub the Legends of Tom-arrrr-ow). Sadly, they aren't as cool as they sound. They serve their role well enough, but they aren't as impressive as other foes.
To make up for this, the team is nerfed to some extent. Again, they split up (with both Stein and Jax separating) and more of the action is based on ship to ship combat, rendering most of the team unable to play to their strengths until later in the episode.
On the one hand, I get it, you want to put them in tight situations, but it is frustrating when you want to see the heroes being epic and they keep dodging it. Heck, even when Jax and Stein reunite, it never occurs to them to form Firestorm when they are trying to gain the upper hand against the pirates. You could argue that fire on a spaceship is bad, but Mick has no problem using his flame thrower over the course of the episode.
Fortunately, the episode makes up for it with fairly strong character driven material. Rip is fleshed out , as we get a look at back story to a much greater extent. Really though, that opening scene of him in his room watching the hologram messages from his family was so heart wrenching that the rest, while good, kind of paled in comparison.
Quick question, he has a time machine, why doesn't he just go to the day before Vandal kills his family and take them on the Waverider? That thought just occurred to me as I was watching his emotional journey unfold. I'm sure there's some sort of paradox, but you wonder about these things when time travel becomes a factor. Speaking of which, the ship is essentially revealed to be a TARDIS, as it can go through space too.
Oddly, no mention of Doctor Who in the dialogue, but there are plenty of Star Wars and Star Trek references to fill the void. They worked fine, though they missed a perfect one when Kendra is trying to revive Ray and Gideon notes the slim odds of his survival. I was honestly expecting her to respond with the Han Solo line, as she shows a bit of a geeky side herself, but I guess her mind was focused on other matters.
I was surprised to see the Ray/Kendra romance continue. On the one hand, it avoids the plot cul-de-sac, but it had other problems anyway. Really, the only callback I needed was Ray's joke about how poorly their "space date" was going. Who knows? With more screen time, they could sell me on it yet.
The other character highlight of the episode, though, is the deterioration of Snart's and Mick's bond. The prior is convinced that Mick just needs time to let things mend, but it never gets to that point as Mick betrays the team, forcing Snart's hand.
I kind of blame Rip for the turn, though. Yeah, Snart dragged him away from 2046 last episode, but here we see Rip get in his face, call him an idiot, and flat out say that he didn't want Mick on the team in the first place. It's one of those "what did you think was going to happen?" situations. It's especially odd as Mick had been pulling his weight. He was even able to offer helpful insight on various occasions, despite the lack of book smarts. While he may not be the ideal "hero", as a teammate, he had a role regardless.
It leads to a rather powerful scene as Snart has to put Mick down. Dropping him off in the present isn't an option as he would likely still pursue the vendetta. While it's never brought up, I suppose dropping him off in 2046 isn't an option either. Then again, they haven't really averted that timeline yet. In any event, Snart pulls an "Of Mice and Men". Both Miller and Purcell pulled the tense palaver off rather well, though I have to admit, Miller's line delivery is starting to wear thin for me. It's too late to change at this point, but it isn't working as much as it used to.
While it isn't a "cliffhanger" it also made for a great wham moment to close the episode, as Snart opened fire on his longtime friend and partner.
Next week, it looks like the conflict will return to Vandal Savage and the team will return to the past. The trailer was odd, so I'm not really sure what to make of what direction it's going to go. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Instead, the team finds themselves dealing with space pirates (who I dub the Legends of Tom-arrrr-ow). Sadly, they aren't as cool as they sound. They serve their role well enough, but they aren't as impressive as other foes.
To make up for this, the team is nerfed to some extent. Again, they split up (with both Stein and Jax separating) and more of the action is based on ship to ship combat, rendering most of the team unable to play to their strengths until later in the episode.
On the one hand, I get it, you want to put them in tight situations, but it is frustrating when you want to see the heroes being epic and they keep dodging it. Heck, even when Jax and Stein reunite, it never occurs to them to form Firestorm when they are trying to gain the upper hand against the pirates. You could argue that fire on a spaceship is bad, but Mick has no problem using his flame thrower over the course of the episode.
Fortunately, the episode makes up for it with fairly strong character driven material. Rip is fleshed out , as we get a look at back story to a much greater extent. Really though, that opening scene of him in his room watching the hologram messages from his family was so heart wrenching that the rest, while good, kind of paled in comparison.
Quick question, he has a time machine, why doesn't he just go to the day before Vandal kills his family and take them on the Waverider? That thought just occurred to me as I was watching his emotional journey unfold. I'm sure there's some sort of paradox, but you wonder about these things when time travel becomes a factor. Speaking of which, the ship is essentially revealed to be a TARDIS, as it can go through space too.
Oddly, no mention of Doctor Who in the dialogue, but there are plenty of Star Wars and Star Trek references to fill the void. They worked fine, though they missed a perfect one when Kendra is trying to revive Ray and Gideon notes the slim odds of his survival. I was honestly expecting her to respond with the Han Solo line, as she shows a bit of a geeky side herself, but I guess her mind was focused on other matters.
I was surprised to see the Ray/Kendra romance continue. On the one hand, it avoids the plot cul-de-sac, but it had other problems anyway. Really, the only callback I needed was Ray's joke about how poorly their "space date" was going. Who knows? With more screen time, they could sell me on it yet.
The other character highlight of the episode, though, is the deterioration of Snart's and Mick's bond. The prior is convinced that Mick just needs time to let things mend, but it never gets to that point as Mick betrays the team, forcing Snart's hand.
I kind of blame Rip for the turn, though. Yeah, Snart dragged him away from 2046 last episode, but here we see Rip get in his face, call him an idiot, and flat out say that he didn't want Mick on the team in the first place. It's one of those "what did you think was going to happen?" situations. It's especially odd as Mick had been pulling his weight. He was even able to offer helpful insight on various occasions, despite the lack of book smarts. While he may not be the ideal "hero", as a teammate, he had a role regardless.
It leads to a rather powerful scene as Snart has to put Mick down. Dropping him off in the present isn't an option as he would likely still pursue the vendetta. While it's never brought up, I suppose dropping him off in 2046 isn't an option either. Then again, they haven't really averted that timeline yet. In any event, Snart pulls an "Of Mice and Men". Both Miller and Purcell pulled the tense palaver off rather well, though I have to admit, Miller's line delivery is starting to wear thin for me. It's too late to change at this point, but it isn't working as much as it used to.
While it isn't a "cliffhanger" it also made for a great wham moment to close the episode, as Snart opened fire on his longtime friend and partner.
Next week, it looks like the conflict will return to Vandal Savage and the team will return to the past. The trailer was odd, so I'm not really sure what to make of what direction it's going to go. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Friday, March 4, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Mastiff Goes Through Obstacle Course
Adorable Giant English Mastiff Participates In A Dog Agility C...
This big adorable English Mastiff competing in a dog agility contest at speeds reaching the crazy level of "I don't give a darn" makes me happy. Funny News Fix http://www.funnynewsfix.com for more!
Posted by Funny News Fix on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Daily Dose of Awesome: Bern Your Enthusiasm
Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, I think we can all agree that Bernie Sanders' run for President was worth it just to see Larry David portray him on Saturday Night Live. While Larry did reprise the role for several skits, this one stands as my personal favorite. Oddly enough, I never watched "Curb Your Enthusiasm", though this makes me kind of want to. It's also somewhat fitting, seeing as it is Super Tuesday and all.
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