'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 18: 'The Good, The Bad, and The Cuddly'

The third season reaches its climactic conclusion, as our heroes face off against the dreaded demon Mallus.  Does he live up to the hype that's been built up all season?  Not really.

While the team doesn't win their initial skirmish (obviously), they don't exactly get clobbered either.  It makes Sara's sudden lack of confidence in the team's abilities come off as a little bizarre.It does allow for an internal struggle to complement the external and it does give her a nice arc, but it still feels a little random.

On top of that, all Mallus does is fly around.  You'd think there would be some reference to the collapsing timeline or something, but no.  The episode decides to settle in the old west instead. The setup has its upsides, but it still feels lackluster given the circumstances.

The episode does bring a whole lot of supporting characters.  Old adversaries and allies both return to up the scale of the impending conflict and it works well.  It makes the episode feel like a culmination of all of the events that had preceded it.  While Jax doesn't get a whole lot to do, it was still nice to see him back and he does get some good lines and moments in here and there.

Speaking of good moments, both Rip and Damien get to make the heroic sacrifice play.  You'd think that it would feel like overkill or redundant, but both are distinct and land for different reasons.  In both cases, they feel like the best conclusion for these characters' stories, though I'm sure the Arrowverse could find ways to bring them back if need be.

Now, there were two points that I had been aware of before watching this.  The first is that Mallus loses to a giant Beebo.  I was actually dreading the finale because I thought it was going to be dumb, but it kind of worked.  Yeah, it's silly as hell, but it wasn't in that cringe-inducing way that I was expecting.  It helps that the fight itself was actually pretty exciting, which is impressive given the circumstances.

The final climax managed to draw from "Ghostbusters", the fourth season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", and even Captain Planet.  Yeah, they say Voltron, but come on, Captain Planet is the much more appropriate comparison given the way they talk about bringing the elemental powers together to form a perfect champion.

The second thing was the retconning of the "Vixen" series.  I thought that they were going to somehow phase Mari out to simplify things and keep the franchise to one Vixen, but that isn't what happens.  It turns out that, due to Amaya and Nate's changing of the timeline, Kuasa grew up happy with her family.  As such, she and Mari share the totem. Considering the team gives Kuasa back their totems at the end, I have a feeling Kuasa might go back to bearing the water totem so that Mari can bear the spirit totem, but we'll have to see how that plays out.

While her redemption here is more timey-wimey ball induced, it still feels like a fitting conclusion, given the fact that she was already on a positive change arc anyway.

Not surprisingly, the day is saved and it seems like the team got a legitimate win with a well deserved happy ending.  They even take a trip to Aruba, much to Mick's chagrin as he wanted to be by himself.  Sadly, the celebration is short lived as the inevitable sequel hook reveals itself.  Constantine shows up to berate Sara for letting the demon out, as it has apparently allowed other creatures to come out as well.

I'm all for more Constantine and it's a logical plot hook given that he's going to be a regular now, but it seemed like a lazy way to end the episode.  There was no umph like there was with "Guys, we broke time" or the JSA making contact with the team to warn them about what's to come. It felt a little perfunctory.  If anything, I think letting the season end with the team on a high note could have been an interesting twist.  Also, minor quibble, but putting Matt Ryan's name in the opening credits really took the steam out of that surprise appearance.  The show producers have been smart about that sort of thing before, so I'm not sure why they didn't do the same here.

All in all, this episode was a mixed bag.  Underwhelming at points, but never lacking in charm or fun.  It could have been more, but it does deliver what you come to expect from an episode of the series.

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'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 17: 'Guest Starring John Noble'

While Amaya ventures off to protect her village, the rest of the team tries to come up with a means of preventing her from doing so.  After all, a timeline alteration of that magnitude risks freeing Mallus.  Of course, so too does the murder of Barack Obama by Grodd.

The latter plot point could have likely been an episode in and of itself, but it is relegated to something of an afterthought.  Grodd is bested rather quickly by the team and Obama himself plays a small role in the grand scheme of things.  I guess the writers didn't want to get too heavy with the political stuff, which makes some degree of sense.

The closest it gets is Sara saying that she misses him after the two have a solid heart to heart about Sara's issues.  The episode earns it, though, I think.

Conversely, "Make America Grodd Again"?  That doesn't even make sense.  It doesn't rhyme with the usual mantra and it isn't like Grodd had the country under his thrall at any point.  And since when does Grodd care about American politics? He's a big, angry, telepathic gorilla.  Of all the Arrowverse antagonists, he's the last one who would logically make any sort of comment or reference on that sort of thing.

Anyway, once Obama is saved, the plot focuses to trying to save Nora.  Damien offers his services, but Sara is skeptical to say the least (see the aforementioned issues).  I noted before that he would likely join the heroes and it seems like that's where its going.  Ray even vouches for Damien's sincerity when it comes to his love for his daughter.

It's kind of nice to see this more reflective Darhk. It seems like fatherhood has changed him for the better.  He even apologizes to Sara about killing Laurel and says that he'd take it back if he could.  I was skeptical about Darhk's return and critical of some of his appearances this season, but overall, it seems like it was the right move, especially since Mcdonough nails the material and makes it pack that much more of a punch..

Even when Darhk turns on the team, it isn't the typical "ha ha, fooled you! I'm still evil, suckers!" reveal that the Damien of old would have basked in.  His end goal is still the same, save his daughter and stop the demon from getting loose.  Its just that he changes his mind on how to go about doing that.  It was an interesting twist on what could have been a predictable....twist.

Speaking of interesting twists, poor Ava gets put through the ringer.  The reveal that she was a clone was earth-shattering enough, but her big talk with Rip only makes it worse.  It turns out that she's not the first Ava, 11 have come before her.

While you can see some degree of remorse on Rip's face, his responses don't help.  He really could have come up with something to soften the blow.  Ava's constant assertions that she was "picked 12th" don't make sense.  Maybe bring up the idea that this isn't like picking out a puppy or a kitten.  Granted, the idea that he just bought a new Ava when the prior died has it's problems, but there are ways around that too.  While each "Ava" may start off as a blank slate, they each go through different experiences that help form them as individuals.  Does Rip bring this idea up? Nope, just silence.  Well, he tells her that she's special, but having something to back that up would have been nice.

All in all, though, this was a solid episode.  There was a lot of great character growth, the episode was well paced, and it ended on one heck of a wham note, as the demon is now free.  Admittedly, the CGI is TV budget, but the look of fear on the heroes' faces as he flew off really helped sell the dread of the moment.  It'll be interesting to see how they deal with this new development. 

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'The Punisher' Episode 9: 'Front Toward Enemy'

Up until now, Lewis' subplot has been very compartmentalized from the show's main arc regarding Frank's quest to expose the military conspiracy surrounding Kandahar.  This episode, at long last, brings the two together in a fast, but very effective collision.

The former vet's mental instability hits an all time high as he wages his own war against the system. He sets off a series of bombs at government buildings, as well as the Bulletin, the newspaper where Karen Page works.

Not only does this give us another always welcome appearance from Deborah Ann Woll, but it pisses Frank off and puts the two in direct conflict.

Not surprisingly, the episode draws parallels between Lewis and Frank.  Both have similar backgrounds and both see themselves as taking matters into their own hands to right perceived wrongs.  Karen and even Lewis himself acknowledge the similarity at different points throughout the episode.

Like Jessica Jones did in the second season with her own dark mirror antagonist, Frank doesn't take kindly to the comparison and is adamant that the two are nothing alike.  Oddly enough, the best counter he can come up with is that he faces his enemies head on, where Lewis hides behind bombs.  Looking at it from a warrior standpoint, you can see the point that Frank is trying to make, but from an everyday joe/jane standpoint, that's a little flimsy.

Having the episode make the issue of gun control  a plot point was an odd choice.  It's topical, sure, and you can see how it would fit given Frank's usual MO, but the fact that Lewis was a bomber kind of undercuts the relevance.  The episode itself hangs a lampshade on this fact at one point.

To the episode's credit, it doesn't become too heavy handed and preachy in either side's favor.  There are parts where Lewis does start to feel like he's being reduced to a straw political figure, but overall, I think both viewpoints were presented pretty fairly.  The radio debate scene may have been a little on the nose, but it could have ended up much worse, remember that episode of "Arrow" that tried to do it? Yeah.

While there's no "ticking clock", this was one of the season's more exhilarating episodes.  It never felt like it dragged and I think it pulls you closer to the edge of your seat much more than prior episodes have.

Even with that perk, the episode still did a great job depicting character. Frank shined, Karen got some great moments.  Curtis is also able to do a lot with the fairly small amount of screen time that he has.  His effort to help Lewis ends up being in vain, but it was still a solid effort.  He also got a great fight scene and some character developing time with Frank.

Nadani spends most of the episode in a heroic BSOD following Sam's death.  It's probably the closest thing the episode comes to padding, but it's a logical inclusion.  It makes for a nice epilogue to Sam's story, you can't help but sympathize with her as she's grappling with grief and a dash of survivor's guilt, and we get to see Nadani snap out of it and decide to continue her quest to reveal the truth.

Speaking of reveal, that last sequence sure was a doozy.  It's now known to the general public that Frank is alive and well.  This does work in Nadani's favor to some extent, but it is still hardly a good thing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.  Not only did it benefit from prior episodes' development, but it works pretty well as a "one and done".  Admittedly, Lewis is still out there, though perhaps starting on a turn for the better; but it still stands on its own quite well.  Hopefully, the final few episodes can keep the momentum going.  It would be a shame to let this energy boost go to waste.

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'Pet Sematary' (2019) Movie Review

While the original film adaptation of "Pet Sematary" wasn't without its merit and charm, there was certainly some room for improvement.  As such, this is one of the more forgivable remakes in recent memory.  So, the question becomes, how did this one do?

As was the case with its predecessor, this one is a mixed bag.  There's certainly things to like.  John Lithgow is great as Jud.  He doesn't have that iconic drawl, but he turns in a strong performance that stands as one of the film's more memorable strengths.  The nod to his role as Winston Churchill was also an amusing nod.

Similarly, Jete Laurence works really well as Ellie.  Her increased screen time does telegraph the "big twist" that she's the one who ends up dying, but she really comes off as a nice, sweet kid.  You grow to like her a lot and it makes her death scene one of the film's more powerful moments (and rightly so.)

Sadly, like Gage before her, her turn as villain ends up falling a bit flat.  That first scene after she comes back is when she is at her creepiest.  Her cold, lack of emotion stands in stark contrast to her previous persona and it is awesomely eerie.  She also gets some great dialogue as Louis tries to put her to bed.

However, as she gets increasingly angry and violent, her performance falls more flat.  I wouldn't say it's "bad" exactly, but it doesn't have any kick to it.

Similarly, the film's horror is heavily reliant on jump scares as well as various visions and hallucinations to try to drum up some tension and atmosphere.  Some of them work but it was overdone in my opinion.  You could argue that it was the Wendigo engaging in some psychological warfare (which the revenants here do, not to mention that it was quite the chessmaster in the original novel) but a lot of times it just seems forced in for the sake of some spookiness.

I thought that the thing with the kids wearing the masks was going to fall into that category, but it is put to better use in the climax.  Similarly, the movie is quite successful at building that tension and dread at several other points throughout the movie, so it is hardly a total bust on that front.

Jason Clarke is more emotionally versatile than his predecessor, but unfortunately, we don't see as much of a benefit.  As Lilja's Library noted in its own review of the film, we don't see a whole lot of that anguish that would come from the sudden loss of a child.  It's only a matter of minutes in terms of screen time before Louis is digging up his daughter's corpse to bring her back.  Yeah, you as the viewer can put two and two together, and we do see them sad, but it still feels a bit rushed.

I'm not sure how you dwell on that without it feeling like padding, but seeing him trying to come to terms with it and failing probably would have helped things a little.

On a completely random note, I read on TvTropes that, just like with "Cujo", the crew had a hard time trying to get the animals to act mean or vicious.  They were just too friendly and wanted to nuzzle and cuddle the cast instead.  It's both funny and adorable.  I love it.

Overall, I'd say this is worth checking out.  It has its problems, but the strong cast and capable production make up for it.  It is also much closer to the book, bringing in a lot of the mythos that was absent from the first adaptation.  There were changes too, no doubt, but I think fans of the book will appreciate the greater devotion to the source material.

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'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 16: 'I, Ava'

This episode had not one, not two, but three different subplots to juggle. By all accounts, it should have felt disjointed; or perhaps an element got the short end of the stick, but it actually manages to pull it off rather well.  Also impressive is the fact that all of the plots have some sort of impact.  There isn't much in the way of filler here, not that the episode or the season has much room for that at this point.

The "main" focus of the plot is on Sara, as she, Ray, and Gary try to track down Ava, who seems to have gone missing.  The group learns that her family is actually a pair of actors and that one specific year is marked as off-limits to any sort of time traveler.  As such, the group naturally goes right there.

In doing so, the group finds out the dark secret that Rip had alluded to earlier (something I got backwards in a previous article).  When the group arrives, they find a city full of Avas.  Now, the title suggests "robot" and the group jump to that conclusion too, but it turns out that the Avas are actually more akin to genetically engineered clones.  The title still fits, given the subsequent identity crisis, but that was some good misdirection.  It would have been a shame if the title gave away the big reveal.

Ava herself is just as shocked as the others when she learns the truth.  It gives her some degree of sympathy and it gives her a new motivation as she is determined to learn the whys of her situation.

The clone fiasco also gives Sara and Gary some development.  It's been hinted that Gary had a thing for his boss, but it's pushed to the limit here.  It does make for some great comedic banter between the two, but it also gives Sara a chance to work through her own issues and doubts about how things have been going.  It also looks like the two might start mending fences.  It's early to say, but the dialogue between the two did suggest it as a possibility.

Plot B follows Nate, Amaya, and Wally; as they discover that Mari has been injured.  With the spirit totem in the possession of the Darhks, time is starting to solidify, meaning that she can't inherit it later.  She still acts as a vigilante, but with no powers, she's much more vulnerable.

In attempting to talk to her to persuade her from taking a break, they instead find Kuasa.  While they jump to the conclusion that she means the injured hero harm, Kuasa makes it clear that they are still sisters and that she means to protect her.  To that end, she is reconsidering her alliance and wants to reclaim the spirit totem.  Better to be in the hands of her family than in those of an ancient demon.

It was some good character development for the antagonist.  The episode plays with it and has her double cross the heroes, well Nate more specifically.  She probably would have gone through with it, but a pretty brutal speech from Amaya sets her straight.  The heel-face turn is short lived, however, as Mallus kills her in the episode's climax.  It's played surprisingly tragically, given that she's largely been an enemy to date.  Even Mick and Zari take a moment to reflect on the loss of a fellow totem bearer.

On a similar note, even Darhk himself is having second thoughts about this.  Yes, he made a deal with a demon, but in seeing the effect Mallus is having on Nora, he's realizing that he's losing the person he did it all for in the first place.

Considering this came on the heels of Kuasa's double cross, I'm surprised that Nate bought into it so quickly, but it does make some sort of sense. While I doubt that Darhk will be turning hero anytime soon, it is possible that he lends his abilities towards helping stop Mallus in the finale.  Having heroes and villains team up to take on a much bigger bad is a frequent thing in comics, so it wouldn't be entirely without precedent.

The third plot is probably the closest thing to filler, though it does have some significance in the overall plot.  While Mick is having fun using his new powers to cook food and make fart jokes, he needs to be trained to be more effective with his newfound abilities.  Being another totem bearer, Zari is the natural pick to do this.

The two butt heads initially, largely due to Mick's crudeness and ignorance.  I kind of feel like they overdid it with him on that front, but it did still make for some funny moments and the two do bond and come to a better understanding of each other by episode's end.

This episode had a lot on its plate and it managed to find a strong balance.  The plots all had momentum and all were given the time they needed.  There was also a solid balance in terms of tone.  There were plenty of gags and one liners, but there was also more serious material that maintained the necessary sense of tension and weight.  This episode probably is one of the season's bigger ones in terms of both plot and character development.  It'll be interesting to see where things go from here.

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'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 15: 'Necromancing the Stone'

When the team brought the death totem on board the waverider, it seems that they had invited a force that they were ill equipped to deal with.  It quickly lures Sara in, insisting that using it can help stop Mallus.  In doing so, she becomes a demonically-enhanced agent for the demon, who had actually formed an alliance with the Zambesi tribe that possessed that totem back in the early days.

It's a simple premise and it works extraordinarily well.  The dark atmosphere lends the necessary creepy atmosphere, Sara is shown to be more than capable of besting pretty much the entire team in hand to hand combat, and the episode actually provides quite a bit of character development.

A lot of it comes from the developing romance between Ava and Sara.  The two continue to be quite adorable together.  Not only does it give the episode some more lighthearted, tender moments; but it also adds to the stakes, as it enhances the tension that comes from the possibility that Sara's soul will be lost.

The other legends also get to confront their own demons that come via apparitions of people from their past.  It gives Violet Beane a chance to make a quick cameo, which is always a plus; but both Zari and Nate are also confronted by their own respective hauntings.  It's strange as almost every character that comes across this acknowledges it as a ploy and an attempt at psychological warfare on Mallus' part, but they all seem to succumb to it in fairly short order.  I guess it makes sense, the death totem did bring back ghosts before, so it would stand to reason that it could do so here, albeit under a more specific circumstance.

With ghosts and demons afoot, it's only natural that the team call on John Constantine for help.  Bringing him into the Arrowverse really was a stroke of genius.  I know I've praised his performance before, but he really does earn every ounce of it.  Every scene he's in is just a highlight.

The faux-rivalry with Ava was also an entertaining twist.  Ava's naturally a bit jealous, but the episode plays it up more for laughs than anything else.  Neither Sara or John himself paint the fling as anything more than a one-off, so there really isn't a whole lot of angsty love triangle shenanigans going on.  It's a nice subversion of the usual formula.

On a similar note, we learn about the dark secret that was supposed to threaten her relationship.  It was...Sara's past as an assassin.  You'd think that it would make sense, but Ava flat out says that she read Sara's file and already knows all that.  This makes Rip's earlier line seem a bit odd and it also makes Sara's decision to end things by episode's end a peculiar one.

It was sad, don't get me wrong.  The two had great chemistry before and this episode really sells the bond; making the breakup rather poignant.  It just seems like there were other paths that the characters could have gone down.  I suppose it's possible the two reunite later, but for now we have to just wait to see how things play out.

In closing, it does need to be brought up, but Gary is revealed to be a D&D player.  That's awesome.  It's especially impressive as it isn't really brought up to his detriment.  At one point, Ava remarks that no one cares, but Constantine seems interested.  The snarky, cynical warlock even agrees to play (though the scene also bends the fourth wall by paralleling Constantine's own joining the Legends in facing Mallus).  When Gary is making the offer, you can tell he's really into it.  You get the impression that he would be a great DM.  I'd play.

In any event,this episode was a blast.  It was a simple premise that managed to bring a lot to the table.  There were highlights aplenty (Mick wielding the fire totem for example) and while this works as a sort of one-off, it does have lasting consequences for the team going forward.

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'The Punisher' Episode 8: 'Cold Steel'

As we move closer to season's end, the plot takes a brief hiatus to focus on character development.  It works pretty well, though I can't help but feel like there are things here that should have happened earlier.

The main crux of the plot focuses on the quasi-love triangle between Frank- Sarah, Micro's wife, and Micro himself.  Sarah plants a kiss on Frank after a couple of glasses of wine and some nice conversation.  It doesn't go much further than that, but it is enough to vex Frank's partner in conspiracy busting.

Scenes where Frank and Micro just talk always work quite well and this is no different.  Both reminisce about their lost loves whilst taking good-natured potshots at each other.  Micro even shows Frank his genitals....it makes sense in context...sort of?

The episode doesn't dwell too much on it.  Even Micro himself is rather understanding given the circumstances, but at the same time, he can't just entirely shrug it off either.  The episode managed to pull off a believable response to the apparent transgression.

On other fronts, Madani uses the bug to set up a trap and try to lure out the people who planted it there.  It does work, though despite an intense gunfight, there's not much to show for it.  Credit where it's due, Madani's team held their own.  I was expecting Russo's mercs to wipe the floor with them, but both sides took their licks. 

Random note, there's a huge shootout and Frank Castle never picks up a gun.  Instead, we see Frank entirely in chummy, everyday mode and Bernthal pulls it off.  I think that's one thing that the MCU has done really well.  Frank could easily be a one-note, ultra-violent thug (something Micro's potshots frequently center on), but Bernthal gives the character more depth and allows you to connect with him more.  The results speak for themselves as he has gotten nothing but universal praise on multiple occasions.

Similarly, Ben Barnes came out strong in this episode.  Russo may not be one of the more memorable villains in the MCU (even just within the confines of the Netflix branch,) but his picture is becoming a bit clearer.  We get a dose of backstory that explains his desire for money, we see his ruthlessness become more apparent, but we also see that he too has layers.  He still holds his friendship with Frank in high regard and laments the fact that circumstances are leading them to face off against each other.  He is also reluctant to endanger Madani,  While both parties play off their relationship as nothing more than friends with benefits, it seems his feelings go deeper than that.

Even with that, though, he seems to have no qualms about helping her wash off the blood of her partner, who he had just killed.  It's a quick scene, but it is a pretty disturbing one nonetheless and even if it isn't cliffhanger material, it is a hell of a note to end the episode on.

All in all, what this episode did, it did well.  As said before, I don't know if it's placed very well in the narrative. However, as you're watching it, you'll definitely appreciate what it does bring to the table. 

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'Children of the Corn: Runaway' Movie Review

Like many other horror movie franchises, the line of 'Children of the Corn' movies just doesn't know when to stop.

To this film's credit, it does at least try to do something different and tell a unique story.  Here, we follow Ruth, a woman who was a part of the He Who Walks Behind the Rows worshipers, but turned her back on it after losing her family, friends, and boyfriend.  Now, with a child of her own, she has spent her life fleeing.

It's a pretty good character and plot hook.  The movie puts a good deal of emphasis on the trauma that haunts Ruth.  Some of it works, such as scenes where kids will be standing around and she'll immediately associate it with the psychos she knew.  Other times...not so much.  The flashbacks are supposed to act as a form of character development, but mostly they just come off as filler and a pretense to add some gore and violence to remind you that, yes, this is a horror flick.

Even when people do start dying.  The movie does so many fake-outs and "visions" that it can become hard to tell what's actually happened.

The characters themselves are also rather flat.  A part of this is due to casting, but I think the script shares some blame as well.  The romance between Ruth and her boss comes out of nowhere and the ensuing drama from the botch isn't all that compelling.  Plot elements that could have been fleshed out (such as the rivalry between Ruth and the school principal) are also underdeveloped due to a lack of time.

Also, why on Earth would Ruth settle into a small, rural, midwestern town?  You'd think she'd want to avoid those like the plague; go to a big city.  Sure, it wouldn't stop the freaking demon that's chasing her down, but it still seems like it would make sense to stay as far away from corn and big, empty fields as humanly possible. 

It isn't until the tail end of the movie that Marci Miller is actually given something to work with.  You can see much more emotion there than you did in the first two thirds of the movie. It does make you appreciate it, but it would have been nice to see more of that throughout.  It's frustrating as there is potential, the movie just doesn't seem to want to tap into it as much as it could have.

The movie does a decent job of creating some tension and atmosphere.  Sara Moore has no lines, but still has a creepy air about her.  The movie doesn't have her do anything that other "creepy kid" characters haven't done, but she still pulled it off.

The movie's theme, a soft music box style leitmotif also lends a lot of weight to things.  It's simple and haunting...but also kind of sad?  I thought it worked really well.

Other horror aspects fell flat.  As noted, the reliance on flashbacks to provide some obligatory violence didn't work too well.  The film's direction also had some odd decisions.  The camera would cut away randomly for no apparent reason.  There were also some aerial panning shots that served no purpose whatsoever and seemed shoved in there for the sake of having them.

The film really shines in its final act.  Despite a lackluster start, the movie actually does kick into something resembling high gear and it feels like there are real stakes and some solid plot twists.  I also have to give the movie credit for giving He Who Walks Behind the Rows some of his cred back.  After so many movies, viewers likely wouldn't have been impressed.  I won't spoil anything, but this gives him a good deal of his menace back.   

The movie had potential to be better than it was.  It definitely has its upsides.  In some ways, though, that just makes the flaws and structural problems that much more vexing.  Still, credit where it's due; it did try something different and it wasn't a total disaster like some of the movies that had come before it.

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'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 14: 'Amazing Grace'

This episode has the team travel to 1950's Memphis in order to ensure that the career of Elvis Presley goes off without a hitch.

The anachronism this time around isn't an intentional machination, just some dumb luck, as Elvis buys a guitar enchanted with the mysterious sixth totem.  At first, I was unsure about the idea of Elvis' musical abilities being due to supernatural effects, but the episode does allow him to show off his own chops by episode's end.  Even when the presence is there, the episode undermines any potential insult by playing it up as a deep and profound connection with Elvis' long lost twin brother.  I'm not sure if Elvis actually had a twin, but it came off as a random nod to "The Identical" to me.

Speaking of, while Elvis doesn't fight any mummies, ghosts are the villain du jour.  Both are undead, so it's something, right?

Sadly, while the ghosts certainly look creepy (the effects crew did a stellar job on that front) they don't really have any sort of menace.  They lurk, but that's about it.  The episode does say that the town eventually goes insane as a result of their presence, but they seem pretty chill all things considered.

It is a bit odd seeing Ray play the skeptic, albeit briefly.  I get it.  He's a scientist, so on paper he should be dismissive of the paranormal.  On the other hand, he's the Atom and this is the Arrowverse.  The episode doesn't dwell on it too much and it seems like it was more of a means to a joke than an actual plot quirk, but it still felt a little odd to me.

On other fronts, Wally is showing himself to be a great addition to the team.  Not only does his personality bounce well off of others, but the episode does a good job of showcasing his storybreaker power and also mining the imbalance for laughs.  More than once, the team decides to embark on some fetch quest, only to have Wally zip over and bring it right back in a matter of seconds.  It was an interesting subversion of usual Legends endeavors.

Is it odd that one of my favorite parts of the episode is Mick saying goodbye to his rat.  The funeral was played for laughs, but at the same time, Ray did a great job of delivering a sincere eulogy that also acknowledged the other losses that the team has faced this year.  It wasn't the most active role for Mick, but what it lacked in time, it made up for in emotional weight.

Nate and Amaya's relationship also adds a bit of feel to the episode, though maybe not as much as the writers would have hoped.  The fact that the two were able to dance together and kiss in 1950's Memphis without raising any eyebrows was pretty impressive, though.  I have to give them that.

All in all, this episode was average at best.  It had some good parts, to be sure, but it didn't have the energy or charm of some of the other episodes.  The plot did move forward a little, but not as much as it could have.  Hopefully, the next episode is able to pick up the slack.  The number of remaining episodes continue to dwindle as we enter the final four.

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'The Punisher' Episode 7: 'Crosshairs

With Q4 just a stone's throw away, a long list of things left on this year's to do list, and a possible recession on the horizon; it's time to kick things into high gear.  With that, let's dive back into "The Punisher".  It's been more than a while since I last talked about this series.  As a result, some details are rather hazy for me.

I was still able to mostly follow what was happening, but I did need to go back and refresh my own memory.  I knew that Lewis killed a person (that much is made obvious by the opening scenes where he's washing blood off his hands) but the who and the why initially escaped me. I also glossed over who Morty was and how he was connected.  The episode outright states that he knows who "Agent Orange" is and thus gives us all the motivation we need for Frank to bust into his house and try to glean it from him.

There is a bit of a twist, this time around, though.  Where Frank would otherwise just kill people who got in his way, he's less inclined to do the same to soldiers who are just doing their jobs.

When one soldier accosts him as he's leaving the premises, Frank makes a concerted effort to convince the guy to just leave.  It doesn't work and Frank is forced to wound him.  While Frank does lament the situation, he ends the conversation by saying that he's just going to kill everyone next time.  It kind of seems like he missed the point of the whole thing, but at least it was nice to try and give Frank some more nuance and complexity to his approach.

Sadly, the same can't be said for the show's villains.  It turns out that Russo is largely motivated by money and Rawlins aka Agent Orange is after Frank because....Frank emasculated him?   Granted, it's just a theory thrown out by Russo during a conversation, but there's no effort to refute it or provide a more solid reasoning.  It just seems so flimsy.

Conversely, Lewis is a much more compelling character.  He hasn't fallen to "villain" yet, though we do see him building a bomb for some as of yet undetermined purpose, but he has more depth and pathos than either of the show's two "big bads" so far.  He's still off doing his own thing, but I do hope that his character arc crosses paths with the main one at some point.  While his story has still been compelling in its own right, it seems like a waste to just have it off completely independent of the show's main narrative.

On a similar note, Sam and Madani continue to operate on the sidelines.  They are given a small quest, of sorts, as Madani suspects that her office is bugged.  It is.   The plus side is that they know about it, the down side is that they're unsure of what to do now. 

Oddly enough, the idea of using this to their advantage never comes up.  You'd think they'd use this to throw the people listening off track.  Give them false info or make it sound like you know less than you actually do.  If nothing else, start trolling them.  Have debates about whether or not Iron Man is naked under the armor or play some country music.  There are certainly options.

Not surprisingly, this episode suffered from schedule slip.  As a result, it was hard to get too invested in what's happening.  The details of the conspiracy are foggy so I'm just kind of going along just because.  Thankfully, Lewis' arc is present to give the show a bit more umph.  We'll see how things progress from here, as we move closer to the first season's end.

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'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 13: 'No Country For Old Dads'

This episode focuses on Ray, who is still in the clutches of the Darhks.  It turns out his captivity is a blessing.  Not only does it allow him to acquire some key pieces of information that will help the team later on, but it makes for great viewing material for us.

It should come as no surprise that Ray's boundless optimism and goodness clashes with the Darhk's perspective.  It allows for some "buddy comedy" elements to come into play when he and Nora are dispatched to retrieve a scientist who has cracked cold fusion so that said information can be used towards reassembling the fire totem.

It also allows for some solid character development.  Even though Nora is still a villain.  We see that she does have layers.  Her time with Ray does start to change her a bit (something even Damien admits he should have seen coming) and her relationship with her father gets both examined and developed over the course of the episode.

Speaking of Nora's father. Damien was in rare form this episode.  His hammy comedy worked, his menace remained intact, and we actually got some genuine pathos from his devotion and commitment to his daughter.  This was what made him such a solid villain before and it felt like it had been lacking as of late.  We see that there is still some fuel to the Darhk fire and it's refreshing to say the least.

There's not much for the rest of the team to do, but we do get some plot advancements there as well.  Amaya learns that the Darhk's possession of the totems is corrupting the spirit plane.  Rip also alludes to some dark secret of Ava's that could threaten her relationship with Sara.

That last part seemed a little shoehorned in for forced drama, but we'll see what the secret is and how its inevitable reveal plays out.

Wally joins the team in earnest.  He doesn't get a whole lot of screen time, which is a bit sad seeing as not being utilized was one of the major criticisms for his character on "The Flash".  He does get to save the day, though.  He and Sara also have some nice exchanges peppered throughout.

It was also nice to see Rip start to get accepted back into the group.  He isn't exactly welcomed with open arms, but it does seem like the wounds are starting to heal.  His genuine remorse and determination to fix things probably had a lot to do with that as well.

While Mallus himself doesn't appear, his arc does get advanced on several fronts.  We know how the anachronisms tie into his end goal and he appears to take over Nora at the episode's end.  Oddly enough, Darhk seemed unfazed by this.  Yeah, her voice didn't change and her eyes didn't go red, but those big black veins around her forehead seemed like a dead giveaway.  I guess we'll see how that develops later.

Overall, this was a very strong episode.  The script was solid, the cast all did great, and we saw some pretty big developments for the season's story as a whole.  It was also nice to see the heroes come away with a win.  It seems like it's been a while for them.  True, they didn't get Amaya's totem back yet, and Nora now seems to be attuned to it, but Wally did snag the fire totem and Ray still has the formula for cold fusion, which I figure has to be a game changer for the future of the Arrowverse's Earth.  There's only a handful of episodes left, so it should be interesting to see how things play out from here.

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'Jessica Jones' Season 2, Episode 13: "AKA Playland'

The second season comes to its end.  As is befitting of a season finale, this episode manages to cram in quite a lot.

While Alisa may have initially taken Jess hostage, it isn't long before Jess is coaxed into going along with the plan.  Even with everything that has happened Alisa is still convinced that the two of them can work together for the greater good.  Jess is skeptical, even invoking a similar plea from Kilgrave (something Alisa seems to take offense to), but the episode gives us another example of the two actually working quite well together as heroes when they save a family from a burning car.

Alisa is even convinced that the two of them can go to some other country to feed the hungry or bring supplies to the sick.  Jess gives an odd look, but it was an oddly heartwarming moment.

It's enough to put Jess' two worlds at war.  She's reluctant to leave her life, but at the same time, she wants to reunite with her mom.  Similarly, Jess' old life isn't too keen on seeing her leave.  Both Acosta and Trish take it upon themselves to try and save Jess from the situation, even if she is on board with the plan.  It even seems like Alisa herself is second guessing the plan.  She has a nice moment with Jess where she's

Alas, things aren't meant to be as Trish's actions result in Alisa's death.  On a somewhat related note, Trish is a freakishly good shot.  Anyway, as you can imagine, Jess does not take too kindly to this.  Trish's pleas and reminders that she had Jess' best interests aren't enough.  Just as it was with Malcolm, Jess' connection to Trish seems irrevocably severed.

You'd think that this would give the episode a dark, downer ending.  Impressively enough, it actually ends on a more positive note.  Jess decides to start living her life and she has a nice dinner with Oscar and Vito.  The resolution is bitter sweet, but considering how much crap Jess has thrown at her, it's nice to see her get a nice moment like that.

All in all, this was a strong ending for the season.  It managed to tie up a lot of the season's loose ends and still sow some seeds for the next one.  Granted, it'll be a while before we get to that, as there are a few other Netflix MCU shows to cover, but it'll be interesting to see where the show goes and how it all wraps up.

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'Cell' (2016) Movie Review

John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson reunite to partake in another adaptation of a Stephen King novel.  Sadly, the results aren't nearly as impressive as the first outing.

The plot is fairly simple and straight forward.  A mysterious cell phone signal triggers what basically amounts to a zombie outbreak.  We follow an artist named Clay (Cusack) who makes it his mission to find his family amid the ensuing chaos.

There are moments here and there, but the movie largely falls flat.  There isn't nearly as much tension as it seems like there should be.  One major problem is with the phoners themselves.  They don't come off as particularly menacing due to the fact that the extras playing them make them come off as more ridiculous.  Given that their extras, one might forgive their lack of talent, but the camera spends a lot of time on close ups of them, making it a more noticeable flaw.

Things do get better when they start to coordinate and become more than just the typical rage zombies, but it isn't enough to make a lasting impression.

The human cast fares slightly better, though they don't have a whole lot to work with.  Samuel L. Jackson brings some of his trademark gravitas to the table and his character does have a lot of the best lines, but you can see better from him in other films.

Stacy Keach also could have used more screen time.  He's great in the portion of the film he's in, but he's pretty much a one-scene wonder.

Isabelle Furhman stands out as the only one who seems to be making a genuine effort.  She's the only one who shows signs of shock, grief, and horror at what's going down.   She's probably the one you connect to the most.

As a result, even the film's attempts to be more emotional don't work as well as they should.  When Clay goes on what amounts to a suicide mission, the big goodbye should be a powerful and moving moment, but it's just kind of there.

The movie also has structural problems.  The group just kind of wanders from place to place.  I honestly forgot what their end goal was at one point, which is odd given that it's pretty simple.  There needed to be more of an impetus behind the characters' actions.

Even when Raggedy shows up, not much is done with him.  He's just there because he was there in the book.  Granted, he wasn't the most impressive King villain in the source material, but at least he did stuff.  There's no development or exploration of what he is or what his end goal is. He just stands there.

Pacing is also a problem.  Like in the book, the pulse hits very early allowing for the action to start almost immediately.  However, with only a 98 minute run time, the film's plot feels both underdeveloped and unnecessarily padded out.  A part of me wishes that the movie had more time to explore certain aspects, but it didn't really use the time it had very well.

The Pulse itself is never really explored.  Even the speculation scene amounts to one line from Jackson's character.  It's pretty much just a plot device.

Overall, this was a lackluster outing.  It had potential and there are sparks here and there, but it is another film that isn't really worth going out of your way to see.

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'The Dark Tower' (2017) Movie Review

After years of languishing in development hell, a cinematic adaptation of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series finally got released.  The results are.....eeh?  It's telling that the blurb on the DVD cover states "it delivers Idris Elba as an action star". 

Even putting aside the fact that the series is lengthy and deep, this outing had several things working against it. With only a 95 minute run time, a lot feels glossed over.  There's a lot more telling than showing and Roland's big arc feels rushed.

The latter part is also due to the fact that Jake is made the main character.  I get it, he's from our world, so he can be the audience identifier.  On the other hand, when you're coming in to see Idris Elba, Tom Taylor doesn't really cut it.  He does OK for the most part, but that wasn't what we were sold.  This problem does fix itself once Jake makes it to Mid-world and partners up with Roland, but it does lead to a first act that feels slow and is generally unwelcome.

There is also a noticeable lack of tension at several points.  The action sequences are largely well done and have their fair share of highlights, but it still feels hollow.

What really props this take up is the two leads.  Granted, Elba doesn't have a whole lot to do, but when he has material to work with, he brings what he can.  While he does well showing off Roland's badassery, I think the fish out of water scenes in New York will leave a more lasting impression on viewers.

McConaughey, on the other hand, works really well as Walter aka The Man in Black.  He's clearly having fun with it, but he's also able to bring a good amount of menace to his performance.  He is also able to use Kilgrave's skill set much more effectively.  Yeah, that's right, he came off much creepier and unnerving than Tennant.

As this is an attempt to streamline the narrative, there are lots of little homages to specific aspects of the books.  Fittingly, the movie also makes nods to other King works.  Jake is a psychic now, with it specifically being referred to as "the shine".  Roland also uses a spider as an example when talking about the dark forces that exist beyond the barrier of the multiverse.  Heck, even the main plot itself of using psychic kids to power a big machine is taken straight from "Black House".  The people behind this were clearly familiar with the material, they just didn't have the time to bring it all together as effectively as one might hope.

One thing that Dark Tower fans were quick to note was that Roland still had the horn.  This was meant to indicate that this wasn't so much an adaptation of the books, but a sort of sequel.  It was a clever way to explain the differences and give the producers some leeway, but I'm afraid even that only goes so far.  I mean, even the nature of the tower itself is different.  I don't know if you can handwave that with "time loop".  Not much is made of the horn or the time loop, though Walter does have one line where he compares Roland's quest (as well as their overall conflict) to a dog playing fetch.  I thought it was an amusing wink to the fans.

This is hardly the worst King adaptation out there.  It's not awful, there are things to like, but it is an underwhelming undertaking.  I think a longer run time would have really helped get us invested in this world.  As it is, it's just blah.  I know the intent was to turn this into a multi-movie franchise, but I'm not sure how that would work.  Walter's dead (though they could write that off as some sort of trick.)  The movie does allude to the Crimson King, but would he just do the same thing?  Would some other dark force be enlisted that would force Roland to go to the tower?  I have no idea, but it's a moot point as the movie didn't do so hot at the box office and a sequel seems unlikely.  I've heard rumors that they are trying to do a TV series based on the books.  The way the story is structured they could "reboot" it by just making that another loop and still keeping it all canon.  We'll see if that ever comes to fruition, though.  In the meantime, this one doesn't hurt, but there's no real reason to go out of your way to see it.  It's worth a rental at best, but there are better options out there.

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'Jessica Jones' Season 2,Episode 12: 'AKA Pray For My Patsy'

I don't know why, but this episode gave me problems.  They weren't so much in the episode's content, but in the fact that Netflix just did not want to cooperate.  I had to deal with repeated crashes and freezing.  The app didn't need to update and the phone still seems to work (as evidenced by the fact that I was able to watch an episode of "The Flash" with no trouble.)  I figure a lot of people are watching the new season, but I didn't have this problem with "Defenders", so I don't know what the deal was.

As a result, it was hard to really get pulled into this the way I, as a viewer would want.

Still, the episode brings a lot to the table.  It goes to great lengths to isolate Jessica.  Acosta, her cop friend essentially severs ties when Alisa kills his partner, Trish rips into Jess for not living up to the superhero ideal, and Dorothy (Trish's mother) tries to pin the blame on Jess shortly after offering an olive branch and assuring her that it wasn't the case.

Between trying to kill Trish and killing the aforementioned cop, it becomes clear that Jessica has to kill her own mother.  She doesn't come to this decision easily, even chastising the cops for adopting a "shoot to kill" approach to the situation, but ultimately there's no other option.  It culminates in a rather tense stand-off where our hero holds her mentally unbalanced matriarch at gun point.

It is a bit of an echo to Kilgrave, only Jess can't bring herself to do it.  While Alisa's pleas do fall on deaf ears, it's still a bridge too far.

It gives Alisa the window she needs to effortlessly knock out her daughter via pistol whip.  To Jess' credit, she does fare slightly better in an earlier confrontation.  When Alisa tries to use Jess' own arm to choke out Trish, Jess straight up punches her mother in the face and then throws her across the room. I still say she's in dire need of a win, but this episode at least threw her a bone.

Hogarth scores a win of her own, tracking down Shane and Inez and dishing out her own form of payback.  It was very much in character for her to set them up the way she did and it was something of a dark highlight for both the episode and the character.  Plus, it gave us a Turk appearance, those are always a highlight of any Marvel Netflix series. 

I'm ambivalent about the cliffhanger.  That final tracking shot of Alisa driving the RV to who knows where was ominous, though at the same time, it isn't like Jessica is in any real danger.  Still, it does leave you wanting to see what happens next. 

Being this close to the finale, it was bad timing for Netflix to flake out the way it did.  It kind of undercut things, but it'll still be interesting to see how things wrap up for this entry in the Marvel saga.

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'Doctor Sleep' Trailer Reaction

There have been quite a few Stephen King adaptations in the pipeline as of late.  One was for one of his recent novels, "Doctor Sleep", which is a sequel to his classic, "The Shining".  A trailer for the film adaptation just landed yesterday, as such, let's have a look and see what we're in for.







This is an interesting contrast to the recent, "It: Chapter Two" trailer. I think that this creates a stronger atmosphere and definitely comes off feeling creepier as a result. 

Like the aforementioned trailer, the second half includes a musical score that seems a little odd.  I think "It" did the better job on that front.  Granted, that one was out of place, but it still made an impact. This tune just left me feeling "eh".  Closing out with that creepy opening theme from the Kubrick film did work wonders though, brilliant touch there.

Speaking of, it seems like this is acting as a sort of loose follow up to said film.  It makes sense. You couldn't really say that it was a film sequel to the book, as that would turn potential viewers away.  I guess you could've used that TV mini-series that wasn't very well received.  Really, using the Kubrick take is the best way to go, given that it is a well regarded classic that a vast majority of people have seen.  The trailer itself strikes the right balance, acknowledging what came before and paying homage, but also showing that this story is going to go in its own direction.

Overall, this one looks solid.  Ewan McGregor looks like he's going to be a good fit for the older Danny.  I think it's going to be a good watch.  We'll find out if that turns out to be the case in November.















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'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 12: 'The Curse of the Earth Totem'

The Legends begin the task of acquiring the various totems so that they may combat Mallus.  It was nice to see the events of Vixen's seond season get a mention.  Mari is also name dropped at a few points in the episode.  Oddly enough, while the team does visit present day Detroit, Mari herself doesn't make an appearance.  I get why Amaya would keep her distance, but you'd think the other Legends would try to bring her in.

On a similar note, Sara returns to present day Star City to go on a date with Ava.  The sub-plot itself is fine, but you'd think with everything going on re Cayden James, that there would have been some allusion to it.

Most of the episode takes place back in 1717.  This brings the crew into contact with the dreaded pirate Blackbeard.  I'm not sure about the depiction.  I mean, it does subvert expectations, and there were some good gags that came from it, but a part of me did want to see the character live up to his reputation.

Still, the pirate setting seems like a natural fit for a crew of superhero misfits.  There are bits where the episode embraces it, but it seems like they could have done more.  Mick takes to the environment like a duck to water and Amaya eventually embraces her "dread pirate" persona to an extent.  It just seems like there could have been more swashbuckling to be had.

I also think that I'm growing weary of the Darhk's as adversaries.  Damien just doesn't do it for me like he used to.  He just kind of shows up and it doesn't pack the same punch.  His best scene is when Ray comes to offer aid to a mortally wounded Nora.  The fact that he didn't hesitate to give Ray Amaya's totem back was actually pretty heartwarming. It's somewhat undercut by what happens soon after, but they are villains, so it really should've been expected.

I found the undead Earth totem revenant to be the more interesting adversary.  Well, OK, there wasn't much in the way of personality, but she was creepy and imposing.  The fact that she effortlessly disposed of the Darhk's early on in the fight did make for a great "wham moment' and you knew that this was a force to be reckoned with.  Granted, most of the Legends' heavy hitters were on the ship and Damien is ultimately the one to bring it down, but it was still a cool sequence

On other fronts, we see Rip continue his efforts to recruit Wally into the upcoming conflict.  You'd think that Wally would be game, but between Jesse leaving him (wasn't that some time ago at this point?) and not really finding a place on team flash, he seems content to focus on his newfound spiritual journey.  You'd think that he would have kept up the superhero thing independently, but such is not the case.

As such, the speedster and the former time master.....get drunk.  I'm not entirely clear on the logic behind this one, but it was funny.  The two do make for a good buddy pairing, even though  pair of characters have just met, the two actors play off each other very well.

This results in some great character moments, such as Rip getting his coat back and the two busting out some "Careless Whisper" at a Karaoke bar in 1992 Japan.  Is it weird that I found this to be the best part of the episode?

I'm not sure why Wally felt the need to "pants" Gary.  It does make a nod to Wally's "jokester" persona that he's had for some time and Gary is a butt monkey, but the fact that Wally doesn't even know the guy is what throws me off.  The alternative is that Rip told him to do it. I guess that does kind of work in its own way.

The sub-plot comes full circle as Rip tosses out the idea that Wally could find his place on the Waverider crew.  It is consistent with what the show has been going for and Wally himself does seem like he's at least starting to open up to the idea.  We'll have to see how that element plays out.

I wonder if the Bermuda Triangle will also play a role later.  It was likely just a plot device to get the Waverider back to the present, but it does seem like they could have investigated that a bit more.  They did hammer in the fact that it's called "the devil's triangle" and they are facing a demon, could be something there.

This episode had potential, but ultimately, it was just kind of there.  It seems like it was more about setting things up.  It does that adequately, in that Wally is starting to get brought in and the episode ends with Ray hostage and the Darhk's having a lot of the totems, giving the episode a "the villain wins" vibe.  It is a step down from the previous episode, though.  It passes the time, but I don't know how memorable this one is going to be in the long term barring the "Careless Whisper" sequence.

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'Jessica Jones' Season 2, Episode 11: 'AKA Three Lives and Counting'

While Jessica is able to regain her composure enough to make the death of the prison inmate look like a suicide, there's no doubt that the act has taken a toll on her psyche.  Even the fact that the guy was a serial killer who was about to add her to his toll does little to assuage her guilt.  Said guilt is so extreme that an imaginary manifestation of Kilgrave even returns to enable her darker tendencies and generally be a nuisance to her.

I'm kind of surprised that it took this long to use the "Kilgrave haunts Jessica" concept.  While it would have been cool to see it pop up throughout the season, having it happen now in these circumstances works quite well.  Tennant himself is fun to watch.  He seems to be having fun with it.  There's a bit of ham, but he can still bring the character in darker directions when the situation calls for it.

It presents an interesting psychological conflict for Jessica as she is forced to come to terms with who she is and what she's been through.  It's not a physical adversary, but it is an imposing one nonetheless.  The episode does a good job of escalating things so that it all culminates in the climax.  Kilgrave starts off as a pain, but eventually, it snowballs into something much more dangerous.

I did find myself wondering who the third life was.  Kilgrave and the guard make two, but for the life of me, I don't know what the third life was.  I probably wouldn't put so much focus on it, but it is the episode's title.  It also plays a big part in Kilgrave's assertion that she's good at it and is getting used to the idea of murder.  I don't think she killed anybody over the course of "The Defenders", but I can't think of any other circumstance where she would have.  On the other hand, the show has gone to great lengths not to mention that chapter in the Marvel Netflix saga, so who knows?

We also get some progression on other fronts as Trish continues her endeavor to get superpowers. It was a little weird to see Mal act so nonchalantly about getting knocked out, tied up and kept in the trunk of a car.  He seems more beat up over the fact that he didn't see Trish's turn coming.  Having Jess rip into him hardly helps matters.

The show had made something of a running gag out of Jessica firing Mal, the show makes it feel like a big moment when Jess cuts all ties with him.  It even covers itself by having Mal declare that he quits.  Granted, the trio had their ups and downs, but it does feel like a "breaking of the fellowship" moment.

It's unclear what's going to happen to Trish.  She's not in good shape by episode's end and things get worse when Alisa finds out about Malus' death.  They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and the episode' final sequence, where a rage filled Alisa busts out to wreak mad vengeance shows that in spades.  It also makes for a great cliffhanger.  It's looking like things are going to get more intense in the season's final episodes. This also works timing wise as the third season is just around the corner.  It'll make for a smooth segue.

All in all, this was a strong episode.  It was very character driven and the plot moved along at a brisk pace.  It never felt like it dragged and made for an engaging episode.  We're down to the final two episodes; it'll be interesting to see where things go from here.

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