Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, “Nothing is Simple Anymore”, Review!

This episode is written by J.M. Lee, the writer of several Dark Crystal books.  It opens with the sleeping face of a Podling.   He wakes up, gets dressed, and has a bowl what looks like oatmeal.  Then, he heads across a cavern to a circular door that retracts to see the Observatory with the massive planets and machinery.  Underneath it is the sleeping form of Aughra.  She has twin horns that curl around her head, grey hair, and a wrinkled face with a missing eye.  Aughra is voiced by Donna Kimball, for some reason her voice was missing something from the original Frank Oz voice, this is a quality I didn’t notice with the Skeksis.  Kimball voiced Mama in the 2017 Sigmund and the Sea Monsters series and provided voices for Sid the Science Kid.  The Podling dusts up the tables and then Aughra has one eye snaps open and she exhales dust!  She wonders about Thra and is surprised the Podling is old because he was a child before her sleep.  In fact, that was his grandfather!  She wants him to get her scrolls so she can try to help Thra.  Past the tree with the beautiful, pink flowers, we see the forest brightly lit by the sun.  Creatures scurry away as Deet walks with a blindfold.  She sees the forest life through her blindfold.  Then, Deet hears growling, the ball of fur starts to bark at her.  This like Fizzgig from the Dark Crystal film!  She talks to it and begins rubbing its belly. 

Another creature like Fizzgig, though with grey fur, barks at both of them.  The fur balls both roll away.  Tired, Deet finds a patch of grass, and falls asleep.  At the Crystal Castle, the Gormand (Harvey Fierstein) reminds the Gelfling guards that they must find the traitor, Rian who saw too much in the pilot.  Fierstein voiced Yao in the animated Mulan (1998) and played Marty Gilbert in Independence Day (1996).  The General (Benedict Wong) informs the Emperor about the castle security.  Wong plays Wong (not a bio) in Doctor Strange (2016) and he is in Gemini Man.  The Emperor notes that missing Gelflings will be suspicious.  The Chamberlain has a solution.  His cover story is it was Rian who killed Mira!  The Emperor agrees to the plan and sends away the General.  The Scientist enters, the Emperor demands more essence, and he explains that the essence was all used.  The Chamberlain says the Scientist is keeping one vial which the Scientist says is for study.  His machinery was damaged and the Emperor screams for it to be fixed.  The Emperor wheezes so the Chamberlain calls in the musicians.  The Podling musicans on the tier above play drums and horns, but it disturbs the Emperor.  The Chamberlain shushes them and they play lightly.  Tolwyn, who was placed in charge of the castle guards, calls Gurjin by his clan name, Drenchen.  He questions Gurjin’s loyalty to his friend after the Chamberlain said Rian killed Mira.  

When Tolwyn leaves, Rian pulls Gurjin to a safe place in the castle.  Rian dreamfasts with his friend and there is the memory (which is only heard this time) of Mira having her essence taken by the Scientist.  The Dreamfast was an interesting concept from the movie, it reminds me of the telepathic Sending from the comic book Elfquest which started in 1978.  Gurjin wants to help Rian to escape and his friend has a plan.  A misty river, the spider-like Spitter crawls around the forest, toward the sleeping form of Deet!  She is startled by it’s drool and manages to escape it.  She still near-blinded by the sun, nice shot of her pov, Deet stumbles and the Spitter is about to attack!  She hears small feet running and then a shout.  It is a Podling who swings on a vine, but the Spitter spits silk at him.  Deet sees that the Podling is wrapped up and hanging upside down!  She tries to push him away, but instead knocks him into the Spitter.  The Podling (Victor Yerrid) calls to Deet to push him again and he knocks the Spitter which overturns it, the creature skitters away.  The Podling introduces himself as Hup.  Deet introduces herself, she can understand only some words that he may speak in Gelfling.  Hup wields his spoon as what he thinks is his sword and Deet believes he is a Paladin, but he says he is not yet a Paladin, he needs to be dubbed by the All Madra.  Deet has to travel to Ha’rar to see her as well so they become a traveling duo.  Hup ranks up there as one of my favorite Dark Crystal characters, I always wanted a Podling take action.  

DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE -- “Nothing is Simple Anymore” -- ANYA TAYLOR- JOY -- Keith Baker/Netflix. 

At Ha’rar, Brea asks the Librarian about a symbol she is researching.  His babbling leads her to the Sifa clan and also Elder Caldia.  The Librarian tries to warn Bria from going there and accompanies her to the docks.  They enter the tent and met by a woman, Onica (Natalie Dormer), who says Elder Caldia (Eddie Izzard) was waiting for them.  Dormer is known for playing Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones and Anne Boleyn in The Tudors.  Izzzard has a voice part, Burnish, in the Abominable film and also voiced Reepicheep in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).  He is still angry at the Librarian and sends him away.  Brea shows them the symbol in her book which makes Onica gasp. He mentions the Dream Space that makes Dreamfasting possible.  He tells Onica to bring powdered nulroot.  Elder Caldia pours it into a drink. Bria mentions the payment neded by the Sifa and drops blue crystals. Elder Caldia and Onica gather them up so Bria pulls a Dread Pirate Roberts.  Onica will help Brea, but she needs to bring the “brightest jewel” as payment.  Back at the castle, Skeksis are still searching for Rian, his plan is to bring proof of the crime to All Maudra.  Mira’s essence!  They see the Crystal of Truth and that it is corrupted.  The Scientist locks away the essence in a cabinet with a locksnake, a living, and dangerous locking mechanism!  They go to hide when the Chancellor appears.  He entrances the locksnake and finishes it off!  He takes the essence and is interrupted by the Scientist.  They struggle, the vial of essence falls, and Rian takes it.  Gurjin and Rian run, but the Chamberlain catches Gurjin!  One of the sun’s light breaks the Chamberlain’s spell and Rian leaps from the castle!  

At Ha’rar, All Maudra mentions the trouble with the Sifa clan, her sister Seladon mentions that she could be sent to the Order of Lesser Service.  This is exile for Brea and Seladon looks smugly at the order.  The caravan returns to the castle.  The Scroll Keeper and The Collector compain about the tithe and the Gelfling’s excuses about the blight.  Tolwyn reports to Captain Ordon about his son.  Podlings play music as the Skeksis factions discuss the situation.  The music stops as the Chamberlain enters with the Emperor telling him that the Scientist blames him for Rian’s escape.  The Chamberlain accepts blame.  He explains that the Gelfling stole the vial, he captured Gurjin, and the Scientist let Rian go.  The Emperor decides punishment for the Scientist.  Ordon arrives and The Chamberlain says that Gurjin confessed to planning to steal from the Skeksis with Rian and when Mira discovered their plans, they killed her.  Ordon wants to find his son.  The Chamberlain says his mind is sick so he warns against Dreamfasting.  After whispering by The Chamberlain, the Emperor gives permission to Ordon and a promise to heal Rian.  Aughra has searched through all of her papers.  She dismisses talking with the Mystics so decides to journey to see the Skeksis.  The ritual punishment of The Scientist is gruesome and may not be for the squimish!  A terrific voice cast, more familiar characters, and new creatures.  

Five Shards of the Dark Crystal out of Five! 

#DarkCrystalAgeofResistance, #NothingisSimpleAnymore, #DonnaKimball, #NatalieDormer, #EddieIzzard

The Final Stop of the John Wick Road Trip!

Lionsgate has produced the John Wick Road Trip to promote John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum for its Blu Ray and home video release on September 10th!  Review for it here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2019/05/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review.html.  It began on September 12th and continued across the country at Best Buy stores.  There was a large trailer that pulled up to the Best Buy in Los Angeles on September 26th!  Temporary tents and crowd control barriers were set up in the parking lot.  Fans queued up and passed some prop and costume displays.  There was large thin displays which reminded me of the bodies drained of blood in Blade 2 (2002).  The costume of Halle Berry’s character, Sofia, was displayed from John Wick 3.  On the other case was props like John Wick’s criminal record, John Wick's passports, The Continental blue prints, and the other side had John Wick’s New York Continental Fight Costume with Tactical Belt.   

John Wick Road Trip, photo by the author. 

Under the tent were several display cases featuring the High Table Currency Coins and Blood Oath Medallion from John Wick Chapter 2 (2017).  Also the High Table Operator Headset, the Excommunicado Stamp and Stamp Pad, and the Russian Stash Book from John Wick 3.   There were two photo ops in the trailer.  The photo op was a green screen with another prop from John Wick 3, the Horse Fight 2013 Zero DSR Motorcycle.  You can hop on the cycle and renact the scene where John Wick takes on motorcycle ninjas!  The attendants tell you the fight sequence, but I would have liked to see the scene on a screen to remember what was going on.  I found the attendants were helpful in answering questions and explaining the displays.  The video was sent to your phone which made for an easy download.  Next, you can take a pic next to the black 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 used in John Wick (2014) and John Wick 2.  Finally, there were t-shirts given out to the first 100 fans and a poster.  A fun experience which should carry the hype to May 21, 2021 for John Wick Chapter 4!  

Zero DSR motorcycle and green screen, photo by the author. 

#JohnWickRoadTrip, #JohnWick3, #Lionsgate, #KeanuReeves, #HalleBerry  

The Outpost, “This Is Our Outpost”, Review!

The Outpost concludes season 2!  Last episode had some revelations; Gwynn’s “brother” was actually Sammie, her brother’s childhood friend, and even more Janzo and Naya do have a family connection, they brother and sister!  There is one more important point, Talon has killed the One, but Sana, who brainwashed Garrett, has taken his power!  The Outpost, The Mistress, Janzo, and Naya are behind bars when Gwynn arrives and orders that the Deputy Marshall has him release all of them!  Now Gwynn is truly back.  Janzo and the Mistress notice her.  Gwynn thanks Janzo and then asks about Sammie, but he is missing.  She tells Tobin to find Sammie.  A bell rings and Garrett and Talon ride in to report the 5,000 troops.  Gwynn notes the secret weapon which the duo had heard about in the Capital.  Garret meets Captain Calkussar and Sana is in power.  Tobin wants to evacuate, but Gwynn wants to defend it to protect the mines.  She makes an announcement to all of the people that they can take shelter in Tobin’s lands. 

Gwynn is going to stay behind with her army and the people chant, “Long live the queen!”  In some ways, this is more in line with medieval ways than Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002). The people start to leave and Janzo sees Munt who hugs him.  Then, he is happy to find out Naya is Janzo’s sister, he is so happy to have a sister, and hugs her.  The Mistress calls him away.  Janzo wants Naya to evacuate as a caregiver to help the people.  I think Naya needs to train in combat like Amidala’s handmaidens to protect her.  Janzo sees his sister leave in a wagon.  A note about the evacuation is sent by a traitor soldier.  The Mistress tells Munt about the situation.  Talon enters to speak with Janzo and then Gwynn joins them.  She explains to Gwynn that Zed betrayed her.  Janzo picks up her relationship with Zed.  He is working on explosives and he notes the prisoner in his Plagueling cell. Gwynn runs off to see Sammie behind bars.  He says he was “begging and stealing” since he left the Capital.  We know there is some redemption with The Outpost.

THE OUTPOST -- “This Is Our Outpost” --  AARON FONTAINE, JESSICA GREEN, ADAM JOHNSON, IMOGEN WATERHOUSE, PATRICK LYSTER, REECE RITCHIE -- Aleksander Letic/NBCU International --  © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

She orders the cell to open.  He says he wants to stay and he can fight.  At the camp, the pale-faced Sana gets the message from the traitor.  She orders her general (Nikola Kerkez) to send a regiment.  Sana doesn’t want to destroy The Outpost with the device since it has the valuable mines.  At the war meeting, Gwynn goes over their plans.  Talon offers to summon her demons, the Locuri.  Gwynn wonders if the Blackbloods might not be trustworthy like Talon.  Tobin offers an evacuation which gives Gwynn a plan.  This final battle focuses on our main characters and the new characters too.  Morning, a rider is sent into the open Outpost and finds it empty.  He returns to bring in the marching soldiers.  The captain (Nenad Todorovic) sees Gwynn on the battlement who asks for a surrender.  The soldiers draw their swords and the gate falls.  The captain screams an ambush warning and Janzo drops an improvised explosive.  This gives Janzo an effective role to play in this battle, but high technology gives question about the state of technology in this fantasy world.  Crossbow men appear and loose bolts at the soldiers.  

Gwynn’s soldiers roar in their attack.  Garrett leaps and throws a spear, very heroic!  Janzo laughs at the effectiveness of his explosive, but to be honest he killed several persons not too funny.  Captain Calkussar fights on the battlement, not certain how the soldiers made their way there.  Tobin swings in from above and joins the battle.  The general sees Gwynn making orders and throws his dagger.  A soldier takes it in his back!  Talon is also fighting with her sword.  It is strange that this is a chaotic battle yet it seems the Prime Order soldiers operate without commands.  Janzo runs from soldiers and leaps down next to Garrett.  He gives Janzo a sword and he manages to kill a soldier with it.  The Mistress and Munt try to slip through the battle.  This reminds me of the Thenadiers from Les Miserables, survivors and thieves, who manage to get around battles.  Gwynn is threatened, but is saved by Sammie wielding his sword.  He saves her, but is stabbed by a soldier and he in turn is killed by Gwynn.  Captain Calkussar helps take away Sammie with Gwynn.  Garret notices the fierce fighting of Tobin. The Mistress takes away some of the queen’s gold and then they see Janzo running. 

THE OUTPOST -- “This Is Our Outpost” --  JAKE STORMOEN JESSICA GREEN -- Aleksander Letic/NBCU International --  © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Munt helps him and then the Mistress stabs a soldier.  He in turn strikes her with a dagger.  Shocking!  Dying, she has the brothers look out for each other.  Lastly, she says, “The tower goes round the field all the way.”  Farewell Eleanor, the Mistress.  Both brothers weep over their mother.  Munt walks back to the battle taking a hammer.  A man in pure rage.  A sword meant for Tobin is met by Munt’s hammer!  The general is killed by Talon!  Everyone pulls back to regard the dead.  Munt drops and calls out for his mother.  The wounded assemble.  At the war room, Garrett and Talon want to destroy the weapon.  Janzo comes in weeping, his sadness is kinda absurd with his comedic performance so it is hard to take that part seriously.  He shows them the map of the tunnels underneath The Outpost.  He works out where the device may be and has one final explosive to destroy it.  Talon doesn’t want Garrett to get revenge.  Captain Calkussar sees more soldiers flooding the hills.  Talon sees the wounded soldiers and then another army forms.  The traitor kills the gate guard and then opens the gate!  Gwynn orders a retreat to the keep and Talon sees the march of the armies.  

She draws her sword and says, “A Blackblood will slay the slayers of men.”  She opens the portal, Zed sees her, and he orders Lu-Qiri and Blackblood to attack the armies.  I don’t know why armies would attack demons!  The general is confused and Sana says Talon fulfilled the prophecy.  Janzo is boosted by Garret in the tunnel and sets the explosive.  Garret appears out of the hole to see Sana in a tent.  Sana sent away her asterkinj to The Three so she has no power!  She tries to kiss him and gets Garret’s sword.  Now, he killed Wythers, his father, under her power, but is that the end of the story?  Sana could have revived Whythers like she did Garret, but why?  I thought about it and with Whythers under control, he would make a great protector for The Three with the army away.  Garret sets the fuse for the explosive, it burns the camp and rolls towards The Outpost.  I think some Lu-qiri and Blackbloods would be killed in the explosion since they were out on the battlefield.  Garret checks on Janzo.  The aftermath of the battle, the survivors of The Outpost walk out to see the empty battlefield.  Morning, Tobin reports to Gwynn that they lost half their men.  Garret tells Gwynn that he is not restored with his mind.  He gives them both his blessing and swears his loyalty.  Gwynn has Tobin to welcome Zed’s people.  He says that they are not welcoming, they are occupying, Talon is betrayed.  Zed says she has to decide, “them or us.”  They are now prisoners!  It's Two Towers except Gandalf has brought demons!  This series of course doesn’t have the budget of Lord of the Rings, but it is fun and has some great characters!  

Five Daggers out of Five! 

#TheOutpost, “ThisisOurOutpost, #TheMistress, #Sana

The Outpost, “In The Worst Corner of My Memory”, Review!

It is a night of two episodes bringing us the finale of season 2!  We have the possible return of Rosmund’s brother.  Garret and Talon going to the Capital and Naya is also there witnessing the use of the Capital’s newest weapon.  Talon is led bound by Garret, but they quickly take down two guards.  He goes in to find The Three while Talon watches the outside.  She fights several guards.  Garret walks with his sword and meets the Tormentor.  The bigger man is strong, but Garret is faster and the Tormentor ends up pummeling the walls while Garret slices him.  Talon takes down the last of the guards and breaks through the door to find Garret.  He takes up the Tormentor’s sword and slices it into him.  Talon catches up with him.  He tells her they need to get to The Outpost.  Night, at Gallwood Outpost, Gwynn asks about Alton, the young man who may be her brother.  Naya appears at the doors of The Outpost to be taken to the queen.   

THE OUTPOST -- “In The Worst Corner of My Memory” -- JESSICA GREEN, JAKE STORMOEN -- Aleksander Letic/NBCU International --  © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

She tells Rosmund that she killed Dred. The queen is told that the Prime Order is coming and of their new weapon.  Naya is taken to a cell and sees Janzo so they kiss.  It seems like all of the character arcs are brought together.   It is a meal with Alton, Tobin, and Gwynn. They play with Alton saying the wine was poisoned.  The Mistress is unhappy at both of them.  Naya described the Capital’s weapon.  Janzo works out that the tubes mix chemicals.  He wants to see the queen, but the Deputy Marshall is not eager to get the audience.  Morning, Gallwood Outpost, Gwynn disbelieves Janzo’s description of the weapon.  It can destroy The Outpost’s walls.  It seems like this weapon is like the ones used to breach Minas Tirith in The Two Towers.  Janzo says Gwynn has put her trusted friends behind bars.  He wants to return to his prison.  

Alton has a plan.  He explains northern raiders, Lord Fenray there has an alchemist that could stop the Capital’s weapon. Alton wants gold to get the secret and Gwynn gives him 50,000 gold condors.  Walking hills, Garret and Talon overlook the camp of the Prime Order.  He explains that a woman, Sana, brought him back to life, similar to Talon’s asterkinj.  Talon now knows that there is another with her power!  Janzo says that Naya is brave.  She mentions her family’s names and this sparks something with the Mistress.  His mother realizes that the mother sold Janzo to her!  The Mistress laughs at them.  Janzo and Naya are twin brother and sister!  A Luke and Leia situation!  Sana checks on The One who worries about a Blackblood.  Talon and Garret sneak into the camp.   

THE OUTPOST -- “In The Worst Corner of My Memory” -- IMOGEN WATERHOUSE -- Aleksander Letic/NBCU International --  © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Garret sees his former captor.  They take down guards and enter the tent to confront The One! They enter the tent and The One who uses a power to bring Garret down.  He tries to use his asterkinj on Talon, but she puts him to the sword.  Janzo is of course restless in his cell and he is happy he has his sister.  Janzo laughs at her babbling.  Sana goes to revive The One, she injects him with some serum, and he transfers his asterkinj to her.  Morning, Talon sees Alton about to leave with most of the treasury.  Gwynn mentions a guest has arrived, it is Calkussar (Patrick Lyster), her adopted father’s brother, he is in armor and dismounts from his horse.  Uncle Walden is here and doesn’t recognize Alton.  

He say Alton was killed before him.  Should this episode be called “Family Matters”?   At the Nightshade Inn, Gwynn, Tobin, and Walden have a drink.  She wonders how so much of her past was known.  Fat Sammie, her play friend, would know the truth.  The prisoner is brought in to the queen’s throne.  She knows that “Alton” is Sammie.  He just wanted money.  She sends him away to die.  Walden enters Gwynn’s room.  He explains that her father’s rule was with a strong hand.  She may think there is another way.  Garret and Talon find The One seems to be alive, but it is an even greater threat!  A good wrap up with the question of the Prime Order about to destroy The Outpost still hanging in the air!  The last part is coming soon! 

Four Daggers out of Five! 

#TheOutpost, #InTheWorstCornerofMyMemory, #PatrickLyster 

Happy Birthday Linda Hamilton!

Happy Birthday Linda Hamilton!  One of Hamilton’s first roles was in the soap opera Secrets of Midland Heights (1980-1981).  Her first film role was in Tag: The Assassination Game (1982).  Hamilton’s first genre role was as Vicky in the horror movie, Children of the Corn (1984) based on the Stephen King story.  Her breakthrough part was playing Sarah Connor in The Terminator (1984).  Next, King Kong was under her care as Dr. Amy Franklin in King Kong Lives (1986).  Another role that was iconic for Hamilton was playing Catherine Chandler, taming another beast, in the form of Ron Perlman’s Vincent in Beauty and the Beast (1987-1989).  She returned as Sarah Connor, pumped up, to defend her son, John, in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).  Hamilton won a Saturn Award for her performance.  

Linda Hamilton starred in the theme park attraction, Terminator 2 3-D: Battle Across Time (1996), which acts as a legitimate sequel IMO since it had the involvement of James Cameron and the original cast.  It closed in 2017 at Universal Studios Florida.  She voiced Susan Maguire in the “Chemistry” (1998) episode in The New Batman Adventures.  Hamilton then voiced Dr. Stephanie Lake in Batman Beyond’s episode, “Meltdown” (1999).  Next, she voiced Madame Lorraine in the animated DC Showcase: Jonah Hex (2010).  She played Mary Bartoski in the tv series Chuck (2010-2012).  On the SyFy series, Defiance (2014-2015), Hamilton played Pilar McCawley.  Next, she was in the supernatural show, Lost Girl (2013-2015).  She voices Dr. Furbanna in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-2018). Linda Hamilton is finally back as Sarah Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate directed by Tim Miller that is set for release on November 15th!  Happy Birthday Linda Hamilton!  

#LindaHamilton, #BeautyandtheBeast, #LostGirl, #TerminatorDarkFate 

Happy Birthday Mark Hamill!

Happy Birthday Mark Hamill! We of course know him best as Luke Skywalker, but he started in television starring as Kent Murray in General Hospital (1972-1973).  His first genre appearance was in Night Gallery with the episode “There Aren’t Any More MacBanes” (1972) as a messenger.  His first voice work was for The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1973).  Mark played Corey Anders on the Jeannie (1973) cartoon series, a Californian teen who finds the bottle that releases Jeannie.  One of Mark’s first big screen roles was voicing Sean, leader of the fairies, in Ralph Bakshi’s animated Wizards (1977).  Then, of course he had the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977).  Yes, I know it is Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, but I always think of it just as Star Wars.  Next, Mark played high school grad, Kenneth W. Dantley Jr., in Corvette Summer (1978).  Later, he was in the infamous, odd, but treasured tv special, The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978).  He hit the Broadway stage with The Elephant Man (1979).  Mark starred in the war film, The Big Red One (1980), before returning as Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back (1980). He finished the Original Trilogy becoming a Jedi Knight with Return of the Jedi in 1983.  Hamill also was on Broadway with Amadeus (1983).

He entered the superhero world playing the Trickster in The Flash (1991).  Another iconic role and well loved role was Mark playing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1994).  Also in 1994, he played Colonel Christopher Blair in the computer game, Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger.  Mark played Reverend George in John Carpenter’s Village of the Damned (1995).  For two episodes in 1995, Mark played Tobias LeConte in SeaQuest 2032.  He voiced the younger Blair in the animated series, Wing Commander Academy (1996).  Hamill co-created comic book series, The Black Pearl, published by Dark Horse Comics.  He starred in the Watchers 4 (1998) based on the Dean Koontz book.  Hamill voiced Merlin in the live action Wing Commander (1999) movie.  He directed and was featured in Comic Book: The Movie (2004) filmed at San Diego Comic Con.  Hamill of course returned at Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).  He also returned as The Joker in the animated film, Batman: The Killing Joke (2016).  Hamill was back as the Trickster on the current CW show, The Flash (2015-2016).  He took up the Jedi robes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).  One of his best voice roles was playing himself, The Joker, Trickster, and Swamp Thing in “Missing the Mark” (2017) episode of Justice League Action.  He voiced Luke Skywalker in the animated Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2018).  In 2018, Hamill voiced Old Jir in Netflix’s Kulipari: An Army of Frogs.  Also, he voiced Dictatious in Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia.  Hamill played Talus in the History Channel series Knightfall about the Knight Templar.  He voiced Chuck in this year’s Child’s Play.  Hamill currently voices The Scientist in Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.  He is set to appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to be opening in theaters on December 20th.  Happy Birthday Mark Hamill!   

#MarkHamill, #BatmantheAnimatedSeries, #DarkCrystalTheAgeofResistance, #StarWarsTheRiseofSkywalker 

Happy Birthday Jim Henson!

Happy Birthday Jim Henson!  One of Henson’s early creations was Sam and Friends which was on WRC-TV, a local station for the District of Columbia.  The first Muppet, was Rowlf the dog, who appeared on The Jimmy Dean Show.  The Jim Heson Company was formed in 1958.  In 1969, Sesame Street aired and has been iconic for children from that day, featuring Bert and Ernie, Grover, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Count von Count, and Big Bird.  Elmo was introduced on 1985 and is one of the popular characters. In 2017, Julia joined Sesame Street, a four year old autistic girl character, the show has never shied away from strong topics.  It currently runs on PBS Kids and HBO.  In March, a Sesame Street park expansion opened at Sea World Orlando.  In 1975-1976, Henson produced Land of Gorch sketches for Saturday Night Live.  The Muppets were a staple of television with The Muppet Show which ran from 1976 to 1981.  Kermit the Frog was our host and of course there was Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, and my favorites, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beeker.  

The Muppet Movie opened in theaters in 1979.  Also that year, Jim Henson formed Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.  Then, he created The Dark Crystal (1982) which was his foray into a mature fairy tale, dark, but a triumph of world bulding.  Of course, the series Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, is currently streaming on Netflix. He directed The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) and then Labyrinth (1986).  He created another iconic children’s show with Fraggle Rock (1983-1987) and then the animated series Muppet Babies (1984-1991).  A new Muppet Babies appeared on Disney Junior in 2018.  Next, Henson created The Storyteller (1987-1988) which also led to The Storyteller: Greek Myths (1990).  The first series won an Emmy Award in 1987 for Outstanding Children’s Program.  Then, he created the television program, The Jim Henson Hour (1989).  Jim Henson died on May 16, 1990.  His work and legacy continues.  Jim Henson Television produced the series Dinosaurs (1991-1994) and then the sci fi show Farscape (1999-2003).  In 1991, Muppet*Vision 3D opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  The Muppet films continued with The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014).  A television series, The Muppets, ran from 2015 to 2016.  Muppets Now is scheduled for the Disney+ streaming service.  Jim Henson's creations (along with all of the performers and talent with the Jim Henson Company) will always be loved and remembered.  Happy Birthday Jim Henson! 

Kermit at the Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited, Skirball Cultural Center, 2018, photo by the author.

#JimHenson, #MuppetShow, #DarkCrystal, #TheStoryteller 

FIDM 13th Art of Television Costume Design Exhibit!

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards are tonight and with the Emmy Awards is the FIDM exhibition.  The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private college with the emphasis on fashion and design.  It is located at 919 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, about a few blocks from the Staples Center.  I went to the exhibition last year in anticipation of the Emmy Awards which is about the same this year.  The exhibition is ongoing and will close on October 26th so there is still time anad it’s free!  Once you enter the museum, there is a long wall showing the title of the exhibition, you turn to the left and there is the featured costumes.  In this case, it was the costume of the Riddler, played by Cory Michael Smith, and then David Mazouz finally wore the Batsuit as Batman in Gotham.  You turn the corner and then the exhibition really opens for you.  In the center is a Game of Thrones display on a circular platform.  I think the next Game of Thrones series should not be dramas, but limited series and then a Game of Thrones comedy so they can sweep all categories.  Maybe a Game of Thrones competition show and children’s program?  Game of Thrones is also up for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci Fi Costumes.  

The first room of FIDM 13th Art of Television Costume Design exhibit, photo by the author.  

It featured the armor of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), the dress of Lady Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), which was more elaborate than Cersei or Daenerys to me, then the red dress of Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and then Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).  To the right is costumes from Fosse/Verdon, Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell), and Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) which is also up for Production Design like Game of Thrones and also Outstanding Period Costumes.  On the left is costumes from Pose which is also up for Outstanding Period Costumes.  I did not see costumes from Chernobyl or GLOW which are also contending for the same award, though I did see GLOW costumes the last time.  The left side also featured some costumes from Russian Doll which are up for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes.  At the end of the room on the left were costumes from the “Purple Rain” episode of Black-ish which has been nominated for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes.  The other side had costumes from Outlander.   

Masked Singer costumes, photo by the author. 

At the end of the second room were three costumes from Masked Singer, Lion, Bee, and Unicorn which is nominated for Outstanding Costumes For Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Programming.  On the other side were Sabrina’s dresses from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.  The next room had costumes for Good Omens which has a nomination for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes.  Then, there are costumes from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.  On the other side were costumes from the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel episode, “We’re Going To the Catskills!”  It is contenting for Outstanding Period Costumes.  Next, there were Umbrella Academy costumes and then costumes from A Series of Unfortunate Events also up for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes.  In the center of the room is the costume of Beatrice (Morena Baccarin) from A Series of Unfortunate Events.  The next room had The Man in the High Castle costumes.  Then, Vanity Fair’s costumes.  Sharp Objects costumes were at the end of the room.  There was an Emmy on display so we will have to see which program will win it!  Last year was a bit more interesting just for the diveristy of costumes on display.  Still, FIDM has a great exhibition of costumes that you can look up close to see the details!  

Good Omens costumes, photo by the author. 

#FIDM, #Emmy, #Gotham, #GameofThrones, #Black-ish, #GoodOmens, #MarvelousMrsMaisel 

Happy Birthday George R.R. Martin!

Happy Birthday George R.R. Martin!  The last season of Game of Thrones has 32 nominations for the Emmy awards and has won 10 so far.  He started writing science fiction stories and the first one was published by Galaxy magazine in 1971. Marting wrote his first novel, Dying of the Light, in 1976.  It established his “Thousand Worlds” Universe which includes Nightflyers.  His novelette, Sandkings was published in Omni magazine in 1979.  The story was awarded the Hugo Award from the World Science Fiction Society and the Nebula Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for Best Novelette.  It was adapted with episodes of The Outer Limits in 1995 and 2000.  The story follows a wealthy man who collects animals and purchases four colonies of tiny, telepathic sandkings which of course become dangerous.  George R.R. Martin published his novella, Nightflyers (1980) which covered a deep space voyage, in the Nightflyer ship, to find an alien spaceship, but the mission is complicated by the ship’s computer.  It was made into a movie in 1987 and a new series started on SyFy in 2018 and lasted ten episodes.
 

Martin started writing on the first season of the 1986 Twilight Zone series.  The one series I was familiar with George R.R. Martin was Wild Cards.  It was an anthology shared universe with different authors.  The world has New York in 1946 infected by an alien virus that transforms people into heroic Aces and mutated Jokers.  It is in development for television.  In 1989, Martin was a writer and producer of Beauty and the Beast starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman as Vincent.  Still, he was frustrated with television and went to crafting his fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, which begun with A Game of Thrones (1996).  HBO began adapting the books in 2011 when Martin had his fifth book A Dance with Dragons. He has written a few episodes and collected Emmy and Hugo awards for the show.  The Game of Thrones show conclused and fans eagerly await the conclusion of the book series.  One of the GoT prequel series is being developed by Martin based on his book, Fire & Blood, which was released on November of last year.  It is said to be the subject of the next Game of Thrones prequel series.  Happy Birthday George R.R. Martin!

#GeorgeRRMartin, #WildCards, #GameOfThrones, #Fire&Blood 

Clone Wars in the Star Wars Story!

We heard only the mention of The Clone Wars from Obi-Wan in Star Wars (1977).  Then there was the very beginning of the Clone Wars in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002).  The end of the Clone Wars was in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005).  The actual events of the Clone Wars was in Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003) that aired on Cartoon Network as a series of shorts divided into chapters.  This of course was in between the prequel films.  It is known as the Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars and has his cartoony style that was in Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack.  The series is not considered canon, but the events in it are not contradicted at this point.  It introduced many of the voice actors who were in the later animated series; Matt Lanter as Anakin, James Arnold Taylor, Obi-Wan, Yoda was played by Tom Kane, Terrence “TC” Carson was Mace Windu, and Corey Burton played Count Dooku.  The first and second seasons ran about 5 minutes an episode and the third season ran around 15 minutes.  

A new character, Asaaj Ventress, was introduced in Clone Wars, “Chapter 11”(2004) in the second season, she scars Anakin in Chapter 19 (2004) in season 2 dueling with him on Yavin.  His scar was seen in Revenge of the Sith, but not explained.  Over the years, Ventress has been a Sith apprentice, Jedi, bounty hunter, basically everything in the SW universe.  Side note: Chapter 14 (2004) has the searching for kyber crystals for the lightsaber ceremony of Barris Offee.  The ice planet, Ilum, was introduced in Jedi Quest: Path to Truth (2001), but this the first time we see it in visual form.  General Grieveous first appears in the Clone Wars in Chapter 20, season 3 (2004).  He takes some of the Jedi lightsabers in the battle.  In Chapter 21 (2005), Anakin is knighted by the Jedi Council, C-3PO gets his gold coloring, and Anakin is given R2-D2 by Padme.  The beginning of the Battle of Coruscant is seen in Chapter 23 (2005).  This shows the kidnapping of Palpatine by General Grievous.  Mace Windu faces Grievous and crushes his chest causing his wheezing in Chapter 25 (2005).  It ends at the moment where Revenge of the Sith begins.  

I hit Star Wars saturation by the time of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) movie.  When I finally got around to seeing it, loved it, it is Star Wars!  The CG animation was intended to be tv films, but Lucas had it released in theaters.  Dave Filoni was an important figure in bringing us Star Wars content as supervising director learning under George Lucas.  Padme Amidala was now voiced by Catherine Taber.  The film is the first appearance of Ahsoka Tano, voiced by Ashley Eckstein, she is one of my favorite SW characters.  It is interesting to see a young tween apprentice turn into a very competent and formidable Jedi in the backdrop of the Clone Wars.  The other part is Anakin’s character, we know he falls to the Dark Side, but his Padawan tempers him.  Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order in “The Wrong Jedi” (2013), season 5.  Then, the contact in Star Wars: Rebels, Fulcrum, is revealed to be Ahsoka Tano in “The Siege of Lothal” (2015) with one of the best SW lines, “The apprentice lives” delivered by James Earl Jones, shivers.  Darth Vader faces Ahsoka Tano in “Twilight of the Apprentice” (2016).  She tries to turn Darth Vader back to the Light Side.  Dave Filoni’s favorite character is not easily killed, “Ahsoka Lives!”, Ezra Bridger enters the Gateway and pulls Ahsoka from her fate.  She promises to find Ezra with Sabine Wren after the Battle of Endor.  

This of course leads to the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series which went for five seasons with the sixth season found in The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions released on Netflix in 2014.  The eleventh episode, “Dooku Captured” (2009) introduces the smuggler and survivor Hondo Ohnaka, voiced by Jim Cummings, and the pirates in his Ohnaka Gang.  He gets involved with Maul in “Revival” (2012) and it was unknown what was his fate in the Clone Wars.  Then, he turned up in Star Wars: Rebels in season 3’s “The Wynkahthu Job” (2016).  Ohnaka was involved in the Battle of Lothal in season 4’s finale, “Family Reunion - and Farewell” (2018).  We don’t know if he survived the Galactic Civil War, but then he turned up in Black Spire Outpost in charge of Ohnaka Transport.  In season two’s “Holocron Heist” (2009), the bounty hunter Cad Bane first appears, he is one of the few bounty hunters who can take on Jedi.  He is voiced by Corey Burton.  Cad is a Duro, blue skin, red eyes, seen in the Cantina, with a long hat.  His last episode was season 4’s “Crisis on Naboo” (2012), but we don’t know his fate.  It may be that he shows up in The Mandalorian.     

An important person in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s life is Satine Kryze, a romantic interest, who was introduced in “The Mandalore Plot” in season 2 and they are reunited at that time.  She is voiced by Anna Graves. Obi-Wan is there to protect her from the Death Watch.  Maul forms the Shadow Collective and they try to overthrow Mandalore in “The Lawless” (2013).  Unfortunately, Maul ends Satine.  I don’t think this is the end of her story.  Her first episode was in 21 BBY (the SW dating, Before the Battle of Yavin), and last was in 19 BBY.  What I found interesting was the birthdate of another Mandalorian character, Sabine Wren, from Star Wars: Rebels, 21 BBY, which is between Satine’s reunion with Obi-Wan and her end.   Satine’s sister, Bo-Katan, first appears in “A Friend in Need” (2012) in season 4.  She is at the end of “The Lawless” (2013) and then reappears in the Star Wars: Rebels season 4 episode, “Heroes of Mandalore” (2017).  She is made ruler of Mandalore by Sabine Wren.  My theory is that Bo-Katan brought Sabine in hiding to Clan Wren.  There is precedent with Leia taken into hiding with the Organa family.  It may be that Bo-Katan appears in the Obi-Wan Disney+ series and maybe gets Obi-Wan out of his exile to help her protect a child.   Savage Opress first appears in season 3’s “Monster” (2011), a servant to Asaaj Ventress, he is found by Mother Talzin to be another Dark Acolyte of Count Dooku.  Clancy Brown voiced Opress.  

In Season 4’s “Brothers”, Opress finds Maul, and he is restored by Talzin and given cybernetic legs.  He is taken down by Sidious in “The Lawless.”  We see Tarkin as Captain Tarkin in the Clone Wars with season 3’s “Citadel Rescue” (2011).  He works with Anakin to escape and recover plans for the Republic.  Captain Ackbar who was admiral in Return of the Jedi defends Mon Cala in the Season 4, three part episodes; “Water War”, “Gungan Attack”, and “Prisoners” (2011).  Artt Butler voiced Captain Ackbar.  In “A War on Two Fronts” (2012) in season 5, there is the Battle of Onderon which involved Steela Gerrera (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) and her brother, Saw Gerrera (Andrew Kishino).  The battle goes on to “Front Runners”, “The Soft War”, and “Tipping Points” (2012).  The character later appears in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) played by Forest Whitaker.  He appears in season three of Star Wars: Rebels in “Ghosts of Geonosis” (2017) where Saw Gerrera is found trying to find the Empire’s weapon on Geonosis.  He inhales gas that was used by the Empire to destroy the Geonosians.  This is why we see his breath mask in Rogue One.  Saw’s birth date is one of the few characters to be unknown.  What is not really seen is that Count Dooku runs the military operations of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but we didn’t see a government.  Padme heads over to Raxus Prime to negotiate a peace settlement in “Heroes on Both Sides” (2010).  The Separatist Parliament agrees, but Dooku sends General Grievous to sabotage the peace on Coruscant.

 The Order 66 mystery is explored in The Lost Missions’ “The Unknown”, “Conspiracy”, and “Orders” (2014).  Trooper Tup’s chip is set off and this leads Trooper Fives to deactivate his chip and try to bring the truth to Anakin Skywalker.  It is instead said to be a parasite that caused the malfunction.  In “The Lost One”, we finally get to the connection of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas who was mentioned in Attack of the Clones.  His ship and lightsaber are discovered and Anakin has to deal with the Pyke Syndicate to find out what happened to Sifo-Dyas.  A very important and brilliant trilogy of episodes deals with Yoda in “Voices”, “Destiny”, and “Sacrifice.”  Yoda hears the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn and instructs him to travel to Dagobah.  He enters the cave and gets a vision of the future.  Qui-Gon leads him to the center of the galaxy where he encounters Serenity, Five Priestesses, and he is tested.  His final test is on the Sith world, Moraband, where he encounters the vision of Darth Bane, Sifo-Dyas, and then a duel with Darth Sidious! The possible manipulation of the Jedi is answered here and Yoda learning about the Jedi Purge, but unable to change it.  Clone Wars had an unfinished seventh season which had episodes adapted to the Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir (2014) comic book and the Dark Disciple (2015) novel by Christie Golden.  Now there was the announcement at July’sComic Con that there will be a seventh season on Disney+!  I hope everyone is caught up before it drops!  The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels offers a complete picture of the Star Wars story and threads that can lead to The Mandalorian and other stories.  

#CloneWars, #GenndyTartakovsky, #DaveFiloni, #MattLanter, #JamesArnoldTaylor, #Tom Kane, #Ashley Eckstein

The Outpost, “Nothing Short of Heroic”, Review!

Last episode, we had the breaking of the siege of The Outpost.  This was by infecting most of the camp with Plaguelings!  Garrett is free of the Capital’s influence and returns to take revenge on the Three.  The wounded Talon walks stumbling through a forest.  She falls asleep and then is wakened by a group of horsemen.  The captain orders his soldiers to surround her when he sees the Blackblood from her wound.  Janzo leads Gwynn and Tobias through his mother’s tunnels.  Gwynn takes possession of the money and has the rest put to the torch.  Morning, the captain tries to give water to Talon, Garrett rides up to see the prisoner.  Gwynn regards a box, but Tobias offers to open it.  Inside is a letter and they find a wolf symbol which Gwynn believes is another clan that could be an ally.  In her cell, the Mistress wakes up while Janzo is studying the Plagueling cure.  She demands that he cure her.  The Mistress says that she raised Janzo as a baby because she saw something in him.  They laugh over his sores that he used horse manure to cure.  She made Janzo her master brewer at ten years old.  Janzo admits that he led Gwynn to her colipsum farm.  It is a nice moment between Janzo and The Mistress.  

THE OUTPOST -- “Nothing Short of Heroic” -- IMOGEN WATERHOUSE -- Aleksander Letic/NBCU International --  © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

A soldier reports to Gwynn that some one she knows as Alton is there to see her.  She rushes over and the boy (James Downie) says, “Sister.”  He says he was switched for a court scribe.  Alton’s mention of “Rossie” jogs a memory with Gwynn.  A king to take the throne?  Could he be another Capital deception?   He then shows her a cane that she activates the top to reveal a compartment.  In the camp, the captain wakens seen by Garrett.  The captain offers Garrett the chance to interrogate Talon.  She is tied to a tree.  Garrett tries to explain what happened and strikes Talon.  He starts to cut her bonds and she screams out.  The two start to take on the soldiers.  They defeat everyone and then suddenly more soldiers rush out, but Talon and Garrett take the two horses.  The soldiers coming from nowhere doens’t seem right.  Alton is having a meal while Gwynn questions him.  She introduces Tobin to Prince Alton.  He is young, but will soon be heir.  Tobin notices something strange with him.  Gwynn writes a message to be sent.  In the forest, Garrett tries to explain to Talon, she understands the conditioning at the Capital.  They reach a boat that Garrett is going to take to get his revenge.  He mentions that they had him kill his father.  Talon joins him, she doesn’t quite know that he needs her as a prisoner.  Janzo sees the Plagueling come out of The Mistress’ mouth. This does make it urgent and personal for Janzo to find the cure.    

THE OUTPOST -- “Nothing Short of Heroic” -- ANAND DESAI-BAROCHIA -- Aleksander Letic/NBCU International --  © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Janzo struggles over the cure.  Tobin goes to see Gwynn and admits he loves her.  They kiss.  Janzo is at the site by the wall where he bound the cured Plaguelings and sees an insect.  He remembers the sore on the cured woman and starts to laugh.  He has cracked the life cycle of the Plaguelings!  Janzo scrambles to put the insect caught in the hood and she spits out the Plagueling worm then gasps.  The Mistress realizes that her face is filled with moults.  Janzo happily runs out.  Night, he goes to check the forest for the insects, and sees a nest.  He climbs a tree with a dagger in his teeth and cuts down the next.  He falls down and Plaguelings surround him, but he is able to cut the nest free.  It is great that the curer for the disease gets exposed to it.  Gwynn arrives with soldiers to check on The Mistress.  Once freed, Gwynn has The Mistress arrested and taken away.  A soldier brings Gwynn to see pock marked Janzo with his recruits.  At the Capital, soldiers are looking for a woman, and Naya in a robe hides in a wagon with a Prime Order weapon. At Gwynn’s throne room, Janzo explains finding the stingfly cure, then tries to plead for Naya’s release.  Her decision is seconded by Alton.  She sends him to prison.  His mother sees him there.  Naya leaps out of the wagon and watches as the commander directs his soldiers to move the weapon.  Garrett walks with Talon to the Capital gate and says they are getting married.  Garrett and Talon’s bluff doesn’t seem to work.  The weapon is about to be tested.  Another complication that could turn the tide of the war.  It could be Naya makes it unstable and maybe at the cost of her life!  

Three Daggers out of Five! 

    

#TheOutpost, #NothingShortofHeroic, #Alton, #JamesDownie