The Outpost, “The Hardest Part of Being Queen”, Review!

Last episode, Yavalla is gathering her followers as an army to take The Outpost!  Garret is showing villagers how to use a spear while Falista watches with her blue uniformed soldiers who laugh at the villagers awkward handling of spears.  He has her soldiers train with the villagers, they are reluctant until Falista gives the order.  She enters the throne room to speak with Gwynn.  She is there with Garret and Gwynn demands that she turn over control of her army or leave.  Falista bows and says that she will serve her as long as Tobin serves her.  Garret mentions that Tobin only loves Gwynn so Falista uses her Red Kinj sending Garret and then Gwynn in pain.  She stops gasping at her power and Garret threatens Falista with his sword.  At the edge of The Outpost, Janzo is searching for plants as Wren is stunned that her mother survived the attack by Talon and Zed.  She explains that her mother took the box from her father.  Wren says Talon will get lost in the lava tubes and needs a map which she thinks is at The Outpost.  A guard, Strom (Luka Jovanovic), is using the rat Zinj detector on refugees. He sees his wife, Ana (Milica Vrzic) who is infected!  The incident should be reported to Garret.  

THE OUTPOST - “The Hardest Part of Being Queen” - REECE RITCHIE, JESSICA GREEN, GEORGIA MAY FOOTE -  Photo: Aleksander Letic/NBCU International © 2020 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Garret finds Tobin who is drunk and angry at him for imprisoning her.  It starts to get into a fight, it is brutal, but kinda comical at the same time.  The fight enters the tavern with Walita stunned at the two friends fighting each other.  Tobin strikes Garret’s head with a mug.  Tobin throws them both off a top floor of the tavern!  Garret admits that Falista used the Red Kinj on Gwynn.  They both laugh at their fight.  Wren and Talon enter The Outpost, Janzo follows and tells Walita that Munt is lost.  Zed is behind them and warns a guard about the infected.  Tobin enters the prison and finds the distraught Falista.  Tobin with a black eye says she is not responsible for her action because she can’t control the Zinj.  This is brilliant since it shows the strength of Falista's character.  It remains to see how the Zinj will corrupt her or how this the Zinj can be controlled.  Gwynn goes over the closing of options and Talon mentions the Black Kinj.  She brings up that her father in the Plane of Ashes might know where is the Black Kinj.  They both decide that the Black Kinj may be the only solution and hug each other.  

Janzo walks up to the battlements where they see a man, Higley Muggs (Miutin Dapcevic) point out an infected woman.  He takes out a blue potion that he has the woman drink and she collapses.  She revives without the Kinj and a soldier uses the rat to find she is Kinj free.  Janzo senses he is a fraud and accuses him of scamming the villagers.  He has Janzo pay for a blue vial.  Talon hugs Garret and shows him her sketchbook.  She drew pictures of her family including her father.  Garret says Gwynn sent him to try to convince Talon to stay.  He wants to go with her, but of course he is needed for the defense of The Outpost.  They kiss.  Night, Zed is waiting with Talon, Wren wants to look for him and his map.  Strom has the blue vial for Ana to bring her in.  She reaches out to infect him with a Kinj.  He opens the door letting her in as the other guards sleep!  Tobin tries to defend Falista, controlling her power and threatened Gwynn, Garret brings up that she has the Red Kinj.  He says her judgment may be colored by jealousy.  

THE OUTPOST - - “The Hardest Part of Being Queen” - - IMOGEN WATERHOUSE - -   Photo: Aleksander Letic/NBCU International © 2020 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Falista is in her prison cell and visited by Janzo.  He tries to explain the Kinj.  She realizes it may be her fate to be imprisoned.  In the morning, Gwynn appears, Falista says she wants to remain in the cell.  She tries to transfer the Kinj, but Gwynn pulls away.  She reaches out again, but Gwynn again pulls her hand away.  Falista admits that she can’t control the Kinj.  Gwynn calls the guards armed with crossbows and she orders the baroness to be freed.  Her willingness to give it up proved that she is a good person.  Gwynn sends her to Zed and Talon to learn how to use her Kinj.  Falista bows to her.  A very powerful step in dealing with the Zinj.  Zed is throwing daggers.  Wren brings the accordion-like map.  Zed recognizes the mark of Corvin, his brother, who is back in the Plane of Ashes.  Wren says she will join them.  She had a relationship with Corvin.  Wren leaves to say goodbye to Janzo.  Zed is waking with Talon.  They meet with Falista who needs their help for training.  Talon tries to explain how their Zinj work before leaving for the Plane of Ashes.  It seems like Falista is key not in how to control her Zinj, but for others.   

Falista goes to see Tobin by the fireplace.  He goes to hug her unafraid of her Zinj.  She admits that she understands why he fancies Gwynn and releases him from their marriage vows.  This is a selfless act.  She gives him back his ring.  I’m not certain why Zed doesn’t bring back Locuri to the Plane of Ashes, they may be more comfortable there, and he is master of them with his Zinj.   Janzo is confronting Higley Muggs as Wren watches.  He uses his “magic finger” to show Muggs’ trick.  Wren tells him that she is going to the Plane of Ashes hoping to convince Corvin to help them.  He knows the lava tubes that may lead to the Black Zinj.  She kisses him to stop his babbling and leads him away.  The Kinjed people look at them.  Wren takes Janzo to Talon and Zed when Gwynn walks up and then Garret.  She hugs Garret and then activates her Zinj opening the gateway so the heroes enter her gateway.  The defense of The Outpost seems to be simple with one gate, no matter how strong, opening to an easy invasion.  Considering the threat of the United, I think there should be at least a barricade set up with more rat Zinj detectors.  Plus, they found that there is a possibility that the infected could still be in The Outpost so there should be random detectors.  This is a good episode with complications of a charlatan, a takeover of The Outpost, but where is Munt?    

Four Zinjes out of Five!   

#TheOutpost, #TheHardestPartofBeingQueen, #LukaJovanovic, #MilicaVrzic, #MiutinDapcevic

The Mandalorian, “Chapter 16: The Rescue“, Review!

The season 2 finale of The Mandalorian is here!  The last episode ended with The Mandalorian making a transmission to Moff Gideon that is he is coming for The Child!  It is directed by Peyton Reed who also directed Chapter 10, This episode opens with pure action as the Slave-I is firing on an Lambda Imperial shuttle!  Inside the shuttle is Dr. Pershing.  We saw him in hologram form, but he was last seen in person last season in Chapter 3. Boba Fett is flying the Slave-I, he won’t be denied, he targets the shuttles engines and blasts it with an ion cannon.  Boba Fett informs the pilots to prepare for boarding.  He pilots the Slave-I in front of the shuttle’s cockpit and connects to it.  Mando enters the cockpit and of course recognizes Dr. Pershing.  One of the pilots holds a blaster to the doctor and shoots the other pilot!  The pilot with the blaster says that Dr. Pershing is a clone scientist and also says that he knows Cara Dune is from Alderaan.  He says he saw the destruction of Alderaan, mistake!  It looks like Cara gets some payback this mission and Mando just watches her leave as Dr. Pershing cries in pain from the blaster bolt!  Side note: it is mentioned that Mandalore has been turned to glass, this may be the Arc Pulse Generator weapon created by Sabine Wren (it targets Beskar armor!), this may be signs that she still has a part to play in saving Mandalore!  Gideon is the one who recovered the weapon and used it against Mandalore? 

Slave-I heads towards a planet, unidentified, with large industrial stacks.  Boba Fett and The Mandalorian enter a cantina, two in Mandalorian armor!, they stand until finding  Koska Reeves and Bo-Katan at a table.  What happened to Axe Woves, the other Mandalorian in Bo-Katan's Nite Owls?  It seems like forever since they were last seen in Chapter 11!  Mando tells Bo-Katan he needs her help and that the Child was taken by Moff Gideon.  Bo-Katan says that Boba Fett is not Mandalorian and he easily admits it.  He faces off with Koska Reeves speaking Mandalorian, but Bo-Katan backs her down.  Mando reveals that they know where is Moff Gideon’s cruiser.  Bo-Katan recognizes that Boba Fett is a clone of Jango Fett.  Koska Reeves fights Boba Fett!  Can this episode get more awesome!  They use their flamethrowers on their gauntlets, but again stopped by Bo-Katan.  She is set on retaking Mandalore.  Her demands is taking the ship and also claims Moff Gideon’s weapon that can cut through anything, but pure Beskar, the Darksaber!  I sense a duel with the Beskar spear!  Mando agrees to everything for the Child.  I should have recognized the Kom’rk-Class Gauntlet fighter parked next to Slave-I.  Bo-Katan briefs the group, including Cara and Fennec, and Dr. Pershing in binders is said to be a clone engineer.  I think a trip to Kamino is in store at least a meeting with Kaminoans who have mastering cloning.  Pershing mentions the Dark Troopers.  

He says they are third generation troopers, entirely droids.  Pershing points out their location in the cargo bay.  Then, points the brig where the Child is held under guard.  Bo-Katan outlines the plan with the shuttle sending a distress call, then land at the launch tube to block any fighters.  The first group is Koska, Fennec, and Cara, an all women fighting force!  Of course this couldn't happen with Axe Woves.  They are to distract the Imperials so Mando can get to the Child.  Fennec takes the code cylinder from Dr. Pershing to give to Mando.  He says that they will meet up at the bridge.  Slave-I travels through hyperspace right behind the Imperial shuttle.  Bo-Katan claims Moff Gideon from the others.  Cara notes that she needs to question him for intelligence.  The plan seems to have Slave-I attack the shuttle and then escape.  They exit hyperspace and the Slave-I’s cannons start blasting!  Bo-Katan makes a request for emergency docking heard on the bridge including Moff Gideon.  He orders TIE fighters to launch.  We see the TIE fighters taken from their bay to launch, something also new.  Bo-Katan heads to the launch bay as the TIE fighters pass by the shuttle.  TIE fighters start firing on Slave-I!  Bo-Katan plunges the shuttle towards the forward launch bay of the cruiser.  Boba Fett pulls away at the last moment.  The shuttle comes in slamming into the hangar!  Boba Fett easily destroys the TIE fighters and leaps into hyperspace.  

Stormtroopers race to check on the shuttle and out of the landing ramp, the warriors come out blasting!  Moff Gideon hears the battle and gives the command for the Dark Troopers!  In their cold storage, the Dark Troopers activate, their red eyes reminds me of the Cylons.  Mando walks out of the shuttle with his blaster.  The women fighting force starts out, the Dark Troopers don’t stand a chance!  Fennec and Cara blast at stormtroopers while the Mandalorians peel off the ramp with their jetpacks.  A squad of stormtroopers demand their surrender, but are taken down by Koska and Bo-Katan.  Mando moves to the side as stormtroopers rush towards the group.  The tubes deattach from the Dark Troopers.  It is not blasters that will stop them!  Fennec goes out and takes down Stormtroopers as Bo-Katan takes out a flanking stormtrooper.  She is joined by Cara, they just walk straight, no hesitation.  The Dark Troopers deploy and bring up their blaster rifles.  It takes some time to activate the Dark Troopers.  An Imperial protocol droid passes Mando and he slips past more Stormtroopers.  It would make sense to get in stormtrooper armor, the Dark Troopers would probably ignore them. Cara says her rifle is jammed during a fight and then just uses it to pummel stormtroopers and she is helped by Fennec.  I wonder if this is a hint of what will be in Rangers of the New Republic.  

The Dark Troopers start to march, Mando sees this and uses the code cylinder to close the doors, but a Dark Trooper manages to pry open the doors Terminator-style.  The Dark Trooper slams away Mando and then holds him up to smash his helmet with its fist.  The Dark Troopers bashing has opened a valve that exhausts a spray and Mando uses his flame thrower to light up the Dark Trooper.  Now the Dark Troopers remind me of Maxmillian from The Black Hole (1979).  He has to block the Dark Troopers from escaping their hangar bay and uses his Whistling Bird projectiles to batter the Dark Trooper.  Then, he severs its head with his Beskar steel spear.  Mando gets to control panel and has all of the Dark Troopers thrown out of the hangar bay into space, the Ripley technique!  Cara struggles with her rifle and then slams it down to get into the fight with stormtroopers!  The repeating action of her rifle cuts them down.  They reached the bridge, Koska takes the code cylinder to shut down the Dark Troopers, but Moff Gideon is missing!  Mando takes out two stormtrooper guards brutally with the Beskar spear.  He opens the cell door only to find Moff Gideon hold the Darksaber to Baby Yoda in tiny binders, I’ve never seen such a sad sight!  Gideon forces Mando to kick over his blaster.  He waves the Darksaber over Baby Yoda and says it belonged to Bo-Katan.  

Moff Gideon explains that the wielder of the Darksaber has the right of the Mandalorian throne.  He deactivates the Darksaber and says he has the Child’s blood.  When Mando reaches out for Baby Yoda, Gideon strikes with the Darksaber.  It of course ends with a duel between the Beskar spear and the Darksaber!  This is Mando defying the order by Bo-Katan to leave Gideon to her.  Bo-Katan waits as Moff Gideon is brought in with binders to the bridge.  Mando takes the Darksaber to her.  Gideon explains that he can’t give the Darksaber to Bo-Katan.  She has to earn it through combat.  In Star Wars: Rebels, "Heroes of Mandalore: Part 2" (2017), Sabine hands the Darksaber to Bo-Katan with support of the Mandalorian clans. The peaceful transfer may be what Gideon has used to take Mandalore.  This is interrupted by the Dark Troopers returning to the cruiser!  The Dark Troopers are closing on them, Fennec orders the blast doors to seal off the bridge, they begin to slam the blast door with their fists.  A single X-Wing flies past the bridge and enters the hangar.  Could this be the Jedi that Baby Yoda called?  The Dark Troopers stop their breaching and arm themselves.  The cloaked Jedi ignites a green lightsaber blade!  There is an end credit scene that leads to a series in 2021!  The finale is a hope end, it seems a bit rushed, I would have rather had a director like Dave Filoni than the director of Bring It On (2000) with this important episode, but it is heart-wrenching!  

Four Lightsabers out of Five!  

#TheMandalorian, #TheRescue, #Darktroopers, #Jedi

Swamp Thing, “The Anatomy Lesson”, Review!

Last episode had the return of Avery Sunderland and the capture of the Swamp Thing!  The title of the episode is a well known name of an Alan Moore Swamp Thing issue, #21 (1984).  At the Woodrue house, Caroline wakes up to see Jason, she says his clothes are muddy.  Jason is excited for his “specimen” and wonders why she is troubled.  Caroline said she had a nightmare.  At the Sunderland Cement Company, cars and trucks roll in as Caroline describes her nightmare.  They are setting up a lab.  Jason sets aside her medication.  The workers reveal that the frozen figure is the Swamp Thing what Caroline says in her dream was a monster!  Morning, Abby shows Liz at Delroy’s evidence of the capture.  She suspects Jason Woodrue because she gave him a tissue sample.  Abby needs Liz’s help.  Liz brings up when they were younger, Abby stood up for her, and Liz’s first story was the rude man.  

At the lab, tinted green, Avery enters to check on the Swamp Thing.  He reaches out, but is warned by Jason.  Woodrue remarks the lights inhibit plant growth.  Jason wants to be alone to do his work.  He shuts down the nitrogen  to “thaw out” the Swamp Thing.  Daniel wakes to find the mysterious “Studio Guy.”  This is the Phantom Stranger that was explaining Swamp Thing about the Green.  His role as a Devil bargaining with Daniel is too active a role for the character.  Daniel is transported to a building where Liz and Abby knock over a pipe.  It brings the attention of a team of guards armed with guns.  They check the room where Abby and Liz were hiding.  They come out with their hands up.  Liz is shot and then Abby!  Daniel is in his hospital bed.  The “Studio Guy” tells him he is seeing the future and it is one possible future.  

 

SWAMP THING - - “The Anatomy Lesson” - - KEVIN DURAND, DEREK MEARS - - Photo: Fred Norris/ 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. - © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

Abby and Liz knock on the door of the Woodrue house and Caroline answers.  They have questions about her husband.  She brings them in and the tea kettle is steaming, she has forgotten it, Caroline is confused.  Liz checks papers that are on the dinner table.  Abby notices that she hasn’t taken her medicine.  There is a footprint of the swamp on the kitchen floor.  Liz takes one of the papers from the table.  They leave and Abby says she suffers from Alzheimers.  She is not acting like a doctor, Abby should bring hospital personnel to take Caroline to be watched over and treated at a hospital.  At the lab, Jason is analyzing his patient, the Swamp Thing, and begins to cut into his chest!  It does not seem he is using proper tools to cut through a chest cavity, probably he needs a bone saw.  He tries pulling apart the layers of the Swamp Thing when he wakens and shouts in pain!  

At the hospital, Liz shows Abby the photograph which is plans for a mobile lab.  Liz checks the records of Sunderland on the computer.  She finds a cement plant and it matches with the photo!    On the operating table, Woodrue has strapped down Swamp Thing, he says he “fells it all.”  Woodrue has removed enough layers to get at organs and holds what looks like lungs and then a heart.  This seems like the old magician’s trick with a person’s head sticking out, but the body is fake.  Jason is amazed that the organs have no function.  The Green has replicated what looked like Alec Holland.  Jason says the mutagenic plants replicated Alec, “You’re a plant that thinks it’s a man.”  Daniel asks about the future, the Phantom Stranger mentions Blue Devil, he breaks from his restraints.  The Stranger puts on his hat to leave.  Daniel wonders about his purpose.  He pulls the sheet to reveal the Blue Devil mask.  He holds it up, then a blue light shines through it causing Daniel pain and he transforms! 

SWAMP THING - - “The Anatomy Lesson” - - IAN ZIERING - - Photo: Fred Norris/ 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. - © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Maria is making a cell phone call to Mr. Ellery.  Avery confronts her.  He brings in Dr. Dennis Barclay (Jason Davis), psychiatrist, and two workers join them to take her away to a van.  Delroy checks on Matt Cable drinking outside of the bar.  He mentions the argument with her mother.  Matt only wants to drink.  At the swamp, they find the mobile lab, and Liz tells about the way in the back of the building.  They have flashlights looking around the abandoned building.  A weedy path leads them to the Swamp Thing.  They hear voices.  A pipe is kicked over so Abby and Liz hide in a room.  The vision is coming true.  The security team has their guns drawn.  Abby cuts the power sending the building into darkness.  Jason continues cutting into the Swamp Thing.  The team searches the room.  A blue flame burns two of the guards.  Blue Devil!  We have Daniel transformed.  He can turn around what was in his vision.  The others search until one is struck by the Blue Devil that blasts a guard with his eyes.  He sends blue flames from his mouth at another.   A worker tries to evacuate Jason to a lab in northern Maryland.  

The dark lab, Abby and Liz are still in the room, a crazed guard mentions the Devil, when he is pulled back.  They see a massive figure of the Blue Devil in flames.  Abby and Liz rush to the mobile lab and see that his organs are pulled out!  Abby cries when Swamp Thing’s hand reaches for her.  She tries to remove his restraints.  He calls out for light.  Abby switches on the lab light which rapidly reforms his organs and skin!  She asks him who is responsible.  Swamp Thing says it was Woodrue and Sunderland.  He starts walking back to the swamp and find the truth.  Liz and Abby follow him over the bodies of the guards and Daniel revives as a human realizing what he has done!  In the swamp, Abby tells Liz that she has to follow him.  Matt is drinking while driving and is able to pay attention to driving narrowly avoiding a car!  At that point, he should pull over to the side of the road.  He crashes!  Delroy should never have let him drive.  Then, we have Abby and Liz trying to free the Swamp Thing, but he still has to realize the truth!  The problem with this episode is the title which invites comparisons with Alan Moore brilliant, lyrical story that revealed more to the horror character.  A more far comparison is does this episode work with the rest of the series and the answer is yes, it is an average entry.  This episode brings in the supernatural, the true nature of the Swamp Thing, and Daniel as the demonic hero!  

Three Vines out of Five! 

#SwampThing, #TheAnatomyLesson, #DrBarclay, #JasonDavis 

The Outpost, “From Paradise to Hell and Back”, Review!

 At the mountain refuge of Yavalla, her followers part for our heroes, Wren leads Janzo and Munt.  The zinj lights up a follower’s brow.  Munt points out Captain Orlick (Dragan Micanovic), the once loyal soldier for Gwynn and The Outpost.  He says that only Wren should go inside.  She whispers with Janzo and he gives her a giant syringe.  At Yavalla’s throne, Wren argues about the choice of the zinj.  Yavalla calls herself a god.  Tobin looks out to a river as Falista joins him.  She brings up Rosamund.  Zed and Talon are sneaking into a camp and see the temple.  Talon sees Munt and Janzo.  Zed realizes that Janzo is waiting for something.  Yavalla reaches out to her daughter and the zinj starts to move, Wren takes out the syringe and injects her mother.  The orange zinj falls out into the stone floor.  Yavalla takes out the needle and still has her blue zinj.  They are all captured, but Wren is freed, Janzo points out the zinj in her wrist that makes its way to her temple.  Wren is lost!  

THE OUTPOST - - “From Paradise to Hell and Back” - -  ANAND DESAI-BAROCHIA, JESSICA GREEN, IZUKA HOYLE, REECE RITCHIE - - Photo: Aleksander Letic/NBCU International © 2020 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Captain Orlick is freed of the zinj and then dies.  Wren tells Janzo that her mind is expanding.  Munt struggles as Wren tells Janzo to drop the syringe.  She has a knife to him, Janzo drops it, and then runs off with it.  He starts running, but is surrounded by followers.  Talon drags him from under a wagon.  Zed fights off the followers and sets off an "incendiary device."  Yavalla sends out her falcon.  The heroes race through the forest.  Zed strikes down the falcon with an arrow.  They run into a ruined stone home and wall.  This could be a waypoint for the followers.  Garret uses a model of The Outpost to show his strategy.  He wants to build a new wall to defend it.  She thanks him and Garrett tries to see if she is fine.  Gwynn says she misses the United.  He knows about being controlled.  She hugs her friend.  A guard reports about Tobin and his army bringing food.  The villagers cheer Tobin and Falista.  Talon asks Janzo about his plan.  Janzo is angry that Zed used the “incendiary device.”  He points out the bat guano which of course can be used in an explosive!     

THE OUTPOST - - “From Paradise to Hell and Back” - -  JAYE GRIFFITHS - - Photo: Aleksander Letic/NBCU International © 2020 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Tobin is wondering why Gwynn is upset.  She returns the ring to Tobin.  Wren searches her memory to go to Gwynn saying Two is not a god.  Night at the Outpost, Gwynn meets with Falista, she asks about the ring.  She mentions that loss of Gwynn’s chief advisor and brings up Tobin.  Gwynn is suspicious about Falista.  She brings up her lineage and connects to Gwynn’s family, she is her cousin!  Gwynn makes Falista jealous and she is stricken by Falista’s zinj.  Is she turning into a threat?  Morning, Janzo has perfected the “incendiary device” using a pumpkin.  Garret reports to Gwynn that the guards are checking villagers and animals for the United.  A United grabs Gwynn through the gate, he is stabbed by Garret!  The Outpost, Garret worries about having to killed the Zinjed, Gwynn asks about Tobin as an advisor.  Night, the heroes move their way through a camp and see Yavalla with Wren stepping out the temple.  Zed and Talon head for Yavalla.  She confronts the two in the temple.  Zed throws the pumpkin at Yavalla.  She shrieks in pain and the United are stunned.  

Talon takes her head.  Janzo sees Wren in her tent and has the syringe out.  He drops the syringe to join her in Zinjification and Wren walks over to him crushing the syringe!  The zinj starts to separate!  She kisses Janzo and he injects her with the full syringe, he switched the other one.  Wren kisses him again now that she is free of the zinj.  They run up the steps and see Munt shuddering where he stands.  They join Talon and Zed to see Yavalla without damage.  The guards are killed and Yavalla sends Munt after them!   Wren leads them away as Munt pauses.  Janzo promises to help him.  Talon has yet to use her zinj to open a portal.  Throwing Yavalla into one might save the United and Munt.  They run into the night.  Munt kneels before Yavalla along with other followers.  Morning, Gwynn addresses The Outpost announcing her chief advisor, don’t move so fast Tobin!, Garret Spears!  Falista tries to be angry at the choice and this frustrates Tobin.   Yavalla addresses her followers and that they must stand against The Outpost!  All of the plans to save Yavalla from the zinj have failed!, but it seems like Falista is slowly being corrupted by her zinj and may become a villain!     

Three Zinjes out of Five!  

#TheOutpost, #FromParadisetoHellandBack, #CaptainOrlick, #DraganMicanovic  

The Final Part of Disney Investor Day - Marvel Studios!

 We are coming to the end of the four hour presentation of Disney Investor Day with Marvel Studios!  It is of course hosted by Kevin Feige, president and chief creative officer of Marvel Studios.  He noted that the Disney+ series will be “connected to theatrical releases.”  The interesting part was that there was no investor exclusives, Feige does like to open content to everyone, but there is also the missing year of no content.  The first series on Disney+, WandaVision, will debut on January 15th.  Feige showed a new trailer opens like a black and white sitcom that has Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha questioning Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen).  Then, we have Vision (Paul Bettany) in a sweater like the perfect sitcom father.  She uses her powers like something out of Bewitched.  Then, color bleeds in like the movie Pleasantville (1998).  It also brings in Teyonah Parris as an adult Monica Rambeau.  The strange world seems to involve an Infinity Stone.  

Feige noted that Olsen is currently in London filming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.  Sam Raimi directed it with Benedict Cumberbatch returning as Dr. Strange.  Feige added that a new character, America Chavez, will be played by Xochitl Gomez.  The heroine, also known as Miss America, first appeared in Vengeance #1 (2011).  It opens on March 25, 2022.  Feige says it also connects to the Spider-Man films.  Next, Feige showed an exclusive look at The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which will be a six episode series. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) brings up the “legacy of that shield” to Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). There was some explosions, a band forms into the Cap star on a football field, and there is some villain in a black mask with a red hand print rumored to be Flag-Smasher.  The trailer was kinda confusing and didn’t reveal too much.  Feige announced the release date of May 7th for Black Widow.  

Next, he showed the cast of Loki, that will start in May.  Feige noted new genres for the MCU putting Loki “in the center of his own crime thriller.”  The trailer shown has Loki in Avengers: Endgame picking up the Tesseract and taken to a desert.  Loki taken in handcuffs down an elevator with Owen Wilson’s character.  He says, “time passes differently in the TVA”, this is the Time Variance Authority that first appeared in Thor #372 (1986). Next, Feige showed a trailer for the animated series What If…?  The original comic book series started in 1977.  The trailer opens with Howard Stark seeing the chamber open to reveal Peggy Carter.  She has all the power of Captain America, but wears the British flag.  Instead of finding Peter Quill, Yondu discovers T’Challa.  Jeffrey Wright voices The Watcher.  It opens in Summer 2021.  Great twists on the MCU, but I would like to see the comic book versions or even animated films mixed in with the MCU.  

  

Feige continued noted that Shang-Chi: and the Legend of the Ten Rings wrapped production in Australia.  He noted the rest of the cast which includes Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh, two cast members from Crazy Rich Asians.  Also, Tony Leung, who was Ip Man in The Grandmaster (2013). Feige says that the film was “the first of Phase 4” and set for release in 2021.  Then, he updated the Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel, Feige noted that during the shutdown, Marvel held online auditions for the part of Kamala Khan.  They found the actor in Iman Vellani.  A feature was shown about the character, the producers, and the announcement to Vellani with brief clips from the show.  Feige said that Captain Marvel is currently in the works with director Nia DaCosta, he also said that Vellani will be in the film.  Also, Monica Rambeau, so it looks like all versions of the characters are seen in the movie, maybe to take over if Carol Danvers loses her powers?       

Next was The Eternals where Feige said “we’re introducing a new ensemble”, the cast was shown, missing was Kit Harington as the Black Knight.  The Eternals will open on November 5, 2021.  Feige continued with the Hawkeye series, on Disney+ “late next year.”  He confirmed the character of Kate Bishop played by Hailee Steinfeld.  This is a character that first appeared in Young Avengers #1 (2005).  She-Hulk was next, it sounds like a comedy with the 6’7” heroine, who will be played by Tatiana Maslany.  Also that Tim Roth is returning as the Abomination along with Mark Ruffalo.  He teased that since Jennifer Walters deals with superhero legal cases, “you never know what  Marvel characters will pop up.”  Feige describes the Moon Knight series as an “action adventure Indiana Jones-type story”, he says the character has “multiple identities” like Marc Spector in the comics.  He said the background has “incredible Egyptian iconography.”   

New surprises include Secret Invasion, this was a 2008-2009 storyline that ran in Marvel Comics, it will star Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn).  Feige describes it as a “sect of Skrulls that infiltrated” Earth, they were found to have taken superhero identities in the comics.  Then, Feige brought up Ironheart, this is character, Riri Williams, cameo'd in Invincible Iron Man #7 (2016).  He said of her, “she has the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man.”  Dominique Thorne plays Williams.  Next, was Armor Wars, a storyline in the Iron Man comic from 1987 to 1988.  Feige says, “it what happens when his tech falls in the wrong hands.”  It stars Don Cheadle as War Machine.  Feige says Disney+ provided “the right outlet” so there will be Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special filmed during Guardians of the Galaxy 3.  Also, I Am Root, a series of shorts on Disney+.  Feige noted that January will be the start date to film Thor: Love and Thunder.  He confirmed that Christian Bale will play the villain, Gorr the God Butcher.  

The update for Blade with Mahershala Ali was “development and storylines are coming together.”  Feige said that the next Antman film is titled Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania.  He added that Katheryn Newton will play Cassie Lang, she is Scott Lang’s daughter, and becomes the superhero Stature in Young Avengers #6 (2006).  Also that Jonathan Majors will play Kang the Conqueror.  This supervillain was introduced as Kang in Avengers #8 (1964), his mastery of time, would serve as what I think is the next big Avengers bad.  Feige talked about the loss of Chadwick Boseman and stated “we will not recast the character.”  Black Panther II with Ryan Coogler will have the film in theaters in July 8, 2022.  One of the most exciting news was Fantastic Four, Feige said, “We’re working on a feature now”, to be directed by Jon Watts.  He was the director of Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), good for the MCU, but missing what was essential for the comics character.  The first Fantastic Four comic was published in 1961.  There was high expectation that the FF would be coming to the MCU.  There is potential for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fan excitement is high, but Marvel Studios has to come through for them!   

#WandaVision, #TeyonahParris, #DoctorStrangeintheMultiverseofMadness, #AmericaChavez, #Loki, #OwenWilson, #WhatIf, #ShangChiandtheLegendoftheTenRings, #MsMarvel, #ImanVellani, #TheEternals, #SheHulk, #TatianaMaslany, #MoonKnight, #SecretInvasion, #IronHeart, #DominiqueThorne, #ArmorWars, #GuardiansoftheGalaxyHolidaySpecial, #AntmanandtheWaspQuantumania, #Katheryn Newton, #KangtheConqueror, #BlackPantherII, #FantasticFour  

Disney Investor Day: Part 3!

Disney Investor Day continues with Disney animation and Pixar!  Dana Walden, Chairman of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television was in animated form at the Simpson’s house!  She asked Homer what he learned from Disney+ and he said, “armed bounty hunters make excellent nannies.”!  Then, “I would kill for Fat Thor’s body.”  Very funny!  A highlight was Beauty and the Beast: The Prequel Series with LeFou (Josh Gad) and Gaston (Luke Evans).  The series will also have “all new music” from Alan Menken.  There was no preview except for investors.  Another series is Swiss Family Robinson from Ronald D. Moore, who also created Battlestar Galactica, and Jon M. Chu.  The very popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians based on the Rick Riordan books is coming to Disney+.  The Mysterious Benedict Society is set to debut in 2021.  It is based on the “best selling young adult books” by Trenton Lee Stewart.  The show features “smart orphans” with Tony Hale playing Mr. Benedict.   

The next host was Sean Bailey from Walt Disney Production.  He announced the Hocus Pocus 2 Disney+ sequel.  Also from Touchstone was Three Men and a Baby set for 2022 release with Zach Efron. There is a film adaptation of Flora & Ulysses based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo.  It follows “comic book fan” Flora Belle Buckman and her squirrel named Ulysses!  In 2022, there is a new Cheaper by the Dozen from Kenya Barris which stars Gabrielle Union.  Also an animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid series based on Jeff Kinney’s books.  There is a number of adaptations, Disney should have a book program to tie into all of these series.  From 20th Century Studios is Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild featuring possum brothers and Simon Pegg as Buck.  Sean Levy is producing the animated Night at the Museum series.  Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt comes out in July 2021.  There is in development a Lion King prequel from director Barry Jenkins.  

Rob Marshall is directing the live action Little Mermaid film with “all new songs from Alan Menken and Lin Manuel Miranda.”  In spring 2022 is the Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers film with John Mulaney is Chip and Andy Samberg as Dale.  There is a live action Pinocchio film from Robert Zemeckis starring Tom Hanks.  It does feature the Disney songs, but the CG animation in Zemeckis films is awkward like Polar Express (2004).  David Lowery, who directed Pete’s Dragon (2016), is working on Peter Pan & Wendy.  It features Jude Law as Captain Hook and Yara Shahidi as Tinkerbell.  There was an announcement of the Enchanted (2007) sequel, Disenchanted, with Amy Adams returning as Giselle.   Another sequel, Sister Act 3, with Whoopi Goldberg returning as Deloris and the film is produced by Tyler Perry.  Lastly, there is Cruella, about the “early days” of Estella played by Emma Stone with Emma Thompson in the cast.  It is set in “1970’s punk rock London” and a preview was shown, but only to investors.  

Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, showed the cast of Raya and the last Dragon, including Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as the dragon Sisu.  It will be in theaters and Disney+ premiere access (the Mulan treatment) March 5th.  For original series, there is Baymax the Series described as a “continuation of the movie” with Baymax helping patients.  This is set to open in Early 2022.  Zootopia+ is a series that follows the arctic shrew, Fru Fru, the tiger dancers, and Flash, the sloth.  It will open in Spring 2022.  Another new series is Tiana in 2023, which is great if it features Anika Noni Rose, plus there is the tie-in with the Splash Mountain remodeling.  In 2023, there is also another princess, Moana.  An original series, Iwaju, which is a collaboration with Kugali Media, an African comics company set for 2022.  It is a sci fi series set in Lagos, Nigeria.  It is interesting to see a new vision of sci fi.  Lastly, in Fall 2021, is Encanto, the 60th animation feature, from directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush.  The film shows a magical family in Columbia with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.   

For Pixar, the host was chief creative officer, Pete Docter.  He showed a screen with the new Pixar filmmakers waving.  Docter directed Soul which he says will open Christmas.  A preview was shown with Joe (Jamie Foxx) teaching music and one student, Connie “getting lost” playing trumpet.  Dug Days featured a clip with Dug now in suburbia given a box of puppies!  An original series, Win or Lose, has 20 minute episodes showing the impressions of different characters in a middle school softball game.  It is set for Fall 2023.  The Pixar films include Luca set for June 2021.  It has the director of the charming short, La Luna, Enrico Casarosa.  The film is set in the Italian Riveria and has the adventures of Luca and his friend Alberto.  In 2022, there is the original film, Turning Red, from the director of the short Bao, Domee Shi.  It follows the growing up of Mei who “poofs into a giant Red Panda” when faced with problems, can’t wait!  Summer 2022 gives us Lightyear, the “origin story of the Buzz Lightyear toy”, with Chris Evans voicing the test pilot turned Space Ranger!  He is the hero that the Buzz Lightyear toy was based on.  There is a number of films and television programs to look for to in theaters and Disney+! 

#BeautyandtheBeastThePrequelSeries, #HocusPocus2, #JungleCruise, #LittleMermaid, #Cruella, #ChipandDaleRescueRangers, #RayatheLastDragon, #BaymaxtheSeries, #Iwaju, #Encanto, #Pixar, #Soul, #DugDays, #Luca, #TurningRed, #Lightyear