#their karnak is also so sick looking

[ginger-lime]

funky little ut austin jane doodle :]

reference image here!

[owen-not-carvour]

thinking abt how rtc could be made into a Full Length Musical. (and Yeah it already is but its only a 90 min one act. what if we made it 2 hours yknow.)

this is also bc i think abt rtc already as sort of having a Break between 2 acts in a way. and it’s after talia. the first lull/conversation moment. then everything gets Different (and not just bc of sabm lol) idk. that’s just how i think abt it sometimes

but here’s what i’d do:

1) go into more depth abt what happened when it crashed. i want injuries and specific causes of death and Whatnot (and when we meet the cast later in the show have them display similarities to that too.. kinda like jane and her head!! but with all of them!!)

-itd be like. part of their intros. like… noel gruber. most romantic boy in town. pisces, sign of passion. favorite ride: the ferris wheel. cause of death: basically gutted in the cyclone. like karnak knows all that. why not Tell Me abt it :)))

-jane would still be Most apparent though. like she’s got the doll and the contacts and the whole Look to show she’s headless. the rest don’t have physical stuff like that. it’s more like they just display phantom pains. mannerisms and stuff

-fr just give me noel being impaled by something and ocean getting the Next Worst (to jane) bc I’m Still Pushing That Stuff

2) i want more Conversation interactions!!! this can be after talia bc ik they cut the love conquers all stuff in recent versions. a) bring that Back b) it’d be before oceans library card rant bc i Love how that segues into space age bachelor man. so Keep that. but fr!! make them Talk to each other more!!

however:

give me ocean and noel having a Conversation and actually Seeing each other better and perhaps apologizing instead of attacking each other because they’ve seen both of their songs and backstories now (as in give me ocean and noel Sibling Dynamic !!!)

give me mischa and ricky talking abt how SICK everything is even though they’re dead. even though mischa hasn’t even seen sabm yet he still thinks ricky’s the fuckin coolest guy ever bc of the Squeeze Keys™️ yknow (and also having the mischa-noel hug before that just makes him think abt it all More)

finally. give me constance and jane. give me constance still being scared to talk to her but finally hearing her out and letting her talk abt Whatever she wants to say yknow. let jane tell constance why she keeps trying to be her friend.

and i can’t stress this enough but it would be in Addition to their conversations after the new birthday song!!!! a) ocean and constance’s is an incredible transition into jawbreaker/sugar cloud and i don’t want to lose that and b) i Love watching them interact. they’re all such interesting characters <33

[perfectdolls]

okay. ohio college school of theatre rtc production notes. there's a lot. sorry! it's the tism. also not all of these are necessarily bad things, just things i felt like noting. this production was fantastic and the cast was great!! go see it tomorrow and the day after yall you won't regret it

Began 6 minutes late

A few lyrics of Karnak's Dream of Life were left off or I couldn't hear them

I love that Karnak plays the piano

VIRGIL IS SO SMALL he's a little figure OH HIS TINY BASS

A lot of flashing lights before Uranium Suite

MISCHA'S HALF ASSED MOVEMENTS I <3 HIM

NOEL PUSHED OCEAN BEFORE HIS SOLO IN URANIUM SUITE

Mischa on his phone :-)

Ocean + Constance held hands :-)

The people who used each prize item held them up!

Mischa lightly shoved Ocean when going to his intro position

RICKY CLICKED HIS HEELS

Ricky + Mischa high-fived and it hurt Mischa's hand

Jane is taller than like everyone she's so stiff /pod

Noel backed up and walked to the other side of the stage when Jane walked up to him

When Karnak said "no tradesies" Noel smiled

NOEL TOOK A BITE OF THE BREAST MILK SANDWICH AND DANCED WITH IT THEN WIPED HIS MOUTH OFF AFTER OCEANS INTRO

Jane is so obsessed with Constance <3 she's just staring at her while Ocean's doing her whole monologue

When Ocean accidentally conceded, Noel laughed

OCEAN HEADSET IN WTWN

The WTWN choreo us so cute

MISCHA SKIPPED AWAY + KICKED HIS FEET

Ricky is playing on a DS

Everyone being out of breath after WTWN

Jane leans into the Taco Bell picture projection

Jane shares a cigarette with Ricky

Noel's dress is gorgeous and so is his voice I love him

TOP TIER NISCHA DANCE IM FAG

The priest segment was pre-recorded in black and white and projected onto the syc

Mischa was so smiley after Noel's Lament

SOCK PUPPETS IN EVERY STORY'S GOT A LESSON

Ricky + Mischa playing with sock puppets

Jane is so fascinated by her sock puppet

Mischa has a tiny Canadian flag in his intro

Ricky + Jane dancing + pretending to beatbox and rap during Mischa's intro

He said "shit the beat" or at least it sounded like it

Piano renditions of WTWN and TSIA are weird

Everyone is doing their own dances in the first verse of TSIA

MISCHA SMACKED NOEL'S ASS?????

Jane is Talia

Mischa's nails are black!

Noel has a violin during Talia, Ocean + Constance have tambourines, and Ricky has a drum

This rendition of Talia is gorgeous omg

Mischa walks across the stage in search of Talia :-(

The end bit of Talia was so awkward

The Nischa hug was so good :-( you can hear Mischa crying + even after they pulled away Noel was rubbing his shoulder (also it looked like Mischa kissed Noel's neck when he went in for that hug)

Ricky's actor really messed up a few lines of the pre SABM monologue

Jane + Mischa are Ricky's parents

Noel had cat plushies!

Noel's actor is great at accents

This SABM is beautiful holy shit

The SABM costumes for Noel and Mischa sucked

Mischa plays the electric guitar in SABM and Noel headbands intensely

No Ricky costume change :-(

Mischa is Count Dogulous holy fuck he's shooting people

Jane + Ricky dance a lot

Mischa is so affectionate with Ricky he held his face

Everyone had their lives/memories in boxes but there was nothing in Jane's, she looked so hard then SHE PUT HER DOLL IN IT I WILL CRY

The TBOJD umbrellas look sick as hell

The choirs voices drowned out Jane's in the beginning

VISUALS OMG FUCK

TBOJD has the best visuals are you fucking kidding me this is beautiful

TBOJD is the fucking best omg

Birthday hats for everyone but Jane's fell off :-(

Mischa put on Jane's birthday hat for her instead of Ocean

Noel teaches Jane about the triangle! <3

MISCHA HAND ON NOEL SHOULDER. THEN IT WENT IN HIS HAIR. THEN ON OTHER SHOULDER. THEN HE PULLED NOEL IN SO HIS HEAD WAS OJ HIS SHOULDER. THEN MISCHA HELD THE VODKA UP FOR NOEL TO FINISH OFF.

Ricky + Jane playing dress up :-D

MISCHA'S ACTOR HAS A HOT VOICE

Constance's monologue got me :-(

Jane was the first to go up to Constance in Sugar Cloud

Ricky drumsticks + Noel tambourine in Sugar Cloud AND JANE TRIANGLE

Ocean held the recorder for Constance

Mischa + Jane danced together

Ocean is using the recorder as her own mic + Jane is using the triangle stick

MISCHA DOING THE CONCERT THING WITH HIS PHONE FLASH LIGHT

Blackrose hand holding :-( /pos ×2 AND A HUG

"My date with a rat named Virgil" KARNAK.

Jane gave her doll to Constance + Constance hugged it :-(((

Blackrose hand holding

Karnak's death was anticlimactic

Blackrose + Nischa held onto each other during Karnak's death

BLACKROSE AND NISCHA DANCING IN IT'S JUST A RIDE FUCK

Nidcha held hands first at the end of It's Just A Ride

[jklovesfandoms]

Ik it's been a bit, but I swear on the Bachelor Man Bible, I have good reason. I am sick.

Anyways Uranium Suite/Tragic Fact choreo analysis! (Ps, I am slightly biased, I used this choreo for a movement project in my Advanced Actor's Studio class.)

First of all, Constance with that speed talking off a note card? Literally amazing and hilarious, and very realistic. I love it!

The choir snapping! Very funny, very cool. Especially bc people don't start at the same time, so it's even more realistic! Also, the realistic choir movements! Just the snapping and more rhythmic movements in the 2013 production is (imo) even more realistic than the more show choir movement of Fall Fair Suite.

Mischa sounds literally so uninterested, and I love him for that. Also A MARCHING BAND? I'm in marching band, and oh Jesus Christ on a bike, what are they doing with their hands? /lh

It's not actually a big deal, I'm just a huge marching band nerd, only a little less than I am a theater nerd, so I'm very picky. But also, there's no way that marching band sounds good. Uranium City is literally tiny, literally nothing, and they go on to complain about it! Like NO! That marching band would be microscopic. Nothing, nada. They could possibly sound good, but they'd be running on the bare minimum there.

I love the reaching out towards the side of the choir! Probably implying that Jane has a solo, and is performing with them, despite not being on stage atm. Which makes you question even more, how was she not identified? But yk, theory for another day.

I love the choir snapping out of their reach-out, bc it looks like this intense moment of realization. Like, they look so confused! It's really cool, how much emotion every single member is expressing. Also it should be noted, I love Karnak in this show, he's a funky little man with a long ass beard, and I adore him.

I love them looking at each other at the synchronized beat! Even if Noel is being left out :(

Then, every member of the choir (even if you can only see Ocean clearly) just staring out into the audience as they sing about their town going down the drain, essentially. The stillness of the actors works so well for this. You feel like it's a single moment in time that you're observing in slow motion! (Ps, this is basically where I started my movement piece, and my class literally rambled to me afterwards about how amazing the stillness hit at the beginning)

"We will never leave this town at ALL" and then the group head turn to the slow, intercrossing walk, and the hit of suddenly being stuck in that position! Literally amazing, and I love it. Mischa fr just be standing there like "yep, am stronk"

"Our folks, it seems, were too entwined, stubborn, wouldn't change their mind. Hoping bust might turn right back to boom" I love how Ocean, Mischa, and Ricky, the three people possibly most isolated from the town, due to extremely different circumstances, are the three facing the audience. Noel and Constance are staring directly at Ocean, and that's just so cool, bc they're the two who are on opposite sides of each other. Constance, Ocean's bff, and Noel, Ocean's enemy, are the two looking at her, in at least some display of concern. I think it's neat, lol.

"Crossed their fingers, prayed for luck, bowed down to this mighty buck, waiting in this godforsaken tomb" just the pure anxiety on every single members face! Really shows how they must've felt in their final moments. Constance shows the least amount of worry, but that makes a lot of sense, because of Sugar Cloud. I also love how the entire choir stops their movement at tomb. You can also hear a slight clicking in the background, which almost sounds like the track of a rollercoaster, bringing the train up to the top of a drop! I think that's also very neat.

LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE MEMBER'S MOVEMENT DURING "empty people, empty mind. Living like they're killing time, a dead-end town against a dead-end wall" IT'S SO AWESOME!!! I LOVE ALL OF THEIR MOVEMENTS, AND HOW IT REPRESENTS THEIR CHARACTERS.

Also, combining that with the very mechanical movement of "There's nothing cute and nothing sweet, this town has only one main street, let me face my boredom at the mall" which, unlike a lot of things in this musical, where I compare their mechanic movements to the rollercoaster, this is one where I don't. The choir walking here, imo, shows how repetitive life was in Uranium City. How everything felt meshed together, and that you were living the same day over and over and over again. Their next move of reaching out, and then going around in a circle continues to represent that! As well as the loop in the coaster, but that's just a constant theme in this show, lol.

Also, then Ocean leading the choir for "so what do we do to fill our day" "make plans for the getaway!" Is so important. Because literally at least 2 other people (Noel and Mischa, unless their characters changed very very drastically, since I haven't been able to find a full show of this production yet) are longing to get out of Uranium! Also Ricky, reaching for the stars as a getaway? I love that character bit.

Then the choir just complaining and lamenting about how boring, and repeating Uranium City is! How the most fun thing is the choir, and then dying (represented by "build yourself a funeral pyre, so many stimulating things to do") LIKE THAT'S IT and the movement represents that with the precision, and the quickness between movements. That's it. You're born, you sing (and maybe play bingo), you work, and then you die. That's life in Uranium City Saskatchewan Canada, so everyone wants to get out. They don't want that, even if that's exactly what they got in the end.

EVERYONE WORKS AT THE MALL! Literally everyone moves back to the coaster position using a movement that represents a job at the mall. Like, omfg. THAT'S IT. There's nothing else to do. And they continue to represent that unpassing of time with the movement. I adore it. (Off topic, I'm so tempted to make my senior quote "How can I describe my hate? It's one year till I graduate" but I probably won't)

THEM GETTING FLUNG OFF THE ROLLERCOASTER AS IT CRASHES? OMG I LOVE IT SO SO SO MUCH, YOU HAVE NO IDEA

Anyways, that's all! Hope you enjoyed :)

[allwillbeone]

Me, a comic reader vs ABC’s “Marvel’s Inhumans” show ep 1 & 2, a live blogging at Discord(revised version)

Me, watching the cursed Inhumans show in few minutes and Triton got shot while Black Bolt and Medusa are having sexy time: I can't, I can't keep up with the show anymore

This is bad, I can tell the show is bad in these few minutes No I'll finish it in spite

[Under the cut because it’s a long post with a bunch of nonsense, tldr: The X-Men didn’t suffer for this]

And Medusa ignored the important call because they are having sex I can understand why the audience rooted for Maximus at first

Now for 4 minutes? The sexy time is ended but I got really cheap CGI cityscape The show is worse than I expected

The city of Attilan is uglier than any brutalist apartment And the lunascape scene looks like a Play Station 2 game, not even 3, PS2 Maximus' first appearance looks so... basic, if I didn't know he's Max I thought him one of the citizens

I really feel sorry for those actors, they are doing their job amazingly but the writing and costumes and setting and CGI and props are bad, so bad, stupidly bad

The X-Men and the Royal family didn't suffer for this

8 minutes and here we go, eugenics shit against one of their family members? And were you expecting I'm going to root for the royal family, writers?? It's really bad... I'm watching the show only 10 minutes and it already makes me hate the show

I mean, it was 2017? and this shit is worse than in 60s comics

Yeah they can't keep romani people and asian people's ethnicity but keep slavery and eugenics shits I even don't understand why MCU so much loves those facial hairs on non facial hair characters

Gorgon: let's destroy the moon rover Karnak: Wow, how mature Humans: Oh no it looks like a hoof that crushed our rover Medusa and Max: shit... BB: Okay do nothing

Umm... is this why Max thought he has to be in charge...?

Medusa, you ignored a really important call and stopped your husband to answer the call because you gave your priority to sexy time, and now you act like you are a dignified queen with authority This show makes my eyes roll hard

Suddenly Karnak starts bubbling on some nihilistic nonsense in the middle of the terrigenesis ceremony and Gorgon being a eugenicist shit against a family member again. And they'll wonder why one of them revolt against them? I also wonder why...

The scene of Lockjaw's first appearance is something off...  he moves like a bad animatronics Ummm, why Crystal has to cover her hand with a cloth if they just grab terrigen crystal with the bare hand from a box?

I'm not sure I can finish the show... this is worse than what I heard...

Well, no one sans Max willing to engage the boy that seems gets nothing from terrigenesis, even the boy suddenly collapsing and having a seizure on the floor... wow, so cold. While Crystal is fawning over that cheep CGI butterfly wing girl, you are so basic, Crys

They've lost my respect one by one Only Triton and Max keep me have some respect as characters but I'm sure the writing will also screw them Poor Triton

And Triton's makeup is also... bad

The actor of Maximus really had the charisma and the charm in his acting, alas the plot and the writing are so bad

Oh Max starts his "revolution" as a pep talk to lower caste people, and he's smol, smoler than the boy, so smol, they got  the actor that could represent him perfectly but Marvel was stupid so they gave him that boring superhero movie black leather and ugly facial hairs instead of iconic Jack Kirby armors or evil mad scientist lab coat

In dinner or lunch or idk, Karnak is being rude and gross out of nowhere to a female servant, and I can't understand what did the showrunner want to describe by the scene

He and Gorgon are dicks to people without any reason

Yeah, and only asian man being a dick to a white lady out of nowhere.... it seems really... a red flag And only black man being an extremely eugenics scum to his family member is... also... a big red flag

Now Max reveals Triton's death and apparently the mission was secret to even Karnak so BB is getting accused at the dinner table. And BB's excuse is "Oh no you never know he really dead" lmao And he thought it's good to invite nuhumans to the moon because "They are family" while treating your moon people with useless/no power as slaves because of the limitation of the resource? Oh yeah, you go Max, you notice the obvious problem

And BB's answer is "Not now, trust me" Oh yeah, maybe going to Earth is "not now", but "getting nuhumans from earth because they are our family uwu" is also not now imo

It's still over 20 minutes and I can't believe I can find those stupidness from the show easily

I need to eat mushrooms to survive this

Maximus: -Calling out his big bro's BS and storming out of the dining- Karnak: Maximus is dangerous, but I'm loyal to you, trust me

Karnak, it's not a good way to gain people's trust

BB takes a big gun out of Gorgon's hand. Gorgon... a gun... Crystal's dress looks like nipples are showing throw the fabric It's just a fold on the fabric apparently but uh...

Medusa: You can't trust Maximus, we can discuss that BB: -signing, apparently he doesn't want to discuss this-

Oh at least he loves his lil bro to some degree

Everything in the show looks fake af, but yes Medusa's hair is the worst

Oh no I didn't notice the scene is switching to the flashback scene because the switching sequence is bad, and it means oh no that scene

[Flashback scene: BB and Medusa first meeting] aaaaaaaaaa Um, not yet... just a short "first contact" scene...

I'm afraid Max starts wooing Medusa out of nowhere, um...

To be honest it doesn't make any sense in the narrative of the show so far but anything didn't make sense in the show so I can let it go

It's kinda ironic that Max was the one who got precognition power in comics, while he saw the chance in the boy with precog power in the show

Umm, this Iso look-like character is... Auran...?

And Auran got killed by Max(with BB's power) in comics, wow ironic

Attilan in comics: Sci-fi city with a bunch of weird spires and alien buildings Attilan in the show: Are these... maximum-security prisons???

The scene is supposed to be in the rooftop garden on the palace, but it looks like a patio in a prison.

An old guy from the genetic council: It's treason, Auran arrest him, I'm really sorry things become like this Auran: -beat the old man til death-

idk why but it feels kinda comedic...

Then the scene is Oahu island because maybe Triton is there? Wow, nice vacation Triton

While Karnak is playing with a moon rover and guarding people are like "Hey, king Maximus' order, bitch!" and Karnak is like "king Maximus? ... oh shit" lmao

Wow, Max, you are the one who made those humans shoot Triton? And now you are trying to kill Gorgon? ... well, this Gorgon has been an extremely eugenicist scum to you and never stop being a dick, I can't blame you about Gorgon in the narrative, go ahead

And those henchmen are really incompetent, where are the suspense and drama

Karnak: Maximus betrayed us and the royal guards with him Gorgon: wtf I'm the head of the royal guards Wow Gorgon, apparently you have no popularity with them...

Now the royal guards are trying to get Medusa and a fight scene begin... the CGI on her hair is soooo hideous, it's almost comedic And playing "Paint It Black"? Seriously???

Finally someone in the royal guard uses their power to take down the target instead of attacking people like humans that they are disregarding

Max, holding a hair clipper: I have no choice Medusa: If you do this I never forgive you Max: (Surprised Pikachu face meme)

TBH Medusa's line here sounds really... stupid... he's committing a coup against your husband, do you think he would mind of your feelings about your hair??? But apparently, he would mind because idk whatever reason And why they just leave her, at least confine her or do something, you are committing a coup!

Oh no THAT SCENE!!! [Flashback scene: BB killed their parents with "WHY"]

wait, is the man in the left is... younger Max? He looks like an adult man here and much older than younger BB

(No apparently it's the present BB watching his younger self, it's really confusing and I have mild prosopagnosia)

So now, royals get Hawaii vacation, congrats

And BB makes a scene in the middle of Honolulu, and Lockjaw just disappeared before things got into a big mess, bad dog

Medusa: I have to find Black Bolt -riding a bus with tourists- Karnak: I have to find my king -trying to go down a cliff and fall-

Wow, Max is talking Crys about her privilege and propagandas Crys: You make me sick, you are just a human Wow, this Crys is worse than comic Crys

not because of his personality or something, but because he has no power??? Oh yes, she needs a mediocre human's dick even she can be a eugenicist scum to her own family member The show is really bad

They only keep the bad parts of comic canon in the show

It's already over 50 minutes so far, and I can't find any good part in the show... other than those unfortunate actors' acting skills

Gorgon is walking into the sea and battling with crashing waves in vain because he feels emo for Triton

And nice surfers rescue him because... apparently... he can't swim...? And those surfers are too nice and chill, they knew Inhumans already because of plot or something like that and just listening Gorgon's story while sharing beers. They are too nice

Crys can contact Medusa because Auran just dropped her comlink and leave it? Those people are supposed to be elite guards but they are so incompetent, even can't hold their childish princess Oh apparently it was Auran's plot to catch Medusa, much better

Gorgon: You should leave Surfers: Why we have to leave our beach Gorgon: because I challenged my cousin and here will be the battleground

Umm... in that case who has to leave the beach is you, Gorgon...

Oh Eldrac was in the show, I wonder how's he now Max wants to kill BB and Gorgon especially, and not mention to Karnak, he's fine with Karnak being alive... while he's not with Gorgon, lol

[Eldrac, looks like Doh the boss character of a retro video game Arkanoid] ...is this... Eldrac...? What they have done to you, you are boring here

BB feels awkward with his outfit and tries to change to norm clothes is definitely funny, finally I can find a good intentional comedy in the show... And he steals those outfit and hurts security guy, wow

[BB is getting arrested by Honolulu cops] Definitely they should make the show as a superhuman sitcom Like make Max a fabulous mad scientist and let him commit a coup in every week, and BB and co overthrow him and take back the throne at the end of the show. In Every Week.

[BB is running away from the cops and police cruisers] This is definitely a comedy material Marvel, are you telling me this is not a comedy show?

Police officer: Taser! Taser! -shoot taser- BB: Oof -destroying a police car accident because he can't hold his voice-

This BB is a weakass, comic BB has endured far worse, how could you have sexy time with your wife if mere human taser let you lost your control!?

[Police officers are beating the shit out of BB] Wow, be nice to an alien robber, honolulu police officers

Max grabbing his hand makes the boy see those visions, but putting an assuring hand on the boy's shoulder causes nothing and they are just okay...? Hmmm...

[Auran snaps a bus driver's neck] Auran you shouldn't kill a human just because they are trying to stop you entering a bus, people will be suspicious

Auran: -finding Medusa's broken comlink in the empty bus- Me: Oh yeah, Medusa ditched the comlink to hide her whereabouts and went to search BB Medusa: -appears behind the bus and attacking Auran and starts catfighting- Me: wtf

Medusa stubbed Auran with a pocket knife... isn't she supposed to be an elite royal guard!? Why everyone is stupid and weakass Medusa takes a comlink from Auran and tells BB she'll find him and kill Max, with tearful eyes, but I even don't feel any sympathy toward those slave owners... especially to that king who tried to invite more people while many people under his rule are already suffering the overpopulation...

And the mine scene... they are supposed to be a civilization with highly advanced tech, but they have to use their own bare hands and simple tool for mining? What about letting them use more safe and effective machines? Is it too much to ask?

Oh yes, they have no tech guy other than Maximus, apparently. This was why they depend on his technology for their city defense even he'd use it for his future coup(and show!Max is not a tech guy here, so they don't have any tech guy apparently)

Okay, I can see what they wanted to do. Jenkins and Lee's Inhumans second series and Hines' Silent War. I can see many references from those comics. But they couldn't make any coherent plot and story from them.

The showrunner thought their version was "more complicated, more real, and more compelling version" than comic Max and miserably failed because they wanted to do Inhumans vol.2 and Silent War and the very core part of the story is "Max has a point but his twisted mind and impulsiveness made his execution totally bad" It's sad that Once and Future Kings haven't written before their production This is why you are the worst showrunner in the MCU, mister Buck

So... this Auran has healing factor... she doesn't have anything that makes her Auran but okay...

I finished Episode 1 & 2, it feels like eternity

[ajora]

I have had a very long day, which was very painful. It ended with slightly less pain and a bit of scotch and I think I impressed some way higher-paid people than me because we talked and they asked why I hadn’t joined in on important higher-up meetings. Anyway, long story short, I can’t believe I got a breakthrough in ideas after a shower and intense burnout at the end of the day and I’m mad at myself.

Changed some fic titles. Like with Beta AU, the chapters serve as individual fics of a broader work in sequence, while the scenes are actually just chapters in those fics.

And just before I go on, a note: I don’t actually support incest irl. It’s not something I look for in fiction, but I don’t mind it if a) the power dynamic is either equal or it’s never an issue in the first place, b) there’s no chance of offspring, c) the people involved didn’t grow up together. Faris/Lenna hits all three of those points, with bonus best-damn-relationship-in-fiction I’ve ever seen (they’re so supportive of each other even when they didn’t know each other! Faris is so gentle and kind and supportive to Lenna when she’s abrasive with everyone else! Lenna comforted Faris when Syldra died! Lenna talks to Faris with the utmost respect while still using a form of Japanese that’s very personal! Faris will go above and beyond for Lenna, including daring rescues and very nearly dying in the process! They are always a united front! There were so many long fireside chats! Faris agreed to get into a dress just for Lenna! If Lenna dies at the end of the game, Faris takes the throne in honor of her (and absolutely not because she wants it--if they both survive, Faris splits her time between Lenna and her crew)! They are so, so dedicated to each other! and then there’s that wonderful Amano art I have in poster form). They’re just so good together that the incest is a mild inconvenience at worst and prime angst fodder at best.

Anyway! As much as I love Faris/Lenna, and the broader work’s scope is going to make it such a complicated mess over the course of the game (the first 3 fics span the game), I’m actually really enjoying the aftermath. In sum:

Changing Course - Falling in love, complicated by grief over Syldra’s death, Lenna discovering they’re related and breaking it off, further complicated by Alexander’s death, Faris and Lenna end up being a united front on everything despite the breakup, off to Galuf’s world.

Reversing Course - No clue if they can get back home. Faris and Lenna keep dancing around the whole accidental incest issue, but it’s not helped by all those long fireside chats and they really do miss being together but are trying to be good about it. Galuf disapproves and Butz doesn’t actually care, but they get kind of sick of this and remind the women that no one actually knows them on Galuf’s world. A reversal of course on the accidental incest thing and then the Macross homage and they trade pendants as a confirmation of their dedication to each other. Faris meets Kelgar in passing and gets a brief education in her options outside of piracy or royalty. Galuf dies, Krile gets adopted by the group, and trauma with ExDeath’s castle of writhing living flesh. But, as FFV is ultimately about friendship and support networks, all this trauma gets mitigated.

Setting Course - ExDeath merges the worlds to gain the power of the Void. If Faris and Lenna are really gonna do this, Lenna has to follow Faris’ example--Faris has, after all, lived as a man for 15 years and knows all about hiding potentially destructive secrets. Further complications when Faris thinks she left Lenna in safety back at Tycoon Castle, only for the castle to get sucked into the Void and Lenna to get possessed by Melusine, and boy is she developing a complex now. And then Faris’ crew gets sucked into the Void, along with Butz’s hometown and pretty much everything else and it’s a mess. I think I’m gonna go with the Faris-dies ending for max angst. No worries, though, she’ll only be dead for a year before the Dawn Warriors decide she’s better off alive and kick her out of the afterlife. 

The Surgate Experiment - The merged world still trying to get used to sudden castles and townships appearing and deserts where there were none, and so on. Krile discovers that the Light Warriors can still access the magics/skills they learned from their Crystals, if in slightly different forms; also discovers that the merging of the worlds brought back the sky dragon population from extinction and hands eggs to Faris and Lenna because I demand dragon friends. Kelgar planted the seeds in Faris’ head, but the Karnak rebellion waters them. Queen Polymja Yllesia of Karnak being... not a great ex, honestly, and poking at Faris’ honor just helps those seeds along (”Of course I used you, little love. You were a delightful little distraction to get my advisers off the notion of me remarrying. Just like you’re using me to distract from your affair. That’s what royalty does, we use each other. ... Honestly, incest is so far down on the list of terrible things nobles have done that you really need not worry. I had my father, husband, and cousin assassinated and never regretted it.” ... basically, lololol, Star Sapphire came from the first fic incarnation’s Queen Karnak). Krile, upon listening to the scholars and after the headache of fighting Jacole over borders and dealing with Polymja, abdicates the throne of Bal. Faris tries to argue the case for a shift from absolute monarchy to constitutional, but Lenna is reluctant bc she’s so used to taking after her father that she doesn’t know how else to serve her country--all she has ever been taught was how to be a queen. But she relents eventually, because she can’t bear to be on the opposite side of an issue with Faris, and the whole incest thing compounds the weight of the crown.

Transition is mostly just about the radical shift of powers as Walse remains the only absolute monarchy, Lenna’s appointed heir is displeased by the loss of absolute monarchy, the Light Warriors adjust to being living manifestations of the Crystals’ wills, and Krile’s new life as archaeologist unearths yet another Lonkan refugee/ancient evil because Enuo, Omega, and Shinryuu were all Lonka’s fault in the original incarnation of this fic and Lenna’s dumbass cousin gets himself involved in that shit. (Lenna is disappointed in her choice of heirs and might have decided to move up the timetable for a transition to a more socialist form of government.) About this point would be where I’d intended to incorporate Legend of the Crystals, but that’s not happening anymore I don’t think--I don’t see LotC as canon. tbh this is the least defined of the fics.

Okay, now I think I can sleep.

[pawelcyril]

Final Fantasy V

I’m not finished with it yet, so these are based on my impressions after the Library of Ancients.

pros: I adore the music. The reoccurring themes are wonderful. Lenna’s theme and the wind shrine are among my favorites, and the battle theme is probably my favorite in the series. I’m not sick of it at all. The characters have less depth than in IV, but they’re still great. Bartz and Galuf are likable, and Lenna is adorable. She’s my favorite girl in the whole series. The story and dungeon pacing has been just right so far. Nothing takes too long, as dungeons end right about when I’ve had my fill. The job system is interesting, too.

cons: I don’t like pirates, so I don’t care for Faris. That’s just personal preference. The official art is wildly different from the sprites. It’s jarring every time I see Lenna’s portrait. I prefer her short, pink hair. I don’t quite understand the job system. I find it complex, but it doesn’t seem to matter too much, since I’m destroying everything in my way. The difficulty is on the extremely easy side thus far. Bosses are sometimes a challenge, but I can beat most random encounters without looking at the screen and jamming A. My party of four monks is unstoppable. I’m also annoyed with the item management. I hate not being able to tell what an item does during battle, and I’m overwhelmed by weapons that don’t make their stats clear. This is a very specific point, but I still don’t understand how I got from the fire ship’s boiler room to the basement of Castle Karnak.

I love how a drifter, an old man, a young princess, and a pirate captain have roughly the same fighting prowess at the start of the game.

[inhumansforever]

The Royals #1 Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

The Royal Inhumans adventure into the cosmos starts here from the creative team of Al Ewing, Jonboy Meyers, and Ryan Kinnaird.  Full recap and review following the jump.

It’s a desperate a somber time for The Inhumans of New Attilan.  The threat that the Terrigen Cloud would end all Mutant life on Earth forced Queen Medusa to destroy the cloud, essentially ending The Inhumans’ way of life.  No new Inhuman will again be able to go through Terrigenesis and their people must look toward to an uncertain future and the inevitable demise of their culture and heritage.  Feeling responsible for the events that brought this about, Medusa has decided that her people need a new leader to guide them on this new path.  She has abdicated her position as queen and dissolved the monarchy; handing leadership of New Attilan to the young Inhuman, Iso.  

Now the Kree adventurer known as Marvel Boy has come to seek an audience with Iso and the formal royal Inhumans.  Marvel Boy hails from an alternate reality, a reality in which The Kree Empire had ended its unyielding wars and dedicated itself to peace and scientific discovery.  To this end, Marvel Boy possesses knowledge of Terrigen that could revitalize the Inhuman peoples and enable them to re-obtain the rite of Terrigenesis for subsequent generations.  

Marvel Boy warns that the mission to gain the secrets of Terrigen is likely to be a perilous one, that were they to embark on this quest all might not make it home.  This ominous warning does little to sway the Royals.  The prospect of possibly saving the future of their race is worth any risk.  Furthermore, Medusa feels it her duty, her penitence to take this journey as redemption for past failures.  And her family is not going to let her go alone.  

Iso, the new leader of the Inhumans, objects.  Having the Royals, the strongest among the Inhumans, leave New Attilan in this precarious time of change feels far too risky, but Medusa and the others will not be swayed in their determination.  The former queen had named Iso her successor, but it doesn’t seem she is actually willing to follow this lead herself.  

Joining Medusa is her sister, Crystal, and their cousin, Gorgon.  Black Bolt, Medusa’s one-time husband and the former king of The Inhumans will also accompany the team; as will the young new Inhuman, Swain, whose one-time position as captain of the Royal Inhuman Vessel makes her the ideal candidate to pilot their star-faring craft.  Rounding out the team is Swain’s fellow new Inhuman, Flint.  

The remaining Royals, Karnak, Triton and Lockjaw will remain behind.  They will be there if Iso were to need their assistance, yet this does little to quell Iso’s unease.  Making matters more difficult for Iso is the revelation that Iso and Flint have rekindled their romance; and she appears a touch heartbroken that Flint is so insistent on accompanying the Royals in this dangerous mission.  

Prior to their departure, each member of the team makes their preparations and says their goodbyes.  Crystal sits with her young daughter, Luna, expressing the great import behind her leaving and promising that she will return in short time.  Crystal makes Luna promise to stay out of trouble.  If trouble is to find her, however, she is to use Lockjaw to seek out her uncle Karnak (a foreshadowing that I so hopes come to pass in that it enhances the likelihood of Luna meeting Karnak’s soon-to-be teammate, Moon Girl in the pages of the up-coming Secret Warriors series).  

Elsewhere, Swain is a bit saddened that her girlfriend, Panacea, is less upset over her leaving.  Terrigenesis has significantly altered Panacea’s emotional process.  She doesn’t feel things in a typical fashion.  She cares for Swain, but the closest she can get to a declaration of tenderness is to state that she finds her fascinating and prefers that she stay alive.  

We also see Gorgon beside the bed of his son, Petras, still convalescing in a coma-like state from his adverse reaction to Terrigenesis.  Gorgon had hoped that he would be at his son’s side when he finally awakens, but duty has called.  Panacea has been using her healing powers to treat Petras, as she had treated  Gorgon; yet it appears there are limitations to what she can do.  Gorgon is no longer paralyzed, but remains in a state of chronic pain, pain that substantially worsens whenever he uses his powers (not that he has allowed it to slow him down).  

There is additionally a scene between Flint and Iso where we learn that the two have become an item once again.  Flint has a difficult time expressing exactly what it is that has so compelled him to volunteer for this mission.  Flint lost his adoptive family and discovered his biological family to be less than the idealized fantasy that he had hoped for.  The Inhumans themselves are the family he has left and aiding them feels like something he simply has to do.  

Next we see Medusa and Black Bolt.  The relationship between the two has warmed as of late, but they remain a great deal distant compared to the intimate closeness they once enjoyed.  Medusa has something she needs to speak with Black Bolt about, but he refuses to discuss it.  Something is preoccupying Black Bolt, something likely having to do with the secret told to him by his brother in the pages of last week’s Inhumans Prime.  

Finally, we see Noh-Varr, the mysterious Kree known as Marvel Boy.  It turns out that there is more than simple altruism and the thirst for adventure that has led him to bring this quest to The Royals.  Noh has motives of his own and whether or not they are sinister or benevolent remains to be seen.  I assume that is Noh’s old buddy, the living computer known as, Plex, that he’s talking with (but I suppose we’ll have to wait to find out for sure).  

The seven adventurers depart at dawn aboard the starcraft, Astarion, named after an Inhuman hero of ancient lore.  Their destination the former Kree throne-world of Hala.  

The issue begins with two prologues.  The first prologue shows the distant future of a mysterious realm known as Arctilan.  Giant armor-clad beings ride atop enormous pterodactyls above an alien city of glass and steel.  Yet is it an alien world?  Various hints suggest that this strange realm may be the earth of five thousand years in the future.  

One of the riders descends down to a tower baring the flags of the House of Boltigon.  There he is met by ‘the ghost who ever sleeps,’ a frail and ancient being who bears a passing resemblance to an aged Black Bolt.  The rider refers to the older, much smaller man as ‘Inhu-Man.’  Solemnly, the old man trades salutations with the rider before returning inside to his lonely layer.  He looks up to a large stone carving in which mysterious words are inscribed in the Inhuman language of Tilan.    

The man seems to be recalling back to an adventure from his distant past… a mission in which seven ventured forth and only six returned.   

Who exactly this ancient Inhuman is and the dire nature of his statement is set to be revealed in subsequent installments of the story.

A second prologue shows Medusa, Gorgon, Iso and Flint battling to contain a new Inhuman who has awaken from Terrigenesis to find herself transformed into a giant monster.  Frightened and confused, this new Inhuman has lashed out and the others have come contain her and help her contend with what has happened to her.  

Her name is Mrs. Bellhauer.  She was a recluse and her time in her Terrigenic cocoon was longer than most.  In all likelihood, she will be the last of the new Inhumans created on earth and the mere thought of it is enough to bring a tear to Medusa’s eye.  

Iso and Flint make short work of subduing the rampaging Mrs. Bellhauer.  Though she is proud over just how far her pupils have come, Medusa is also given pause by how weak and tired she has been feeling as of late.  Something is wrong and it is getting worse quickly.  She had tried to confide in Black Bolt about this matter, but he hadn’t the time to discuss it.  

At the end of the issue we see Medusa sitting in the command chair aboard The Astarion.  She notices that a sizable lock of her hair has broken free from her mane, brittle and sick.  She can push it to the back of her thinking no more.  Something is very wrong and she announces to the rest of the crew her grave prediction... 

 seven ventured forth and only six returned...

Wow!  What a great first issue.  This is the Inhumans that I have been so looking forward to seeing.  I’m one of those fans who greatly enjoyed Charles Soule run on The Inhumans, yet I understood that he was asked to follow a guideline to make the franchise more accessible to a broader audience, to make them more akin to traditional super heroics.  Al Ewing has clearly been given no such constraints and he delves right into all of the weird, cosmic, sci-fi coolness that has made The Inhumans so special to me.  

Referring to the earlier scene, Medusa looks up at this poor woman who has been transformed into a giant slimy monster and sheds a tear that the majesty of this may never happen again.  There is not even the consideration that this Mrs. Bellhauer likely doesn’t feel the same; indeed she’s probably quite distraught over having been transformed into a monster.  Yet that’s not how Medusa sees it…  why?  Because she’s a weird alien queen from a bizarre and outré culture.  No apologies are given.  The Inhumans are all about sci-fi weirdness and Ewing is allowing it to go their full steam ahead.  It makes me almost giddy with excitement.  

Though I’m certainly less excited and not giddy at all over this prospect that Medusa may be dying.  We all know that one member of the team is destined to perish on this mission, it has hung like an ominous cloud over the title since Ewing’s initial interviews regarding the project in which he stated a cast member wasn’t going to make it back.  Medusa was among the Inhumans I felt least likely to die.  There is of course no certainty that she will die, but it’s made clear from the onset that none of the Inhumans are safe.  It’s a matter that makes me equal parts excited and frightened to read the nest installment.  

The dialogue captures the characters quite well and it is made abundantly clear that Ewing has boned up on his Inhuman reading in preparing for this run.  I’m especially happy to see so many of the plot threads from James Asmus’ all-too-short run on All New Inhumans being brought back into the foreground (such as Swain and Panacea’s relationship and the status of Gorgon’s son, Petras).  It’s impressive that the issue packs so much plot yet the characterizations doesn’t at all feel pushed to the back burner.  

Lots of intriguing questions are asked not just about The Royals’ mission, but also over what is going on for each of the cast members.  What is Marvel Boy’s ulterior motives?  Why is Gorgon pushing himself so hard?  What secret is Black Bolt harboring?  Why is Crystal leaving so soon after reuniting with her daughter?  What so compels Flint to join the team?  Why is Swain so reluctant over her powers?  And most importantly, is Medusa going to be okay???

I’m happy to report that I very much enjoyed the art by Jonboy Meyers and Ryan Kinnaird.  The initial preview had me a bit worried that Meyers’ kinetic, manga style would not be to my liking… that it would look too similar to those 1990’s-era books from Image Comics that so turned me off.  There’s a lot of flash to Meyer’s illustration.  The poses are exaggerated and the action jumps off the page with dynamic energy.  Yet he also does quite well in using facial expressions to relay emotion.  Medusa’s sorrow, Noh-Varr’s smirky arrogance, Flint’s anxious determination and Black Bolt’s stoic unease are all extremely evident in the way Meyers’ details their faces and expressions.  Top marks.

Furthermore Meyers’ page composition and backgrounds are very nicely executed.  In short, I’m relived and excited that my reservations over Meyers’ art were completely unfounded.  

A brand new chapter of The Inhumans mythos starts here and it is a truly fantastic (albeit frightening) beginning.

I’ll be very interested to hear what others thought about this debut issue.  As an Inhuman super-fan, I feel like I’m not very suited to write an unbiased review.  Nevertheless, with this issue, I’m feeling rather confident that others are going to share in my enthusiasm.

Of course recommended; Five out of Five Lockjaws.  

[wbwest]

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West Week Ever: Pop Culture In Review - 3/3/17

Sometimes life gets in the way, and you just can’t get a post out on time. That’s what happened last week, but I’m here now, so let’s get on with the pop culture, shall we?

First, I guess we’ve gotta talk about the Oscars, huh? I didn’t watch them. I don’t really do awards shows anymore unless someone’s getting slimed, so this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. The big moment of the night, however, came at the end when La La Land was mistakenly announced as the winner for Best Picture when it actually lost to Moonlight. And social media went wild! It’s been a crazy few weeks, as the Best Picture predictions had come down to those two films, but neither of them really appealed to me. I’m probably more likely to see Moonlight than La La Land, as the latter just doesn’t sound interesting to me. But having seen neither of them at the time of the awards, I really didn’t have a dog in that fight. I figure they gave the award to Moonlight to shut us up for a few years about #OscarsSoWhite. I mean, racism’s over now, right? Does Hallmark sell cards for that? A “So Glad Your Racism Cleared Up” card?

Anyway, from one controversy to another. I’ve never understood people’s disdain for The Big Bang Theory. It’s not reinventing the wheel or anything, but I find it to be an enjoyable half hour every week. I think people got too comfortable with their single cam Arrested Development and Modern Family that they just couldn’t deal with a multicam, studio audience sitcom anymore. OK, cool. But as the mainstream response to Arrested Development showed us, not everyone wants their shit to be smart. Sad, but true. For all the people loudly calling The Big Bang Theory “blackface for nerds” (which is itself offensive, and clearly exhibits a lack of understanding of blackface), it’s still the number 1 show on television. So, just like Trump voters, your friends and neighbors are watching and enjoying it in secret. And with those ratings come big paydays. The 5 principal actors on the show currently make $1 million an episode, while Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch make $250,000 per episode. Considering their roles have expanded greatly since joining the show in season 3, it can be argued that they deserve pay more inline with their costars. Well, the 5 principals (Galecki, Parsons, Cuoco, Helberg, and Nayyar) have each offered to give up $100,000 per episode so that money will be freed up for their costars to get raises. I don’t care how you feel about the show, but that’s pretty cool move on their part. Sure, they’re making a fuckton of money, but this is something they didn’t have to do. They realized they’re stronger as a unit, and they’re making moves to preserve it. Not everyone in this situation would do this. While The Simpsons has had negotiation shakeups in recent years, the last time a cast really came together like this was when the Friends stars negotiated for season 10. If CBS and the studio don’t agree to these terms, however, they’ve got an ace up their sleeve.

What started as a mere rumor is now actually gearing up to film a pilot: a prequel of The Big Bang Theory, focusing on Dr. Sheldon Cooper as a child. It’s being reported that Iain Armitage of HBO’s Big Little Lies is being courted for the role of Sheldon. The most interesting casting, however, concerns Sheldon’s mother. You see, on The Big Bang Theory, his mother is played by Roseanne‘s Laurie Metcalf. Well, Metcalf’s real life daughter, Zoe Perry, seems to be the frontrunner for the role of young Sheldon’s mom. So, daughter will be playing mom’s younger self. My head hurts! Anyway, I kinda love when Hollywood does stunt casting shit like that. Now, CBS hasn’t placed a formal pilot order yet, and I feel like a decision is hinging on how these contract negotiations turn out. I mean, The Big Bang Theory is an aging sitcom in its 10th season, and a renewal would only be for 2 more years. CBS has got to start thinking about the future, but this is clearly a franchise they’d like to keep around in some capacity sheerly for the ratings it brings in. So, it looks like y’all might be hating The Big Bang Theory for many years to come! Or it could just fall apart like How I Met Your Dad did (which, oddly enough, is being revived by the This Is Us team at the moment). Only time will tell.

Just as I like something you hate, I also hate something you all seem to be excited about: ABC’s Marvel’s Inhumans. As the show that I’m almost sure will be the nail in the coffin for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I just don’t see how this is a good idea. Marvel keeps trying to “make ‘fetch’ happen” when it comes to the Inhumans because they want their own robust mutant franchise, but nobody gives a shit. At least, I didn’t think so. However, with each casting announcement, y’all seem to get more and more giddy. Last week, they announced that Iwan Rheon of Misfits/Game of Thrones fame had been cast as Maximus. Anton Mount, from Hell On Wheels, has been cast as the Inhuman king Black Bolt, while Graceland alum Serinda Swan has been cast as Queen Medusa. Finally, Lost/The Night Shift alum Ken Leung was announced yesterday as Karnak. That’s great. Actors are working. I still have no faith in the show, however.

It’s no secret that The Inhumans were Marvel CEO Ike Perlmetter’s pet project because he wanted a stable that Marvel could exploit where they still owned all the media rights. As far as he was concerned, the Inhumans should be the new X-Men. In the comics, they’ve received quite a push over recent years, but it feels more like Marvel is shoving them down our throats than actually giving the audience what it wants. That’s why, once Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige wrested control of the film division away from Marvel, the announced but delayed Inhumans film was demoted to a TV series. They’re really trying to make this a production, by releasing the first two episodes in theaters in IMAX, but it just feels desparate. Nobody cares, dude. The numbers on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. right now are terrible, and I’d be really surprised if it got renewed. Considering it’s the show that introduced the Inhumans to the MCU, and has had them as something of a plot device since that introduction, yet it’s done nothing for the ratings, I don’t think the Inhumans are ready to stand on their own just yet. The argument could be made that the audience didn’t like how AoS was handling the Inhumans, and that they actually wanted the Royal Family Inhumans, which this new series is giving us. OK, but I still don’t see how that’s gonna be cool on a weekly TV budget. Then again, I never found the Inhumans to be the least bit interesting, so this project just isn’t design to appeal to me at this point. I honestly don’t know what they could announce to get me excited about an Inhumans series.

In other Marvel TV news that I couldn’t give two shits about, there’s been a ton of casting news for Fox’x untitled mutant-centered pilot. Yeah, I’m being contrarian, but I just don’t see this being great. First, it’s on Fox. This is the kind of show they pick up solely to cancel. Second, it’s gonna be expensive, which is why Fox will not hesitate to cancel it. Third, I still remember the Generation X TV movie/pilot and Mutant X. Fourth, it’s gonna be directed by Bryan Singer – a man who, despite 16 years of familiarity with the X-Men franchise, really needs to go somewhere and take a seat. Anyway, Jamie Chung has been cast as Blink, which won’t cost too much as they really just have to come up with a cool-looking, yet affordable, portal effect. Yesterday, it was announced that True Blood‘s Stephen Moyer and Angel‘s Amy Acker had been cast as the leads. The show follows the Stewart family, who are forced to go on the run from the government when they discover their kids are mutants. They link up with an underground network of mutants, and ugh, I’m exhausted already. So, they’re basically on the run the whole time? And you’re gonna be holding out hope for some kind of mutant of the week cameo, who’ll be someone they’d never put in a movie. Or maybe it would be. It’s not like the X-Men franchise has ever given a fuck about continuity. Since this is still at the pilot stage, I’m not gonna let it get my blood pressure up until it’s officially ordered to series.

Across the aisle over at DC, they announced a Nightwing movie, to be directed by The LEGO Movie‘s Chris McKay. If you don’t know who Nightwing is, here’s a crash course: remember how Batman has a sidekick named Robin? Well, the very first Robin, Dick Grayson, grew up, got sick of Batman’s shit, and struck out on his own as the hero Nightwing. That pretty much catches you up. Right now, DC is that deadbeat dad who makes a bunch of promises that he can’t keep. “Sure, I’ll be at your dance recital!” and then he shows up when it’s over, and the janitor is collecting chairs. They need to stop being so future-focused, and deal with the now. Word on the street is that Wonder Woman has problems, The Batman seems to be falling apart, and they still have to promote Justice League. Worry about 2017, and stop making all these promises for tomorrow. Anyway, I’ve seen an online campaign about how they should keep Nightwing’s Romani origins (for the uninformed, they’re what we call “gypsies”, even though we’re, like, not really supposed to use that term anymore. Whatever) in the film. Apparently, this is important for Romani representation and whatnot, but it’s kinda tough to swallow since some of the same folks saying this also come from the camp that said Nightwing should show up in the DCEU and be cast with an Asian actor. I’d be fine with Asian Nightwing, as I honestly don’t see what his Romani origin brings to the table. Like, it’s nice trivia, but does it lend itself to his character? As long as he’s a former circus brat who flips off shit, he’s Nightwing. Maybe I’m being glib, but I just don’t really see the argument here.

I was kinda worried about the DuckTales reboot when we saw the character designs. I was also confused as to why they went for “names”for the voice cast, when there are perfectly capable voice actors working out there. Then they released the trailer for the show yesterday, and I am worried no more. While the animation style took me a few seconds to get used to, I really like what’s going on here. Apparently, Disney does too, as the show has already been renewed for season 2, before the show has even premiered.

We also got a new Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 trailer. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t need to see single bit more of footage. I’m already a guaranteed ticket sale, so I really hope they don’t spoil us with drips and drabs for the next few months. I’m excited. My body is ready. Don’t overdo it.

Things You Might Have Missed This Week

You’ll soon be able to get all your diarrhea in one place, as Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International (what a lame name!) is buying Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for a reported $1.8 billion.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. kicked off what may be its last storyline, “Agents of HYDRA”, just before going on hiatus for the month of March

Cloverfield director Matt Reeves has signed on to direct and produce The Batman, presumably still starring Ben Affleck

I can’t stand the dude, but I know some of y’all like him: Chris Hardwick will be getting a new weekly talk show, Talking with Chris Hardwick, which will air on AMC as a year-round extension of his Talking Dead show.

The Nintendo Switch comes out today, so brace yourselves for socially awkward people playing it in public places.

Fox renewed freshman series The Mick (yay!) and Lethal Weapon for second seasons.

After nine seasons, SNL cast member Bobby Moynihan might be leaving the show, as he’s currently up for the lead in the CBS pilot Me, Myself & I.

Scientology traitor Leah Remini is set to star in NBC’s What About Barb? pilot, itself a gender swapped reboot of the Bill Murray/Richard Dreyfuss film What About Bob?

For its 9th season, RuPaul’s Drag Race will be moving from Logo TV to VH1. Considering this was Logo’s last bit of original programming, I wouldn’t be surprised if Viacom phased out the channel in its upcoming reprioritization.

Dr. Julian Bashir himself, Alexander Siddig (or Siddig El Fadil for you old heads), will be joining Gotham as R’as Al Ghul. Nope, still not gonna watch that show.

Soap opera Days of Our Lives was renewed for a record 52nd season, as cast member Arianne Zucker (who was at the heart of the Billy Bush/Donald Trump scandal) has announced she’s leaving the show.

So I saw Logan last night. It’s funny – I’ve been looking forward to the film since seeing the first trailer, but last night I had a sense of dread. I mean, the movie looked so…heavy. And was I ready to see Hugh Jackman give up a role he’s portrayed for the past 17 years? It all felt so final, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to say goodbye. Leaving the movie, my friend “Special Forces” said “That was damn near perfect”, and I have to agree with him.

Now, it’s easy to get caught up in the comic book movie hype. I mean, even I’ve come on here fawning over the latest Marvel film, only to see its flaws once the hype dies down. I can admit Age of Ultron was something of a chore to get through. And while The Winter Soldier was something of an MCU masterpiece, I’m afraid to revisit Civil War for fear of realizing it didn’t live up to its predecessor. The Fox X-Men films have established an even lower bar of quality, so you basically go into those now with lowered expectations. Logan, however, is a film that I don’t think I’ll have regrets about in the future.

First of all, it’s not a “comic book movie”. If anything, it’s an indie drama whose characters are taken from comic books. As much as folks wanted this to be the cinematic version of the now classic “Old Man Logan” storyline, this film has no real source material other than the characters. It doesn’t devolve into standard superhero hokeyness. It eschews every opportunity to turn into a “comic book movie”, as any opening for that is quickly supplanted with high intensity violence. There’s no Stan Lee cameo, there’s no post credits scene, and there are no costumes. Director James Mangold knew what he wanted to do, and he knew the tropes to avoid in order to be successful. The violence – my God, I lost track of how many times I gasped “Jesus Christ!” during the +2 hours. It earned its R rating and then some.

I won’t get into plot details, as I want you to see it for yourself. It truly is a beautiful movie, which isn’t something you’d typically say about a film with Marvel roots. Dafnee Keen as Laura is incredible, both in how she emotes, as well as her action scenes. It’s also a fitting coda to Jackman’s turn as Wolverine. I don’t know if he’ll ever come back. I mean, he says he’s done, but you can’t count anyone out in the world of comics. Then again, this ain’t a comic book movie. So, if this is it, he’s going out on a Hell of a note. He leaves behind one totally imbalanced trilogy, as the first film is maligned, the second film was serviceable, but this one is quite the mea culpa for all we’ve had to put up with over the past almost two decades. People are talking about award potential, and while it’s certainly good enough, I’m not holding my breath. It might win an Oscar for sound mixing or something, but I’m scared those folks won’t appreciate it for what it truly is. Logan is a moving experience, and it deserves all the praise the early reviews have been giving it. That’s why I have no hesitation in saying that Logan had the West Week Ever.