The second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters concluded on Apple TV + this past Friday with a big titan slugfest between Kong and Titan X and the official switch from Cate to Kentaro of the stupidest Randa sibling.
It can’t be that Cate is the standout character on this show now, can it?
A few episodes ago, I would have celebrated had the show killed Cate off. Now, she feels like the true heart of the show, certainly moving forward into a potential season three.
What a character arc she has had this season.
The face off of Kurt Russel and Wyatt Russell in the opened rift felt as if it were a true goodbye for the flashback characters as they had been used less in the last few episodes this season. This feels like the correct moment to end those flashbacks as the show apparently is taking a new step in any potential season 4.
Keiko was such a bad ass driving her jeep around the gigantic Kaiju fight going on around her, but… girlfriend… where did you learn to park? As soon as she stopped that jeep and hopped out, I knew it was a goner. Why park it there? Geez.
The final shot of the season showed Lee looking out at a volcano and seeing Rodan sitting atop of it as the lava flowed around it. Rodan was last seen in Godzilla: King of the Monsters leaving a ton of questions about this Rodan.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters was a hit and miss season for me. There were several moments where I considered dropping this show from my viewing schedule because I was just not enjoying it. I am happy that I maintained through the middle because the ending was much stronger than I expected. It ended strongly enough for me to watch the next season, if it is renewed by Apple TV.
As I was going through the list of songs on the Top 100, I discovered a mistake in the list. Instead of cutting a song that absolutely deserves its spot on the list, I decided to make this special exception for Weird Al and make it a Top 100 with 101 songs in it. Thus, Polka Power becomes the first ever 1/2 entry on our Daily Countdown lists and the only Daily Countdown Two-a-day.
Title: “Polka Power”
Album: Running With Scissors
Released: 1989
Genre: Polka/Comedy
Songs: “The Twelfth Street Rag,” “Wannabe,” “Flagpole Sitta,” “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are),” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” “Walkin’ On the Sun,” “Intergalactic,” “Tubthumping,” “Ray of Light,” “Push,” “Semi-Charmed Life,” “The Dope Show,” “MMMBop,” “Sex and Candy,” “Closing Time,” and “W.A.Y. Moby Polka.”
Lyrics
Yeah, well, I’ll tell ya what I want, what I really really want (So tell us what ya want, what ya really really want) I’ll tell ya what I want, what I really really want (So tell us what ya want, what ya really really want) I want to ha, I want to ha, I want to ha, I want to ha I want to really, really, really, want to zigga zigga, ah! If you want to be my lover, you gotta get with my friends Make it last forever, friendship never ends If you want to be my lover, you have got to give Taking is too easy, but that’s the way it is. Hey!
I’m not sick, but I’m not well. And I’m so hot, ’cause I’m in hell. I’m not sick, but I’m not well. And it’s a sin to live so well.
Ghetto superstar, that is what you are, Coming from afar, reaching for the stars. Run away with me, to another place We can rely on each other, uh huh From one corner to another, uh huh
Everybody (yeah) Rock your body (yeah) Everybody Rock your body right. Backstreet’s back, all right! All right!
So don’t delay, act now, supplies are running out But now, if you’re still alive, six to eight years to arrive And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow But if the offer’s shun, you might as well be walking on the sun Might as well be walking on the sun!
I get knocked down, but I get up again, You’re never gonna keep me down I get knocked down, but I get up again You’re never gonna keep me down I get knocked down, but I get up again You’re never gonna keep me down I get knocked down, but I get up again You’re never gonna keep me down
Quicker than a ray of light Quicker than a ray of light Quicker than a ray of light
I want to push you around, well I will, well I will I want to push you down, well I will, well I will I want to take you for granted I want to take you for granted Yeah, yeah, well I will
I want something else To get me through this semi-charmed kinda life, baby baby I want something else I’m not listening when you say good-bye.
There’s lots of pretty, pretty ones That want to get you high But all the pretty, pretty ones Will leave you low and blow your mind We’re all stars now in the dope show We’re all stars now in the dope show
Mmmbop, do floppa do wop Do be dop ah Do wap, do zap ah, do Yeah-ee yeah Mmmbop, do be ‘zap ah, do wop Do be dop ah Do wop, doom zap ah, do
I smell sex and candy here Who’s that lounging in my chair? Who’s that casting devious stares in my direction? Mama, this surely is a dream Yeah, yeah mama, this surely is a dream Dig it, yeah mama, this surely is
Closing time One last call for alcohol So finish your whiskey or beer Closing time You don’t have to go home But you can’t stay here I know who I want to take me home I know who I want to take me home I know who I want to take me home Take us home.
We started off with a few fleeting moments of a brutal battle, but Duncan takes a lance to his side and a blow to his head, sending him into an unconscious state and us into a flashback to Dunk as a kid.
At first, I did not want to go into the past and leave the Trial of Seven, but it did not take long before I was engaged with the story they were telling in the flashback. We met young Dunk and a girl named Rafe, stealing from a nearly dead knight whose horse had fallen on him. We learn that they are thieves, surviving by their wits. Dunk had been deserted by his mother, either from choice or by death.
I assumed that Rafe was going to meet with some kind of horrible fate since we have not mentioned her before, and, sure enough, she has her throat slashed by a crooked guard who had stolen the silver that they had “earned.” Rafe snuck the knife from the guard’s scabbard and it cost her her life.
This was where we see how Dunk meets Ser Arlan of Pennytree, who saved Dunk from the same fate as Rafe. Dunk is injured in the scrum and follows Arlan. Arlan ends up helping Dunk.
Then, the flashbacks were over as suddenly as they began, and we were right back to the Trial of Seven, where Ser Duncan fought his way through what seemed to be multiple horrific blows to force Aerion to rescind the charges and thus win the Trial of Seven.
When Baelor came into the tent to see Duncan, I knew what was going to happen. I had been spoiled about Baelor’s death last week thanks to a Wikipedia page I was using for research. The head wound was brutal and I have no idea what will happen to Duncan in the finale.
The battle between them was brutal and hard to watch at times but unbelievably choreographed and full of emotion.
There is one more episode of the show and I am sure it will deal with the fallout of the Trial of Seven. I have really enjoyed this series so far. I hope it hits the landing.
Released: As a theme song for his 1997 Saturday morning children’s TV show.
Album: Running With Scissors
Genre: pop/rock
This fell into the top 20 of the previous list, Top 100 TV Show Themes. When I first was creating that list, I almost didn’t think about it as a theme because it was more of a song than theme. Al has used this as an intro to his concerts since.
Lyrics
Oh, this is a story ’bout a guy named Al And he lived in a sewer with his hamster pal But the sanitation workers really didn’t approve So he packed up his accordion and had to move
To a city in Ohio where he lived in a tree And he worked in a nasal decongestant factory And he played on the company bowling team And every single night he had a strange, recurring dream
Where he was wearing leiderhosen in a vat of sour cream But that’s really not important to the story
Well, the very next year he met a dental hygenist With a spatula tattoed on her arm (on her arm) But he didn’t keep in touch, then he lost her number Then he got himself a job on a tater tot farm
And he spent his life savings on a split-level cave 20 miles below the surface of the Earth (of the Earth) And he really makes a mighty fine jelly bean and pickle sandwich For what it’s worth
Then one day Al was in the forest, trying to get a tan When he heard the tortured screaming of a funny little man He was caught in a bear trap and Al set him free And the guy that he rescued was as grateful as can be
And it turns out he’s a big-shot producer on TV So he gave Al a contract and what do you know? Now he’s got his own very Weird Al Show!
Performed: “Weird Al” Yankovic and Tress MacNeille
One of my earliest introductions to Weird Al. I remember this song from not only the Dr. Demento Show, but also the morning radio station I would listen to, KIIK 104 with Spike at the Mike.
Lyrics
Hey Lucy, I’m home
Oh Ricky, you’re so fine You’re so fine, you blow my mind Hey Ricky, hey Ricky
Oh Lucy, you’re so fine You’re so fine, you blow my mind Hey Lucy, hey Lucy
Oh Ricky, you’re so fine You play your bongos all the time Hey Ricky, hey Ricky
Oh Lucy, you’re so fine How I love to hear you whine Hey Lucy
Hey Ricky You always play your conga drums, you think you got the right You wake up little Ricky in the middle of the night Stop shakin’ your maraccas now and just turn out the light, Ricky
I’m sick of Fred and Ethel always coming over here ‘Cause Fred eats all our pretzel sticks, and then he spills his beer Why don’t you serve your casserole and make them disappear, Lucy?
Oh, Ricky, what’s a girl like me supposed to do? You really drive me wild when you sing your babalu
Oh Lucy, you’re so dizzy, don’t you have a clue Well, here’s to you, Lucy I love you too, Lucy, too Lucy, let’s babalu, Lucy
Hey, Ricky You’re always playing at the Club, you never let me go I’m begging, and I’m pleading, but you always tell me no Oh, please, honey, please let me be in your show, Ricky
You always burn the roast and you drop the dishes too You iron my new shirt, and you burn a hole right through You’re such a crazy redhead, I just don’t know what to do, Lucy
Oh, Ricky What a pity, don’t you understand That every day’s a rerun and the laughter’s always canned
Oh, Lucy I’m the Latin leader of the band So here’s to you, Lucy Let’s babalu, Lucy, too Lucy Everybody rumba!
Twenty years ago, there was a movie released in theaters called The Devil Wears Prada, a film I did not see until the DailyView in 2021. Now, a legacy sequel has been released with most of the important parts returning to the screen. This included four of the main actors as well as the director and writer of the first film.
Director David Frankel and co-writers Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger are back together with actors Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci is The Devil Wears Prada 2.
I liked the first film. I found it to be a fun watch. I went into the sequel with some apprehension. I had heard a couple of down reviews plus sequels over twenty years after the original came out rarely have a high success rate.
However, I found the film to be an entertaining movie with some powerhouse actors elevating what could have been a floundering film. It is far from perfect of a movie. It is overly long and the story itself is a touch iffy at times, but I still found myself engaged by the combo of the actors playing their iconic characters.
Meryl Streep was the best of the quartet in my opinion. She brought more humanity to the “Devil,” Miranda Priestly, the fashion icon who was the basic antagonist of the first film. In the sequel, Miranda was much more like a co-protagonist with Anne Hathaway’s Andy.
Another standout of the cast was Stanley Tucci, as Nigel felt like the heart of the film. Tucci played him with such a kindness and a soft spot that when the film once hinted some anger from him, I was very unhappy. Emily Blunt’s character, Emily, was my least favorite of the four of them as she really seemed to be a caricature of a person and not a real live one, though I did enjoy several of her scenes with Hathaway.
In the end, I liked this sequel. I do not think it was as good as the original, but it was much better than I had anticipated and Meryl Streep is still the best out there.
Contains one of my favorite lines in any Al song- “Before it emails your grandma all your porn.” We can all relate, right….. no? Just me, huh?
Lyrics
Hey everyone, listen up, your attention if you please Really wanna give you a warning ’cause I found out this morning ‘Bout a dangerous, insidious computer virus If you should get an e-mail with the subject “Stinky Cheese” Better not go taking your chances Under no circumstances should you open it or else it will Translate your documents into Swahili Make your TV record Gigli Neuter your pets and give your laundry static cling
Look out, it’s gonna make your computer screen freeze Look out, erase the Easter eggs off your DVDs Look out, erase your hard drive and your backups too And the hard drive of anyone related to you
Virus alert, delete immediately before someone gets hurt Forward this message on to everybody
Soon, very soon, it will make all the paint peel off your walls It’ll make your keyboard all sticky, give your poodle a hickey And invest your cash in stock in Euro Disney Then, it will tie up your phone, making prank long-distance calls It’ll set your clocks back an hour and start clogging the shower So just trash it now, or else it will Decide to give you a permanent wedgie Legally change your name to Reggie Even mess up the pH balance in your pool
Look out, it’s gonna melt your face right off your skull Look out, and make your iPod only play Jethro Tull Look out, and tell you knock-knock jokes while you’re trying to sleep Look out, and make you physically attracted to sheep Look out, steal your identity and your credit card Look out, buy you a warehouse full of pink leotards Look out, then cause a major rift in time and space And leave a bunch of Twinkie wrappers all over the place That’s right, it’s a
Virus alert, delete immediately before someone gets hurt Forward this message on to everybody Virus alert, delete immediately before someone gets hurt Forward this message on to everybody Warn all your friends, send this to everybody Tell everyone you know, tell everybody now
If you get infected, you’ll wish you had never been born So before it emails your grandmother all of your porn Turn off your computer and make sure it powers down Drop it in a 43-foot hole in the ground Bury it completely, rocks and boulders should be fine Then burn all the clothes you may have worn any time you were online
Virus alert, delete immediately before someone gets hurt Forward this message on to everybody Virus alert, delete immediately before someone gets hurt Forward this message on to everybody Virus alert, delete immediately before someone gets hurt Forward this message on to everybody Warn all your friends, send this to everybody Tell everyone you know, tell everybody now
What are you waiting for? Just hurry up and forward this to every single person that you know Hit “Send” right now
April is just about over, as we are less than six hours away from May 1st. That also means that we are just a few days from Free Comic Book Day, which is May 2nd. Make sure that if you are partaking for some of the free comics, you are indulging in some of the specials your local comic shop are offering. Free Comic Book Day is not free for the comic shops so they need your patronage.
Lots of good covers this week. This week, it is all variants.
Also-Rans: Giant-Sized Savage Tales #1, The Punisher #3, Dust to Dust #8, Exploit #2, Is Ted Ok? #3, Feral #22 (A Cover), Ripcord #3, White Sky #3, and Planet She-Hulk #6 (C cover variant).
Bronze Medalist
I Hate Fairyland #50
Variant cover C
Cover art by Skottie Young
Skottie Young has a variant cover for the 50th issue of I Hate Fairyland. I have not collected this book, but I have always enjoyed Skottie Young’s work and Todd made me buy it. I am curious to see what this is going to be like when I read it, but congrats to Skottie Young.
Silver Medalist
Uncanny X-Men #27
Variant Cover D
Cover art by Juan Ferreyra
I saw this on the shelf today and, while I had the A cover already, I had to have it. The beautiful red and yellow cover with the team of the Uncanny X-Men heading into action. This is a lovely piece of art.
Gold Medalist
Feral #22
Variant Cover B
Cover art by Tony Fleecs & Trish Forstner
The horror variants for Feral continue to be exceptional. This one is based on the movie Weapons. It also has a flip cover with the Stray Dogs on the other side. Always great work from Feral.
Writers: Al Yankovic / Lee Oskar / Wayne Anthony Hector / Armando Christian Perez / Nile Rodgers / Lukasz Gottwald / Guy Manuel Homem Christo / Thomas Bangalter / Pharrell L. Williams / Jean Baptiste Kouame / Sacha Skarbek / Luiz Floriano Bonfa / William Adams / Julian C. Bunetta / Greg Errico / Jai Sang Park / Breyan Stanley Isaac / Stephan Moccio / Priscilla Renea Hamilton / Mark Foster / Kenny Oliver / Jef Martens / Edward James Drewett / Stefan Kendal Gordy / David Jamahl Listenbee / John Henry Ryan / Skyler Husten Gordy / Carly Rae Jepsen / Arthur Richardson / Ross Mac Lean / Ben Haggerty / Ryan S. Lewis / Jamie Michael Robert Sanderson / Joshua Keeler Ramsay / Maureen Anne Mcdonald / Henry Russell Walter / Erin Beck / Tavish Joseph Crowe / Walter Andre E. De Backer / Keon Yoo / George Matthew Robertson / Kesha Serbert / Keri Oscar
Album: Mandatory Fun
Released: 2014
Genre: Polka/Comedy
Medley Songs: “Wrecking Ball,” “Pumped Up Kicks,” “Best Song Ever,” “Gangham Style,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Scream & Shout,” “Somebody That I Used to Know,” “Timber,” “Sexy and I Know It,” “Thrift Shop,” “Get Lucky,” and “W.A.Y. Moby Polka.”
This polka’s title is a parody of the album series NOW That’s What I Call Music, a compilation of popular music of the past year.
Lyrics
We clawed, we chained our hearts in vain We jumped never asking why We kissed, I fell under your spell A love no one could deny
Don’t you ever say I just walked away I will always want you I can’t live a life, running for my life I will always want you
I came in like a wrecking ball I never hit so hard in love All I wanted was to break your walls All you ever did was wreck me Yeah, you wreck me
All the other kids with the pumped up picture You better run, better run, outrun my gun All the other kids with the pumped up picture You better run, better run faster than my bullet
And we danced all night to the best song ever We knew every line, now I can’t remember I think it went ooh eh ooh I think it went oohla eh ooh I think it goes eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Eh, sexy lady Po, po, po, po Polka Gangnam Style Eh, sexy lady Po, po, po, po Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Hey, I just met you And this is crazy But here’s my number So call me, maybe And all the other boys Try to chase me But here’s my number So call me, maybe
I wanna scream and shout (hey!) And let it all out And scream and shout (hey!) And let it out We sayin’, “Ohh, wee ohh, wee oh wee oh” We sayin’, “Ohh, wee ohh, wee oh wee oh wee ohh, wee oh wee oh”
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know Now you’re just somebody that I used to know
It’s going down (hey!), I’m yelling timber You better move, you better dance Let’s make a night you won’t remember I’ll be the one you won’t forget (Timber! Timber!)
I’m sexy and I know it Girl look at that body (He’s sexy and he knows it)
I wear your grandad’s clothes I look incredible I’m in this big old coat From that thrift shop down the road (Hey!)
That’s right! (He looks incredible) I do! (He’s in that big old coat) It’s large! (From that thrift shop down the road) Hey, let’s go!
I’m gonna pop some tags Only got twenty dollars in my pocket I’m hunting, looking for a come-up This is super awesome
She’s up all night ’til the sun I’m up all night to get some She’s up all night for good fun I’m up all night to get lucky
We’re up all night ’til the sun We’re up all night to get some We’re up all night for good fun We’re up all night to get lucky
We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky We’re up all night to get lucky Up all night to get lucky
Yes, we’re up all night to get Lucky (we’re gonna get lucky) Lucky (we’re gonna get lucky) Lucky (Let’s all get lucky) We’re up all night to get lucky! (Hey!)
What seemed like it started out as another filler episode turned out to be one of the most significant episodes of the year.
The episode is split into sections featuring different characters including Firecracker, Sister Sage, Black Noir, Soldier Boy, and… Terror, Butcher’s dog?
Each of these sections focus in on these characters, seeing their real thoughts and their struggles.
And what a bloodbath…
We lose Adam Bourke to eels going up his butt while sitting on the toilet.
We lose Malchemical, Mr. Marathon are killed by Soldier Boy. The Supernatural reunion of these characters did not last long.
Then we lose Seth Rogan, Kumail Ali Nanjiani, Will Forte, Christopher Mintz-Plasse… all brutally killed as Mr. Marathon runs through them all… set up by Soldier Boy.
And… most shocking… Firecracker, as Homelander stabs her head with the eagle statue’s wing.
This was way better than it should have been. The different POV’s of the episode were truly amazing. It went from unbelievably hilarious moments to horrendous dramatic moments.
We get Sister Sage’s master plan. We get further trouble between Black Noir and The Deep. We get Stan Edgar broken, thanks to a threat to his granddaughter. Terror ate some chocolate and dreams of humping Homelander.
The show is rushing toward the finale. No one is safe.
The epic song shows that Al can be a storyteller like Chapin’s 30,000 Pounds of Bananas or Gordon Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald.
I was unaware when the song came out that the Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota was a legitimate location. Places listed in the song such as Elvis-A-Rama, the Tupperware Museum, the Boll Weevil Monument, Cranberry World, the Shuffleboard Hall of Fame, and Poodle Dog Rock are all actual attractions.
My friend and co-EYG brother Darin used the phrase “albino squirrels” from this song as his fantasy baseball team name for years.
Lyrics
Well, I had two weeks of vacation time coming After workin’ all year down at Big Roy’s Heating and Plumbing So one night, when my family and I were gathered ’round the dinner table I said, “Kids, if you could go anywhere in this great big world now Wwhere’d you like to go to?” They said, “Dad, we wanna see the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota” They picked the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
So the very next day we loaded up the car With potato skins and pickled weiners Crossword puzzles, Spiderman comics And mama’s homemade rhubarb pie Pulled out of the driveway And the neighbors, they all waved goodbye And so began our three-day journey We picked up a guy holdin’ a sign That said “Twine Ball or Bust” He smelled real bad, and he said his name was Bernie
I put in a Slim Whitman tape My wife put on a brand new hair net The kids were in the back seat jumpin’ up and down Yellin’, “Are we there yet?” And all of us were joined together in one common thought As we rolled down the long and winding Interstate in our ’53 DeSota We’re gonna see the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota We’re headin’ for the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
Oh, we couldn’t wait to get there So we drove straight through for three whole days and nights Of course, we stopped for more pickled weiners now and then The scenery was just so pretty Boy, I wish the kids could’ve seen it But you can’t see out of the side of the car Because the windows are completely covered With the decals from all the places where we’ve already been
Like Elvis-a-Rama, the Tupperware Museum The Boll Weevil Monument, and Cranberry World The Shuffleboard Hall of Fame, Poodle Dog Rock And the Mecca of Albino Squirrels We’ve been to ghost towns, steam parks, wax museums And a place where you can drive through the middle of a tree Seen alligator farms and tarantula ranches But there’s still one thing we’ve gotta see
Well, we crossed the state line about 6:39 And we saw the sign that said “Twine Ball exit, 50 miles” Oh, the kids were so happy, they started singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” for the 27th time that day
So we pulled off the road at the last chance gas station Got a few more pickled weiners and a diet chocolate soda On our way to see the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota We’re gonna see the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
Finally at 7:37 early Wednesday evening As the sun was setting in the Minnesota sky Out in the distance, on the horizon It appeared to me like a vision before my unbelieving eyes We parked the car and walked with awe-filled reverence Toward that glorious, huge, majestic sphere I was just so overwhelmed by its sheer immensity I had to pop myself a beer
Yes, on these hallowed grounds Open ten to eight on weekdays In a little shrine under a makeshift pagoda There sits the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota I tell you, it’s the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
Oh, what on Earth would make a man Decide to do that kind of thing? Oh, windin’ up 21, 140 pounds of string What was he tryin’ to prove? Who was he tryin’ to impress? Why did he build it? How did he do it? It’s anybody’s guess Where did he get the twine? What was goin’ through his mind? Did it just seem like a good idea at the time?
Well, we walked up beside it and I warned the kids “Now you better not touch it, those ropes are there for a reason” I said, “Maybe if you’re good, I’ll tie it to the back of our car And we can take it home, ” but I was only teasin’
Then we went to the gift shop and stood in line Bought a souvenir miniature ball of twine Some window decals, and anything else they’d sell us And I bought a couple postcards “Greetings from the Twine Ball, wish you were here” Won’t the folks back home be jealous?
I gave our camera to Bernie and we stood by the ball And we all gathered around and said, “Cheese!” Then Bernie ran away with my brand new Instamatic But at least we’ve got our memories
So we all just stared at the ball for a while And my eyes got moist, but I said with a smile “Kids, this here’s what America’s all about” Then I started feelin’ kinda gooey inside And I fell on my knees and I cried and cried And that’s when those security guards threw us out
You know, I bet if we unraveled that sucker It’d roll all the way down to Fargo, North Dakota ‘Cause it’s the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota I’m talkin’ ’bout the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
Well, we stayed that night at the Twine Ball Inn In the morning we were on our way home again But we didn’t really wanna leave, that was perfectly clear I said, “Folks, I can tell you’re all sad to go” Then I winked my eye and I said, “You know I got a funny kinda feeling we’ll be coming back again next year”
‘Cause I’ve been all around this great big world And I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather go to Than the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota I said the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
The penultimate episode of season two of Daredevil: Born Again dropped on Disney + tonight and, oh was an ending.
Prior to that ending, I legitimately pumped my fist when Matt Murdock walked into the courtroom to be a co-defense attorney for the trial of Karen Page.
Last week when Karen was at the gunpoint of AVTF goon Officer Powell, I worried about how she was going to escape that predicament without being killed. Imagine my surprise when she is walked into the cop precinct and fingerprinted, booked and placed in jail. I actually said, “They arrested her?”
It made a lot of sense when they talked about it. Fisk wanted to do everything by the book, above board, so they could put her on trial with their vigilante court… which, again led to Matt Murdock strolling into the court displaying his gigantic balls.
When Matt spoke with Karen, I had the move figured out, especially when the “previously on” segment reminded us that Matt Murdock as a “hero” according to Wilson Fisk. Even though I had it figured out, I still popped like crazy.
I wish Matt had more to do in the court. I wanted extended scenes of Matt cross-examining Powell or any other AVTF agent on the stand ( I see you Cole). Even with the limited time we got in court, I loved the Matt Murdock stuff.
Meanwhile, Daniel was preparing to deliver BB to Buck. BB figured out what he was doing and was able to convince him to let her go. Daniel went to approach Buck without BB and Buck brutally beat him to try and get him to reveal where she was. Daniel honestly did not know and he spoke to Buck, trying to get him to turn away from Fisk. It looked like he was going to convince him of it.
And then Buck shot him.
Screen to black. I sat here with my mouth agape for a good thirty seconds. I couldn’t believe what had happened. Watching Buck coldly readjust his suit and step over Daniel’s body was shocking. I suppose Daniel might not be dead, but it sure seemed as if it were a final blow to the young Gandolfini.
RIP Daniel.
Jessica Jones approaching Mr. Charles at the beginning was awesome. It is so great to see Krysten Ritter again. She is such a perfect casting of the role. Charles also dropped the name “Luke” during this conversation. Jessica told Matt about what she discovered (and met Cherry… who looks great after his recent heart attack. Great to see Cherry). Jessica is still basically out, needing to stay with her daughter Danielle.
Bullseye was given one good deed to do from Daredevil, and he took it. Bullseye saved the Governor from being strangled to death by an assassin sent by Fisk. However, he looked as if he left the assassin alive, which might be a great thing for getting Fisk. Prior to the attack, the Governor had decided it was time to get Fisk out of the New York mayor’s office. Here is something to help with that, perhaps.
Karen and Heather’s confrontation in the prison was epic. Karen showed how much of a bad ass she really was, not succumbing to Heather’s old true or false questionnaire that she screwed the Swordsman with. Karen got under Heather’s skin big time as Heather slapped Karen multiple times as Karen laughed at her. The image of Muse peering through the window was scary and certainly seems to be foreshadowing Heather’s own mental illness.
Next week’s finale is going to be huge. I hope the people who apparently aren’t watching this show come to their senses because this is wonderful.
I had heard a lot of positive things about the film, The Plague earlier in the year, but it never came around to the theaters in my area. So when I spotted it on AMC + on Prime, I decided to give this a watch.
The film is a psychological thriller/horror film directed by Charlie Polinger and starring Joel Edgerton and a cast of teenagers.
I think the theme of this movie is that middle school aged boys are horrible, cruel and just disgusting people.
According to IMDB, “A socially awkward tween endures the ruthless hierarchy at a water polo camp, his anxiety spiraling into psychological turmoil over the summer.”
This was not what I expected this film to be about. It was a rough watch, especially since I am a middle school teacher and seeing how cruel these kids were to each other, it is something I can relate to in my own life.
There were some questions I had, but I think those all require spoilers, so I will just have to say that I am not sure what I saw was really what I saw during a chunk of the movie.
The main protagonist of the film was Ben, played by Everett Blunck. The young teen Blunck does a really good job dealing with the pressures of trying to fit in with the crowd, while still feeling empathy for those that were being ostracized. It was a strong performance with plenty of layers for this young boy to play. The main antagonist for Ben was Jake, played by Kayo Martin. I swear that every time I saw Kayo Martin, I pictured Justin Shenkarow from Picket Fences. Kayo Martin could easily be his brother, though Shenkarow is much older now. I really disliked the character of Jake, so Kayo Martin did an excellent job of providing the conflict within this group of children. He felt real.
The film is a slow build and does feel longer than its 1:38 run time. Still, the performances are all great and the tension is top notch. There are things that are happening that I am confused by, which kept me on my toes. Maybe I was looking too deeply into it (the Wikipedia page did not make any references to my concepts), but I was glad it was a film I finally was able to see.
Episode two may not have been as creepy as the premiere, but it was still very disturbing and unsettling as this bizarre family comes together for a wedding. But who knows if the wedding will ever come to pass.
It is four days before the wedding and Rachel discovered that her wedding dress was missing. She was sure it had been brought, but it all felt like some kind of machinations among this family.
As Nicky went to Cleveland to see if he could find the dress, Rachel was involved in a fitting using Victoria’s old dress. This degenerated into a weird and wild event. Rachel wound up wandering through the house, hearing all kinds of strange whispers and discussions between the others about her and the situation. It was very creepy.
Rachel found the dress hung up in the woods over an effigy. Meanwhile, Dr. Cunningham was digging a grave. This, understandably freaked Rachel out and she started running from them. Nicky was returning as she was running away and she wanted to leave immediately, but, also understandably, Nicky wanted to speak with his family.
Turned out this all had to do with a tumor in Victoria’s brain that is killing her. The wedding came up as a surprise and they were going use it as a way to bring all the family together for one last celebration.
Jude, Jules’ son, apparently took the dress and put it on the effigy as a way to confuse the Sorry Man. Jude had discovered blood that Rachel had dripped on the floor the night before when she had her bloody nose, and he was trying to keep the Sorry Man from coming and killing Rachel. His father made Jude repeat that the Sorry Man was not real.
Of course, the silhouette in the woods that showed up at the end of the episode told a different story.
Two episodes in and there are so many weird things going on that I sure hope pay off. I am invested in the story so far and these characters are all so sus that I can not imagine what the real situation is. Good stuff on Netflix.
EYG- Embrace Your Geekness 