Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2007
July 24, 2017
TWIN PEAKS’ 7 Most Lynchian Moments From Episode 11
In episode 11 of Twin Peaks, director David Lynch starts bringing more of the pieces together, and finally confirms the parentage of one of the newer cast members. Oh, and he has evil hobo ghosts and giant portals in the sky as well, because he’s David Lynch. Join us as we break down the 7 most Lynchian moments in chapter 11, starting with that disturbing opening sequence.
The Watcher In The Woods
One of David Lynch’s signature themes in his works is the ugly side of life is always just under the surface of everyday wholesome Americana. It is a notion showcased in this episode more than any other in this entire run of the new series so far. In the opening of this chapter, we see a group of boys playing ball outside their trailer in the woods outside Twin Peaks, as American and Norman Rockwell-esque as you can get.
And then, as one of the boys goes out into the streets after a ball, he sees the bloody, semi-conscious Miriam Sullivan (Sarah Jean Long) clinging for dear life, crawling out of the forest nearby. The ultra vile Richard Horne left her for dead last week, but unlucky for him, she lives, and can now (hopefully) tell the police what he did. The scenario is a Lynch signature moment – the ugliness that lives beneath the white picket fence showing its bloody face.
Becky On A Rampage
Ever since we learned that Shelly Johnson (Madchen Amick) had a daughter earlier in the season, Becky (played by Amanda Seyfried) has been trouble, constantly borrowing money from her mom to help out her deadbeat husband Stephen, who is a drug dealer and a loser, and later we find out, a wife beater.
Well, in this episode Becky has had enough, and goes to visit her husband in the apartment of his new mistress (who is Gerstan Hayward from the original series, youngest sister of Donna Hayward) with a gun in hand. This is all after taking her mother’s car after her poor mom jumped on the hood like a stunt woman to try and get her to stop from making a stupid mistake. Becky put a ton of bullet holes in the door of Gerstan’s apartment, but no one is hurt at least.
Later, it’s confirmed for us longtime Twin Peaks fans that Becky is indeed the daughter of Shelly and Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook), but it seems Shelly and Bobby are no longer together, sadly.
The Vortex
In Buckhorn, South Dakota, Agents Gordon Cole (David Lynch), Tamara Preston (Chrysta Bell), Albert Rosenfield (Miguel Ferrer), and Diane Evans (Laura Dern) are led by Detective Macklay (Brent Briscoe) with Bill Hastings (Matthew Lillard), who is still under custody, and who is guiding them to the exact location where he said he was able to enter an alternate dimension and apparently met with Major Briggs, before Briggs’ head floated off.
Hasting directs them to a run down lot, which still has a few shacks falling apart on the premises. Albert and Gordon sneak in through a hole in the fence to investigate further. As Gordon gets further into the lot, he looks up into the sky and sees a kind of vortex opening up above him. Albert sees that Gordon has started to fade out of existence, but he also sees him long enough to reach both arms into the air.
Then, as they say, shit gets real. As Gordon continues to stare into vortex, he suddenly sees some of the Woodsmen (from episode 8) standing on a staircase. Gordon vanishes for moment, and Albert then manages to pull him back to our reality. As they’re processing what just occurred, Diane sees a Woodsman walking towards the police car that Hastings and Macklay are in, and then the Woodsman – and does not seem phased. The Woodsman somehow makes the head of Hastings explode in the back seat, as if popping a balloon. On top of all that, Before they head out, Gordon and Albert see something further back on the lot and discover the headless corpse of the murdered Ruth Davenport.
“You Don’t Wanna Know About That.”
At the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Chief Hawk (Michael Horse) and Sheriff Frank Truman (Robert Forster) are going over a Native American scrolled map that Hawk describes as being “very old, but always current. It’s a living thing.” He tells Truman that the date and time on Major Briggs’ message leads to Blue Pine Mountain, a revered place by Hawk’s people, which has a fire symbol next to it on the map.
Frank asks Hawk for even more information about the various symbols on the map, and when he asks him about the black circle with two wings on it, Hawk simply says “You don’t ever wanna know about that.” It’s the same symbol that Evil Coop showed to Daria in episode one. Is this the symbol of the Black Lodge?
‘WE’RE ALREADY LATE!!!’
After Bobby Briggs and Shelly try to confront their daughter about her poor life choices at the Double R, a shot comes in through the window from outside. Turns out, it’s from a kid who fired his dad’a gun from the backseat of their minivan on accident. Because of this commotion, the woman driving the car behind them won’t stop honking the horn for a single moment, driving everyone insane.
Bobby finally goes to tell the driver to calm the eff down, and she starts to scream at him at the top of her lungs about how she needs to get home right now, they’re already late, all while letting Bobby know that her little girl in the passenger side of the car is “sick.” Suddenly, the little girl starts rising from her seat like a zombie version of Linda Blair from The Exorcist, with green puke dribbling from the corner of her mouth. I have no idea what any of this means in the context of the story, but its disturbing as hell in the truly Lynchian tradition.
Cherry Pie Saves Dougie’s Life
Dougie is told by his boss at Lucky 7 Insurance that the claim filed by the mobster Mitchum Brothers (Jim Belushi, Robert Knepper) is actually valid, and he hands Dougie the check for the $30 million payout they have coming to them. He takes Dougie out to a limo sent by the brothers for a private meeting that the brothers assume will end with a bullet in Dougie’s head. Before the limo gets there though, Dougie sees a vision of the One-Armed Man (Al Strobel) in the Red Room calling him over to a nearby shop. He goes in, then comes out with a big cardboard box.
When the car with Dougie pulls up to the meeting location in the middle of nowhere, Bradley (Belushi) tells his brother that he had a dream about killing Dougie, and that if the box he’s holding has inside it is what was inside it in his dream, then they have to let him live. Rodney (Knepper) then makes Dougie open the box. And when he does, the brothers find a full cherry pie inside, apparently the same one that was in Bradley’s dream. When the brothers get their money back on top of it, Dougie not only lives, but he becomes their new BFF. All because of a dream of some cherry pie. What is more Lynchian than prophetic dreams and cherry pie??
“Thank You, Mr. Jackpots”
To celebrate their $30 million dollar windfall and their new best friend Dougie Jones, the Mitchum Brothers take Dougie out to a fancy cocktail lounge, where, of course, they proceed to eat cherry pie (as one does in a cocktail lounge). It’s Dougie’s first time saying the words “damn good pie”, which could be a breakthrough moment in his becoming Dale Cooper again. Or maybe not.
Suddenly, the old lady from the casino in episode 4 walks in, dressed to the nines, and thanks “Mr. Jackpots” for changing her life, reuniting her with her son Denver, and letting her have a normal life again. She kisses him on the cheek, and lets the Mitchum brothers know they are in the presence of somebody special. If only they really knew how special…as in Special Agent.
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What your favorite moments from episode 11? Let us know down below in the comments.
Images: Showtime
Funko Reveals New IT Pennywise the Clown Pop! Vinyls
One of the most anticipated horror films of the year (and maybe even the decade) is the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s classic ’80s horror novel It from director Andrés Muschietti, which hits movie theaters this September. The trailer, which was released earlier this year, broke records for views on YouTube, a rarity for horror flicks.
The original TV adaptation of It from 1990 starring Tim Curry as the monstrous clown Pennywise scarred an entire generation, and gave many of us severe clown phobia that lasts until this very day. And now, a new interpretation of Pennywise, this time from actor Bill Skarsgård, is guaranteed to give a whole new generation similar issues when it comes to clowns.
Now our good friends at Funko are bringing the newest Pennywise to vinyl life, and making him all small and adorable like for a new line of Pop! figures, much as they have for fellow horror icons like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Pinhead, and so many more.
This series features Pennywise holding a paper sail boat, just as he’s about to tell some poor doomed child “We all float” in that super creepy voice. There will also be a sepia chase version of Pennywise, a 1-in-6 rarity. Additionally, there will be some Pennywise exclusives coming this Summer – Walmart will have Pennywise with wig, while Hot Topic will carry an exclusive Pennywise with a red balloon. The first two figures are available now, while the exclusives will hit starting in September.
You can check out the entire It line of Funko Pop! vinyl figures down below in our gallery.
Are you stoked to see Pennywise joing the Funko family, let us know down below in the comments.
Images: Funko /New Line Cinema
DANGER AND EGGS Creators and Stars Talk How It Delivers Important Issues to Kids
In a time when the entertainment industry is making great strides when it comes to diversity with films like Wonder Woman and Black Panther, who would have thought one of its biggest steps forward would come from a children’s cartoon? Well, that’s exactly what we’re seeing in the form of Danger and Eggs, the animated series created by Shadi Petosky and Mike Owens with our fearless leader Chris Hardwick acting as executive producer. It tells the story of young daredevil D.D. Danger and her anxiety stricken friend (and giant egg) Phillip and their adventures inside Chicken-Paw Park.
In the 13-episode first season, D.D. and Philip not only faced condemned water slides and secret underground laboratories but issues such as politics, gender, and sexual identity. The stories are handled in a way that are accessible to both children and adults; not only can families watch the show together, but they can talk about these concepts together as well.
At San Diego Comic-Con, we engaged in our own conversation with the creators and cast of Danger and Eggs, tackling just how important a show like this can be in a world like ours.
“We wanted a series that both kids and parents could enjoy together for same reasons,” said creator Shadi Petosky, stressing that she didn’t want to rely on the sort of jokes that children would take one way and adults would take another.
If you’ve seen the show, you know anxiety is a huge part of Phillip’s character. As co-creator Mike Owens said, “This is who Phillip is. It’s not something you poke fun at. I’ve seen that before. This is who this character is, and we love him for who he is.” Owens described the character’s friendship with D.D. as “an acknowledgment that someone is going to have his back and let him be him. It’s the joke that he’s so fragile [being an egg], and how he is able to step through being that fragile.”
To that end, Aidy Bryant, who plays D.D., added, “I feel that anxiety can feel so lonely sometimes, that you are alone inside your own head. I love that D.D. and Phillip are able to talk about it and think about it and get through it together in some way.”
Phillip himself, Eric Knobel, spoke to how Phillip evolves as the series goes on: “Phillip’s issues weren’t something to fix, but just something to deal with when they happened,” Knobel said. “Even though he was still nervous and automatically saw all the bad angles, he was still down for the adventure.”
The importance of a show like Danger and Eggs applies to both children and adults alike. It’s about understanding someone’s differences, as well let educating that differences are not negative, but what makes people unique.
“Media is such an important part of kid’s lives,” said Jasika Nicole (Fringe), who voices the character, Reina. “This show is a wonderful tool to help get kids talking about these issues at such a young age where they might not normally get a chance [to do so otherwise].”
Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Sheriff Luke and Captain Banjo, brought up how she was “astounded” that the season finale, “Chosen Family,” started with D.D. and Phillip getting ready and excited for Pride Day, which she had never seen done in a children’s show before. “I could see two women in the show holding hands, and that says to a child, ‘love is love is love is love,'” she said. “And that is a huge message to give to a child.”
All episodes of season one of Danger and Eggs are streaming on Amazon.
So what do you think? Will you and your family be checking out Danger and Eggs? What other issues would you like them to have covered? Let me know on Twitter or sound off in the comments below.
Images: Amazon/Puny Entertainment
The Deeper Meaning Behind GAME OF THRONES’ Greyscale Scene
Do you think that Jorah Mormont ever regrets taking a shortcut through the ruins of Valyria? Ever since Game of Thrones‘ fifth season, Jorah has been troubled by a skin care problem that neither the maesters of the Citadel nor the finest dermatologists in Beverly Hills can handle. However, last night’s stomach churning greyscale scene could potentially change the game going forward. Today’s Nerdist News is biting down on the belt and sharing secrets straight outta Oldtown!
There are potential spoilers ahead, as well as spoilers for last night’s episode of Game of Thrones. We’re not saying that you’ll want to cut off your own arm after hearing the latest GoT theories, but why take the chance?
Join host and breaker of chains, Jessica Chobot, as she peels back the layers of Jorah’s greyscale removal. And we certainly hope you weren’t eating when you saw that scene play out last night! You may have noticed that the series is giving a lot of screen time to Jorah’s search for a cure, and we don’t think it’s a coincidence. Somehow, greyscale is going to become important to the overall story, and we believe we know how.
According to the lore of A Song of Ice and Fire, greyscale is known as “Garin’s curse,” and it was a plague that placed on the Valyrian army. If it originated in Valyrian, it may also have properties that could be useful in the war against the White Walkers. An extreme theory has suggested that Daenerys and Jon Snow could potentially use or threaten to use greyscale against their mutual enemy, Queen Cersei. But even for this show, that seems very unheroic.
Another possibility is that the cure for greyscale could lead to significant scientific advances that could shift the power back from magic to reason. Remember, magic was thought to be dead in this world until the three dragons were born. Last night’s episode also put a lot of time into suggesting that the dragons can be killed.
Finally, and this is a wild one, the last theory is that residents of Westeros could be inoculated against becoming a wight if they are exposed to the virus and cured almost immediately afterwards. In the Night’s King can’t add any more members to his ever-growing army of the undead, then perhaps the realm has a shot.
What do you think about our greyscale theories? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!
Porgs Rule the Internet with These Memes
Move aside, Ewoks and Loth-cats. The porgs are the newest adorable creature to Star Wars. Confirmed by StarWars.com, the lil’ cuties that call Ahch-To home will play a role in Episode VIII. Fans flipped out the moment the porgs appeared in the recently released behind-the-scenes reel for The Last Jedi. I swear it was like the world said “Awww!” in complete unison.
Chewie and the Porgs by writer Kevin Shinick and artist Fiona Hsieh
Then it got better at San Diego Comic-Con because Lucasfilm announced an upcoming kids’ book called Chewie and the Porgs. The book sounds like too good to be true fan art, but it’s reality. The title inspired fans to get creative and make porg memes. Porg. Memes. We are so blessed. Here are some of the best porg memes on the interwebs:
First up, an epic album cover nod to Porgy and Bess by Colin Bishop featuring Boss Nass and his porg pal.
What about… pic.twitter.com/g0anqC8Jdc
— COLIN BISHOP (@storydroid) July 22, 2017
And from The Force News, look out for porgs lurking underwater!
And what about this? pic.twitter.com/UyVav8e3u3
— The Force News (@SWForceNews) July 22, 2017
From SpacePuffin_, Porlo Ren:
You all think I'm cute.. but you haven't seen my dark side. I call myself.. Porlo Ren pic.twitter.com/ghcmSQSXou
— Porg (@SpacePuffin_) July 21, 2017
And Porg-ins. Hehe.
Porg-ins pic.twitter.com/jy4RPH2jYm
— Porg (@SpacePuffin_) July 21, 2017
Bobby shows us what happens with porgs meet Star Trek with this delightfully ridiculous mash-up.
"I am Lo, Cutest of Porg."
(I am so sorry for this why am I hitting tweet this is a bad id—) pic.twitter.com/lsGmyXgYc6
— Bobby (@bobbyrobertspdx) July 18, 2017
Star Wars Underworld shares what it would look like if the porgs had their very own poster for The Last Jedi:
The Porgs are already taking over. #StarWars #TheLastJedi -B- pic.twitter.com/CMy1WABXna
— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 21, 2017
A post shared by Cinemaniac (@cinnemaniac) on Jul 22, 2017 at 12:18pm PDT
This is so bad, but I can’t stop myself from laughing.
Porg-Ren ohhh . #starwars #porg #porgs #rey #kyloren #daisyridley #adamdriver
A post shared by because Leia is sassy ok (@star.wars.spam) on Jul 24, 2017 at 1:20am PDT
What happens when you mix porgs and Chipotle? Bad things.
A post shared by Ekul Reklawyks (@the_star_wars_fan_person) on Jul 20, 2017 at 11:30am PDT
This isn’t so much a meme as it is fan art, but look at Dan Tube‘s art of porgs in costumes:
http://dandebbie.tumblr.com/post/163305678327/jedi-porg-cosplay
Have you made a porg meme? Did you see one we missed? Share it in the comments or talk to us on Twitter: @nerdist and @amy_geek.
Images: Lucasfilm/Disney, Disney Lucasfilm Press
Will GAME OF THRONES Finally Bring Back Gendry to Save Theon?
When his uncle Euron attacked, Theon‘s response reeked.
(We promise this article gets better.)
Our new, favorite, crazy ass pirate and his stunning surprise attack resulted in Theon transforming back into the broken shadow of a man Ramsay had made him. With an awkward dive into the sea Reek abandoned his sister and his ship, and now he’s alone, floating somewhere between Dragonstone and Dorne. His allies are dead or in chains, his fleet destroyed, and no one knows he’s out there.
Who could possibly save him now? Who might be nearby to rescue Reek?
How about that guy who’s been on a rowboat for four years?
That’s right, this could finally (finally) be when Game of Thrones brings back that handsome bastard, last seen being freed by Davos from Dragonstone in the season three finale. We bid adieu to Robert Baratheon’s secret son, happy he would be spared from Melisandre’s flames, but unaware that his rowboat excursion would take him out of our lives entirely.
But his absence might be about to end, since he is needed more than ever, and for far more than saving Yara’s useless little brother.
Theon is lost somewhere between Dorne and Dragonstone, where Gendry departed from. We certainly don’t think Gendry is still on a rowboat after all this time, but we think he could be on one of the islands around there.
Knowing the danger he was in–both from the gold cloaks of King’s Landing who were looking for him, as well as Melisandre who wanted to burn him at the stake–he would not have wanted to return to mainland Westeros. So what better place to hide than a random, sparsely populated island where no one would ever think to look for him. Theon needs to get to shore somewhere or be found floating, and it just makes too much sense that the only character that might be around to help him is Gendry.
But we’re not content just seeing Gendry once, we want him back in the fold permanently, and fortunately this all lines up perfectly for that to happen.
Gendry finds Theon, who asks him to bring him back to Dragonstone. Gendry says, “Abso-freaking-lutely not,” since Dragonstone is where Stannis planned on making him a king’s blood sacrifice. But huzzah! Stannis is dead, and the benevolent Mother of Dragons rules there now. Not only will he be safe there, she’ll take him in for aiding her ally.
Gendry, tired of island life, agrees, thinking his rowboat has finally come in, so he brings Theon back to Dragonstone.
Unfortunately, because all the gods hate him, Gendry discovers the red priestess who took him away from the Brotherhood Without Banners so she could kill him just moved back to Dragonstone. But no worries, Melisandre learned her lesson about the folly of human sacrifices, and she doesn’t want to kill him anymore. Not that Daenerys would allow it.
But here’s where it gets real good. Jon Snow is heading to Dragonstone right now, and he’s looking to mine dragonglass to make it into weapons. The White Walkers are marching, and they’re going to quickly need a skilled blacksmith to help forge spears and arrows tipped with dragonglass.
A blacksmith like Gendry.
Boom, just like that Gendry’s interminable rowboat to nowhere suddenly leads to him helping to save all of humanity from the army of the dead. A long lost character triumphantly returns and helps save the day.
It would be the one part of Theon’s dive that doesn’t reek.
(Well we kept our promise until the end.)
What do you think? Is Theon’s time of need the time for Game of Thrones to bring Gendry back? Or are we out to sea with this idea? Set sail in our comments below with your thoughts.
Images: HBO
The Tides of War Turn This Week on GAME OF THRONES
After last week’s set-up heavy episode, it appeared that Game of Thrones‘s most recent episode would follow a similar path, until that crazy naval slaughter! We’ll get to that in a minute, though. Today’s Monday, which means Nerdist News Talks Back has been reborn through fire as All Kings Considered. Join Queen in the North Jessica Chobot, Wolfmother Amy Vorpahl, Actual Real Knight Kyle Anderson, and Archmaester Alicia Lutes as they discuss what’s up (probably dragons) in Westeros after Sunday night’s “Stormborn.”
Needless to say, there are major spoilers in this week’s episode — don’t say we didn’t warn you!
First up? Everybody’s favorite platinum blonde lady, Daenerys Stormborn. She and her lovable band of misfits are plotting their rise to power, but they need allies to make it happen. Dorne and Highgarden weren’t super on board until Tyrion revealed this weeks second “huh, why didn’t I think of that?” Sponsored by Mountain Dew strategy: surround them. Mind. Blown. These people know how war works, right? You don’t just march up to the enemy castle and punch it until it falls down. Well, the Mountain could probably do that. (Not actually sponsored by Mountain Dew).
Speaking of that undead servant, how about his leaders, the Lannisters, eh? Despite Jaime’s misgivings, he’s all in on defending Kings Landing from Dany’s army, and he’s convinced Randall Tarly to help him out. But no number of Westerosi men will stand before three dragons. Luckily, Maester Qyburn’s had a breakthrough. In one of this week’s two “huh, why didn’t I think of that?” Sponsored by Mountain Dew moments, Qyburn’s master plan to destroy the dragons is…a bigger bow. Bigger enemy, bigger bow. Makes sense. I’m not entirely sure how Westeros has never seen a ballista before, but it’ll probably put a dent in Drogon’s fire-breathing face. (Warning, still not actually sponsored by Mountain Dew).
And then there are the Starks. Da Kinindanorf Jon Snow is heading to Dragonstone to seek an alliance with Aunty Daenerys (though he STILL doesn’t know they’re related), which means Sansa is acting Queenindanorf until he returns. With Littlefinger weaseling his way into the Stark inner circle, hopefully Sansa can keep a clear enough head to keep Winterfell afloat.
Arya, on the other hand is on her way to Winterfell after learning of her brother’s survival from none other than Hot Pie himself. In classic Arya fashion, she’ll probably miss her brother by a day or two, but at least Sansa will be there. Arya did get one reunion 6 seasons in the making in the form of Nymeria. Though the wolf would not accompany Arya home, Nymeria’s presence will do a lot to remind Arya that she is not, in fact, “no one.”
And finally, our somewhat well-liked, somewhat hated dysfunctional family, the Greyjoys. Euron said he was going to give Cersei a gift, and a gift he has given. Yara’s fleet of Ironborn was utterly crushed by the one true Iron Fleet, with two Sand Snakes dying and the third getting captured, along with Yara and Ellaria. We also got to see the return of Reek, as Theon debated whether or not to charge to his sister’s rescue. In all honesty, Theon made the right choice by abandoning ship; he had no chance of freeing Yara with Euron’s axe against her throat, and this path leaves them both alive to serve their queen. It might not help his reputation, but Theon hasn’t been too concerned with reputation for a while.
Oh yeah also Sam poked some pus and then it was soup or a pie and I don’t know if I can take another transition like that next week.
You can watch and interact live with Nerdist News Talks Back every weekday at 1:00pm PST and All Kings Considered on Mondays on YouTube and Alpha, and catch up with the archives just after the show!
Image: HBO
DC Will Digitally Erase SUPERMAN’S Mustache in JUSTICE LEAGUE
After the pop culture explosion that is San Diego Comic-Con, we’re all trying to decompress. Looking for the calm and quiet away from Hall H, trying to find our happy place in the trailers we didn’t get a chance to watch, or catching up on announcements we somehow missed in the masses of people, places, and things. But then some news comes along that’s so shocking, so abhorrent that it breaks you out of your post Comic-Con stupor and you have to take action. Today that news is how DC will digitally erase Henry Cavill’s Mission: Impossible mustache during reshoots for Justice League, now under the supervision of Joss Whedon, apparent mustache hater!
A Variety report about the alleged 25 million dollars worth of reshoots that are (sort of) causing scheduling issues for the cast included a quote that’s pretty revealing in regards to DC Entertainment and their dedication to keeping the Man of Steel’s clean cut aesthetic.
“Justice League’s Man of Steel had expected to be able to finish shooting the sixth Mission: Impossible film before needing to don Superman‘s spandex again. That has not been the case, however, as the new scenes that are being shot have required him to jump back and forth from each production. Because of this, a mustache he grew for his character in the Mission: Impossible sequel will have to be digitally removed in post-production. Paramount, which is distributing the Mission: Impossible sequel, would not allow Cavill to shave the facial hair while production was taking place.”
For those of you who haven’t seen the wonder of Henry Cavill with a mustache, then please enjoy this Instagram post from Supes himself:
A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on Jul 19, 2017 at 5:40am PDT
Superman having facial hair is technically canon, most notably in Superman #225 when an evil alien clone of the Son of Krypton himself kept the real Clark Kent in a cage until he grew a pretty impressive beard!
He also clearly has a thing for bristles because there’s this classic page from Lois Lane #39 where Superbaby paints a picture that becomes reality, giving Lois a pretty outrageous mustache! It’s ok though, cos Superman is really digging it.
And, of course, Superman #290, seemingly the only time the Big Boy Scout has ever sported a soup strainer. He dons a pretty suspect disguise to stop Mr. Mxyzptlk from stealing language from everyone on Earth. Superman then tricks the trickster into reading his own name backwards, thus sending the playful villain back to his own dimension!
Alas it looks like we won’t be seeing Superman rocking a lustrous ‘stache like Cavill’s in Joss Whedon/Zack Snyder’s Justice League. But the production’s dedication to keeping Cavill clean shaven does make us think that he must have already filmed a bunch of footage with Snyder on the original JL shoot.
How do you feel about Superman not getting to show off his incredibly well kept facial hair? Are you surprised that they aren’t letting Cavill bring his classic Hollywood hair to the Justice League? Or do you (incorrectly) not care about an alternate universe where Superman has a mustache? Let us know in the comments!
Images: DC, Warner Brothers
July 23, 2017
GAME OF THRONES “Stormborn” Recap: The Past Came Storming Back
Seven blessings to you dear reader. We’re always glad to bring you under our protection here at House Nerdist, but be warned, this recap of tonight’s Game of Thrones is dark and full of spoilers. So unless you’ve seen the episode and want to avoid them don’t travel the King’s Road past this warning.
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In an episode where everyone’s past seemed to catch up with them, it’s Cersei’s future prospects that took everyone by surprise. Especially since she landed the first blow in the war for Westeros.
This episode, “Stormborn,” (which is one of Daenery’s many monikers because she was born during a similar storm on that very island) took its name both from the violent storm that rocked Dragonstone to start the events, as well as the coming storm that everyone still playing the game of thrones faces.
Cersei’s in Better Shape Than We Thought, and Daenerys Is Not
Despite looking like she was doomed before the season started, Cersei reminded us once again why we should never count her out. She skillfully used real facts about Daenerys to make her sound as mad as her father, when she called on the great houses of the Reach. Daenerys really did crucify all those slave masters, and she did feed one of them to her dragons, so slave-owning or not, those men were the Slaver’s Bay equivalents to Westeros’s great lords.
Nobody in the Seven Kingdoms, not even those that hate the Lannisters, want to see a Dothraki horde coming for them. Queen Daenerys and her “horse-riding savages” pose an existential threat to them.Yet here is the M ad King’s daughter, with tales of her viciousness sans any context, showing up on their shores with the largest khalasar the world has ever seen, along with the famed Unsullied.
Cersei has a point. A really good point. She’s evil, but she’s not wrong. And while Randyl Tarly told Jaime his family fights with honor and tries to keep its vows, he’s smart enough to know he might not have a family if he doesn’t oppose Daenerys and her foreign invaders.
Of course, you can have all the support you want, but that doesn’t mean you can beat dragons. But unlike when Aegon the Conqueror caught an ill-prepared Westeros off guard 300 years ago, this time the houses of the Seven Kingdoms know what to expect. Which is why Qyburn has been putting together an awesome dragon-killing crossbow big enough to shoot through a dragon’s skull. (But do we have to destroy priceless artifacts to show that! Use some stones or something guys.)
Cersei’s main weapon is propaganda (well that and the fact Euron just kicked some major ass for her), and Daenerys has dragons. That doesn’t sound like much of fight, but all of Daenerys’s fighting men will not be welcomed in Westeros. Her family’s past, both the power of Aegon and her father’s madness, haunts her the way so many other pasts came back to bite characters this episode.
Speaking of Euron, that sea battle was gorgeous (well, as gorgeous as a murderous raid can be), far superior to even the wildfire spectacle that we saw in “Blackwater.” I don’t know how skilled sailors like Theon and Yara’s men could be caught that unprepared, but they were. And now Cersei has claimed the first victory, and in doing so greatly hindered Tyrion’s plan to use Westerosi soldiers to lay siege to King’s Landing.
We loved how Tyrion knew exactly what his sister would do (he’s usually one step ahead of her), and we can’t wait to see Casterly Rock, but Euron’s giant Iron Fleet just made it a whole lot harder for Daenerys to avoid using her dragons to win the Iron Throne. “Be a dragon,” said Olenna Tyrell, and Daenerys might not have a choice now.
This coming war no longer looks so one-sided, and it’s our fault for ever doubting Cersei in the first place.
(Maybe Daenerys would be in better shape if they did ANY planning on the ride over from Meereen, instead of waiting to arrive on Dragonstone to argue about it.)
Jon Still Sees the Big Picture, But He Might Not Be the Prince That Was Promised
Daenerys wants the Iron Throne, Cersei wants it, but Jon is still solely focused on the real war that matters, the one with the White Walkers.
It would be nice to have a meeting in the North where everyone just says, “You’re right your grace,” but that is clearly never going to happen. Even Lyanna Mormont spoke out against Jon; that’s when you know it is bad. Yet Jon keeps doing the “right” thing, even when it’s unpopular.
With Sam’s letter reaching him about the dragonglass, and Jon’s relationship with Tyrion back in season one being one of the few instances this episode of someone’s past being a good thing, Jon knows he has no choice but to risk meeting the Mad King’s daughter.
When he does get there he’s going to find another old friend there in Melisandre, who brought one of the most discussed fan theories to the show in a way it never has been before. Book readers know that the Prince That Was Promised prophecy is really gender neutral in High Valyrian, which Missandei pointed out to Daenerys. Jon was resurrected, he has faced down the Night King, and he is the only one worried about stopping him, but Daenerys might very well be the person the prophecy was talking about.
We don’t think Jon is in danger at Dragonstone, but he doesn’t know that. The living need his leadership even if he isn’t the Prince they need too.
Your Past Follows You, Always
Daenerys wasn’t the only one dealing with the fallout from the past, as she made Varys answer for his previous actions. He served her father, then Robert the man who unseated him, then he tried to have her killed, all while trying to put her awful brother Viserys on the throne instead. Varys’s claims of serving the common people did sound hollow when she pointed out her brother was terrible, and it made us wonder if maybe we shouldn’t trust a man known as the Spider nearly as much as we have.
Either way, no one forgets who you were before, no matter how many vows you swear now. It’s what makes the great game so dangerous for everyone who plays it.
Arya Is Lost
Hot Pie! Hot Pie Hot Pie Hot Pie!
Okay, got that out of our system.
Arya’s dead eyes/disinterest while seeing an old friend was another reminder of her lost humanity, which made it even more heartbreaking when she learned her brother and sister had retaken Winterfell. Suddenly her plan to march south and murder Cersei fell away, and her humanity came back, if just for a moment. That’s Arya, not the coldblooded murderer she has become.
But when lost direwolf, the giant Nymeria, found her, Arya realized she still isn’t herself just yet. Nymeria didn’t attack her, but she didn’t fully recognize the person Arya is now. Despite leaving the Faceless Men, she is still no one in many ways.
Random Thoughts
–Greyscale is going to play a major role going forward. That was a lot of time for the show to dedicate to trying to cure Jorah (a good example of someone’s past being helpful, since Sam cared because he served for Jorah’s father Lord Commander Mormont).
–You go Grey Worm. We have lots of questions though, but we don’t know if we want them answered.
–“You’ve been making pies?”
“One or two.”
Best line of the night.
–“Dun-near-ees.” Jon, please, say her name right.
–No you got teary eyed seeing Ned’s crypt.
–Oh, great, Reek is back. Sorry Yara. Don’t trust Greyjoy men.
–That’s some gift Euron got Cersei. But we’re thankful for being rid of two Sand Snakes. That was the best present of them all.
–Baelish, maybe be careful around Jon when talking about his sister.
So while the past and all its baggage was as big a presence as any character tonight, it’s the future wars, alliances, and answers that stand out.
What did you think of tonight’s Game of Thrones? Let us know in the comments below and TUNE IN MONDAY at 1 p.m. PST, when we break it all down on our newly All Kings Considered-ified episodes of Nerdist News Talks Back!
Images: HBO
Young Marvel Hero Stickers Are Coming to Mobile Devices
One of the most adorable lineups of Marvel variant covers belongs to artist Skottie Young, who renders heroes like Spider-Man and the Avengers into younger baby versions of themselves. Mobile users will now be able to apply these young heroes to their text threads through the new Marvel Stickers: Young Marvel app in iOS and Android devices.
I can’t think of anything more fun than ending a chat exchange with a young Loki stretching his arms out wide, or with Gwenpool sipping from a frozen beverage.
The heroes and villains selected for the stickers range from the comedic, like Squirrel Girl and a surly-looking Howard the Duck, to world conquerors like the Mad Titan Thanos and the robotic Ultron. (Though it should be noted that Squirrel Girl is one tough cookie. She has a defeat over Galactus, the devourer of worlds, on her résumé.)
If you’re on the fence about when you’d ever use the Marvel Stickers: Young Marvel app, consider this: Say you’re having an argument with someone, and you want to smooth things over. What better way to mend fences than by sending a sticker of everyone’s favorite members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket and Groot?
Show your friends how you feel in Marvel-style with new "Marvel Stickers: Young Marvel"for iOS! Available now: https://t.co/B9WXQlCzdg pic.twitter.com/HGgDMoC2jy
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) July 21, 2017
The new young Marvel sticker app is available now for all iOS devices. Let us know which character you’ll be texting with first in the comments below!
Images: Marvel
Tim Adams is a freelance writer who loves comics and the TV and movies that feature them. Follow him on Twitter!
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