Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2062
May 29, 2017
New Video Reveals Everything About SUPER MARIO 64’s Inner Workings
Twenty-one years ago, Super Mario 64 revolutionized 3D platformers with its innovative gameplay and camera system. It’s one of Shigeru Miyamoto’s greatest achievements, and it is still widely regarded as one of the best video games ever made. After two decades, there are still many things that can be learned by examining the design and physics behind Super Mario 64, as shown in a recently released video.
Via Kotaku, a gamer calling themselves Pannenkoek has posted a 40-minute deep dive into the inner workings of Super Mario 64, examining the mathematics behind its makeup, focusing specifically on the geography that makes its world so visually stimulating and engaging to play around in. The video illustrated one surprising fact above all: every surface in the game is made up of triangles, even when the shapes don’t appear to be triangular at all.
Granted, many of the concepts and ideas laid out in this video were already very familiar to players who have made it their goal to discover every last secret that Super Mario 64 has to offer; Pannenkoek himself is a speedgamer who is dedicated to finding newer and faster ways to get through Super Mario 64. For casual viewers, this video is also a useful tool to understand a side of gaming that is rarely considered.
What did you think about this video? Did Pannenkoek’s analyses breathe new life into one of your old favorites, or is this triangle formula already old news to a speedrunning pro like yourself? Construct your thoughts in the comment section below!
Image: Nintendo
Could we be getting a Pokémon Switch ?
Neill Blomkamp’s New Trailer Teases Series of Sci-fi Films
Neill Blomkamp‘s proposed Alien 5 is probably never going to happen, but that doesn’t mean that Blomkamp is finished with sci-fi. Far from it, in fact. For a few months, Blomkamp has teased his next project without revealing any specifics about what it would be. That changed today, when Blomkamp dropped a teaser trailer for Oat Studios Volume 1, a new series of short sci-fi films.
Via io9, the teaser for Oat Studios Volume 1 paints a picture of a devastating alien invasion, that’s apparently left Earth at the mercy of lizard-like aliens and Paris overrun by vegetation. The female narrator hints that the invaders came to exterminate humanity, and that the only choice is to adapt or die.
The official site for Oat Studios has also launched, but so far, it simply says “we make experimental short films.” As noted by io9, Blomkamp has previously expressed a desire to use Valve’s Steam as a distribution for short films, but neither the teaser video nor the web page confirm that. However, it does seem likely that the shorts will share the same world, as the teaser appears to show different people attempting to survive the new order and even soldiers at war.
It’s an intriguing set up, and if we’ve learned anything from Blomkamp’s work on District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, then the Oat Studios films will also feature social commentary mixed with elements of science fiction. We’re also quite curious to see just how “experimental” these shorts will be.
What did you think of the first trailer for Oat Studios Volume 1? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!
Image: Oat Studios
GAME OF THRONES’ Major Deaths Get Interactive Illustrations
Valar morghulis, amirite? But just because all men must die, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with the god of death’s handiwork. Case in point: this inventive artist’s interactive hand-drawn illustrations highlighting the circumstances surrounding every major death on Game of Thrones.
Hannes Sommer of Austria says he took about 150 hours to complete this entire project, but it was more than worth it, as he cleverly made his way through six seasons of murder on the show. He ran through all the beheadings, poisonings, arrows through the heart, fatal falls, wildfire explosions, and plenty of other ways characters have met their untimely, usually brutal end. But just as impressive as all of the work he put into this is the fact he made the whole video in just one take.
Just like we thought: watching Joffrey die is satisfying in every single medium.
There’s so much to like about this video (which we first came across at io9), but a couple of our favorite recreations here include Barristan Selmy’s death at the hands of the shadowy Sons of the Harpy, the Three-Eyed Raven falling apart, and Tommen’s final step outside for some fresh air.
However, the absolute best was how he handled the entire Dorne storyline, because they should have thrown away their whole plan for it from the start.
Valar dohareis, we know, but you don’t have to serve us inferior Sand Snakes.
Which recreated death here was your favorite? Travel the King’s Road to our comments section below to let us know.
Featured Image: HBO
Seven important details in the Game of Thrones season seven trailer
Fan-Made HARRY POTTER Prequel Explores Voldemort’s Origin Story
My favorite Harry Potter novel is the sixth in the series, The Half-Blood Prince, and while that also happens to be my favorite film in the franchise, I’ve always been disappointed by how many flashbacks to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named weren’t included from the book. Well, I must have had a swig of Felix Felicis today, because this amazing new trailer for an upcoming fan-made prequel, Voldemort: Origins of the Heir, looks like it could be the young Tom Riddle film I always wanted.
This is the first teaser (which we came across at IndieWire) for the movie currently being filmed by the production company TRYANGLE, and it will explore “the early life of Voldemort, powerful dark wizard from the Harry Potter saga, and all the reasons that made his name so well-known and feared among his peers.” Despite being just a brief glimpse, it has the look and feel of a big budget movie.
It looks like the non-profit film will explore the time period when Tom Marvolo Riddle had left Hogwarts and was on a murder spree to acquire famous magical artifacts to turn into many Horcruxes, source material that comes from the actual novels. As for the heroine of the movie who is narrating the trailer, it doesn’t appear that Grisha McLaggen already exists in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. However, it’s a good bet she’s related to Cormac McLaggen from the novels.
You can learn more about the movie at the film’s official website, which also reveals that dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald will also appear in the movie.
Yup, definitely drank some Felix Felicis.
What do you think of this trailer? What parts of Voldemort’s origins do you hope it includes? Apparate your thoughts into our comments below.
Image: TRYANGLE
AMERICAN GODS Will Bring Starmen in Season 2, and More Behind-the-Scenes Tidbits
It’s time to meet Mr. World. American Gods introduced the New God, a mystery man who seems to be the leader of the group–just like Mr. Wednesday is with the Old Gods. Mr. World has an intimidating air about him. Even though we’ve seen the extent of Wednesday’s wit and his knack for getting out of seemingly impossible situations, I was still concerned his police station encounter with Mr. World’s regime was going to be the end of him. Elsewhere in the episode, Laura talked with Shadow and came face to face with a very angry leprechaun.
As they do each week on Twitter, showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green and co-producer Loretta Ramos shared behind-the-scenes images and notes about the latest episode, “Lemon Scented You.” They shared designs for the opening Coming to America animation, storyboards, and a tease for season two.
To begin, let’s look at designs for Atsula, Yanu, and Gugwei by the studio Tendril.
Nunnyunnini lives. Nunnyunnini dies. More over the top brilliance from @STUDIOTENDRIL for#AmericanGods. @BryanFuller @neilhimself pic.twitter.com/mh8rh7aoEd
— Michael Green (@andmichaelgreen) May 29, 2017
Stunning character concepts and execution by @STUDIOTENDRIL for #AmericanGods. @BryanFuller @neilhimself @Vincenzo_Natali pic.twitter.com/lvm0UpnvAf
— Michael Green (@andmichaelgreen) May 29, 2017
BTS CHARACTER ILLUSTRATIONS – @Vincenzo_Natali WORKED WITH @studiotendril ON DESIGNING THE UNIQUE LOOK OF NUNNYUNNINI’S STORY #AMERICANGODS pic.twitter.com/NUbMGPiTvz
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
The voice of the High Priestess was none other than Yetide Badaki, a.k.a. Bilquis.
OUR LOVELY @YetideBadaki WAS PULLING DOUBLE DUTY BY VOICING ATSULA, THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF NUNNYUNNINI #AMERICANGODS @andmichaelgreen
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
Have a little novel easter egg courtesy of Shadow Moon’s room number:
SHADOW’S ROOM NUMBER IS 55 – THAT’S THE PAGE OF THE AUTHOR’S PREFERRED TEXT WHERE HE MEETS LAURA AGAIN #AMERICANGODS @andmichaelgreen pic.twitter.com/rVYcPhQsxH
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
The dead-but-still-animated Laura Moon paid a visit to Shadow at his hotel room, and his kiss (ewww) sparked a light inside Laura. These storyboards by director Vincenzo Natali illustrate it:
DIRECTOR @Vincenzo_Natali’s STORYBOARDS FOR SHADOW’S KISS THAT MAKES LAURA’S DEAD HEART BEAT ONCE MORE #AMERICANGODS @andmichaelgreen #GAWDS pic.twitter.com/F1DEqOv1BO
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
What filling someone with light looks like:
BTS #AMERICANGODS – THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BLOW A LOT OF SUNSHINE UP AN ACTOR’S ASS @andmichaelgreen #EMILYBROWNING @AmericanGodsSTZ pic.twitter.com/4t03qefgRf
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
Green, Fuller, and Ramos shared some glimpses of the police station where we encounter the world of one Mr. World for the first time:
THIS SHOT SAVED FOR LAST OF SEASON IN CASE THEY DROPPED THE CAMERA @MrRickyWhittle @manatee73 @BarrettAxford #AMERICANGODS @andmichaelgreen pic.twitter.com/eVMqvsW76y
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
True story: VFX can give you spots#MISTERWORLD @CrispinGlover @BryanFuller @neilhimself #AmericanGods pic.twitter.com/kf1CSqVqqc
— Michael Green (@andmichaelgreen) May 29, 2017
BTS – INTERROGATION ROOM WALLS WERE SCREENS VFX REMOVED THE SEAMS #AMERICANGODS @andmichaelgreen @neilhimself @MrRickyWhittle @BruceJLangley pic.twitter.com/aNVmwH5IRm
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
#AmericanGods BTS
A bloody good time at the police station pic.twitter.com/cwsjKMrvRE
— Loretta Ramos (@lorettaramos) May 29, 2017
Let’s wrap on a tweet full of possibility. Gillian Anderson‘s Media appeared as David Bowie–and she was a queen as usual–and mentioned starmen waiting in the sky. Fuller told fans in a tweet that this prophecy would be coming true in season two:
AND WE WILL MEET THEM IN SEASON 2 #AMERICANGODS @andmichaelgreen @GillianA @neilhimself @AmericanGodsSTZ pic.twitter.com/pA3BROentv
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 29, 2017
What did you think about the introduction of Mr. World? Head to the comments and tell me your thoughts.
Images: Starz
Comic Book Club: Alex de Campi
Check out the website at comicbookclublive.com to find out how to watch the show live! And follow the show on Twitter: @comicbooklive, @azalben, @jtsizzle, and @realpetelepage
See Daniel Craig and Adam Driver’s Wacky Sides in Steven Soderbergh’s LOGAN LUCKY Trailer
Under any circumstances we’d be thrilled about director Steven Soderbergh returning to the big screen, especially for another comedic heist film. But when he’s doing so with a cast that feels as though we here at Nerdist willed it into existence, like with his new film Logan Lucky, we feel as if we have hit the jackpot… Or rather that we stole the jackpot in a harebrained elaborate heist at a NASCAR race.
We’re not exaggerating about this movie’s dream cast. The film stars Channing Tatum and a one-armed Adam Driver as the Logan brothers, who turn to convict Joe Bang(!!), played by Daniel Craig in a role that is the exact opposite of James Bond cool, to help them rob the biggest race of the year: the Coca Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.
And as though those three aren’t enough to have us racing to the theater, they’ll be joined by Katherine Waterston, Sebastian Stan, Seth MacFarlane, Katie Holmes, Riley Keough, Hilary Swank, and Parks and Recreation‘s Jim O’Heir.
You wouldn’t think Kylo Ren would turn to Daniel Craig for something important at work after Craig let Rey go in The Force Awakens, but we’re glad he did. We’re going to be working on getting his absurd accent just right until we see the movie.
What do you think of this trailer? Who are you most excited to see in this movie? Deposit your thoughts in the vault that is our comments section below.
Featured Image: Bleecker Street
The Last Jedi ‘s mystery man revealed? Here’s what we know
May 28, 2017
AMERICAN GODS History Primer: Anansi, a.k.a. Mr. Nancy
The Old Gods in American Gods have roots in the past and in mythology. While we might know the ins and outs of the New Gods, like Media and Technical Boy, there’s probably a lot we can still learn about their predecessors. For those of you hoping to get a better understanding of these characters before you continue on with American Gods, we have you covered. Get to know the history that inspires the characters in our American Gods History Primer series.
Who
Anansi, a.k.a. Ananse, a.k.a. Aunt Nancy, a.k.a. Mr. Nancy
In the Series
The second episode of American Gods introduced us to an Old God with fierce words and a stylish suit. He appeared in the hold of a slaver ship in a “Coming to America” story. One of the African slaves prayed to Anansi and asked for help, and he appeared. Anansi offered a unique brand of assistance. Rather than snapping his fingers and getting the slaves off the boat and to dry land–or whatever instant rescue action a god could perform in such a situation–he empowered them.
He didn’t make some fairy godmother bullshit magic: he dropped truth on the men shackled before him. He told them about the myriad injustices they would face in America. He wasn’t wrong. Though he listed horror after horror, he inspired hope in the slaves. He encouraged them to take their destinies into their own hands and take action. They climbed out of despair and let their rage fuel them and the fire that destroyed the ship. As Mr. Nancy/Anansi said, “Angry gets shit done.”
Their sacrifice also served to strengthen Mr. Nancy–who appeared as a man and one hella terrifying looking spider–and brought him to the shores of America. As with the other Old Gods, belief carried him across the ocean.
In Mythology
In the pages of lore, Anansi got his beginning in Africa as a folk tale character. Though he was depicted as a creator of the sun, moon, and stars and as the son of the sky god Nyame, Anansi became more well known as a trickster who brought stories to the world.
As a cunning trickster, Anansi has a reputation for being wise and articulate. We certainly saw the latter trait in American Gods. One story from back in the day, shared by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features Anansi taking wisdom from various creatures through tricks and saving it for himself. When he thought the wisdom wasn’t any good, he threw the pot where he stored the wisdom in frustration, and thus scattered it to all humans in the world. A proverb from the Asante (a nation in the Ashanti Region of Ghana) goes, “No one goes to the house of the spider to teach it wisdom.”
Like in the TV series, the stories about Anansi, also known as the spider god, traveled from their origins in Africa to the Caribbean and America as slaves were transported across the waves. Oral tradition played a strong part in keeping Anansi’s spirit alive–I’d say it plays a role almost as important as that of belief. As with anything passed down verbally, the stories of Anansi changed over time. With his ability to trick others and defeat those he faced, Anansi became a symbol of sorts for rebellion and gave hope to those enslaved–which is fitting with his introduction in American Gods.
In Other Stories
If you’re interested in more of Mr. Nancy, you should read Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys. The novel isn’t a sequel to American Gods, but it does borrow Mr. Nancy for the story.
Images: Starz, Morrow, Tumblr/Sam
TWIN PEAKS: The 7 Most Lynchian Moments in Episodes 3 And 4
What makes the new Twin Peaks so darn weird? Read on and find out, but be warned – full on spoilers for both of these two episodes abound!
If episodes one and two of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s revival of Twin Peaks played towards Lynch’s more ominous, sinister side, then the following two chapters definitely brought back some of the whimsy and absurdist humor of the original show. Having said that, the opening sequence from Chapter 3 definitely falls into the classic Lynch surrealism category, and is creepy, dark and disturbing as all get out. And it tops our list of the seven most Lynchian moments from episodes 3 and 4.
Cooper’s Escape From The Other Side
The opening twenty or so minutes of chapter three of Twin Peaks has to be some of the weirdest stuff David Lynch has ever produced for the screen, and that’s saying quite a lot. It makes the dancing dwarf dream sequence from the end of the third episode of the original series look like Teletubbies. We are in pure Eraserhead territory here with this one, guys.
This sequence starts with Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) falling through space and into a strange metal building surrounded by a purple ocean. From there, we get an eyeless woman who communicates via strange clicking noises, Cooper and said woman standing on top of a metal box in space to get away from something that’s banging down the door, a moment where the floating head of Major Briggs floats by (using archival footage of the late Don S. Davis) and a cameo appearance by a backwards talking Ronette Pulaski (Phoebe Augustine), the victim who witnessed the murder of Laura Palmer. Ultimately, Cooper escapes this crazy dimension by travelling through a giant electrical socket. Because why not.
All of this happens while both Evil Cooper and Coop’s other doppelganger, the newly introduced Dougie Jones, resist the pull back to the Black Lodge by throwing up toxic cream corn everywhere. Seriously, it doesn’t get more out there, or more Lynchian, than this sequence.
Is It All About The Bunnies?
In a scene emphasizing Lynch’s penchant for absurdist humor, Deputy Chief Hawk (Michael Horse), per the cyptic instructions of the Log Lady in the previous episodes, lays out all the information they have on the missing Agent Dale Cooper by bringing out the case files from his stay in town over 25 years ago, when he was investigating the murder of Laura Palmer. Among the evidence from the Palmer case is a box of chocolate bunnies that belonged to Laura, which Agent Cooper comically referenced way back in the original pilot episode.
With one chocolate bunny missing, a hysterical and tearful Lucy (Kimmy Robertson) confesses that 25 years ago, she actually ate the evidence, because she read somewhere that chocolate is good for helping with having gas. Could the vital, missing clue from the old case files for finding Agent Cooper be all about the missing chocolate bunny?? Hawk knows that’s nonsense…unless maybe, it really is all about the bunny??
No, it’s not about the bunny.
Dr. Jacoby And The Golden Shovels
In the first episode of the new season, one of the first scenes is our reintroduction to Dr. Lawrence Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn), now living in a trailer in the woods, receiving a shipment of shovels, but for just what purpose we don’t know. Then, in episode 3, we see he’s built a rather complicated contraption that allows him to spray paint all these shovels at once the color gold. Why? Lynch isn’t telling us yet. Heck, we may never know. But these long moments of Jacoby spray painting shovels is pretty classic Lynch.
“Mr. Jackpots”
Agent Cooper, finally released from the Black Lodge into the real world after 25 years, winds up in a Las Vegas casino, of all places. He’s replaced his second doppelganger, Dougie Jones, an overweight schmoe seemingly created by the evil Coop as a decoy. Cooper emerges from his 25 year exile a little worse for wear, with what looks from the outset to be brain damage. He wanders into the Casino, where he witnesses a man win the jackpot big and scream out “Helloooo!” as the coins poured out.
From there, he follows a small, floating window into the Black Lodge which hovers over every winning slot machine, resulting in the brain-addled Cooper cleaning out the casino and earning the name “Mr. Jackpots” from a decrepit old woman, who is straight from Wicked Witch central casting. And every time he wins a jackpot, he mimics the guy he saw win the first time, by screaming out “Helloooo,” and it never stops being funny.
Bobby Briggs Has An Emotional Moment
He wasn’t in the premiere episodes, but in episodes 3 and 4, we finally get our first glimpse of former bad boy/drug dealer Bobby Briggs, played once again by Dana Ashbrook….and he’s now a Sheriff’s Deputy! It may seem crazy at first, but then think back to all the jerks you knew in high school who grew up to be cops, and it makes sense.
In one scene, Bobby walks into the conference room, where Hawk has all the items from Dale Cooper’s time in Twin Peaks…including the famous photo of Laura Palmer, who happens to have been Bobby’s girlfriend. In a moment almost parodying the original series, Bobby wells up with tears at the sight of his beautiful, long-gone girlfriend, as “Laura Palmer’s Theme” swells. It’s a wonderful homage to one of the tropes of the original show, and also purely Lynchian.
Wally Brando
Given that during the original series, the character of Lucy Moran was pregnant with Deputy Andy Brennan’s baby, we knew that said baby would now be 24 years old. Turns out, Lucy and Andy have a son named Wally Brando, named after Marlon Brando, with whom he shares a birthday. Wally Brando is played by Michael Cera, in a long, awkward and hilarious cameo.
It seems Wally takes his namesake very seriously, and appears to speak in a perpetual, terrible Brando impersonation, and dressed as his character in The Wild One. Some fans might hate this moment, which could be the only appearance of Wally Brando for all we know, but it is truly absurd, comedic Lynch at his finest (and most awkward).
Dougie Jones’ Pancake Breakfast
Our seemingly brain-damaged Dale Cooper is now living the life of his “manufactured” doppelganger, Dougie Jones, which includes living in a suburban home with wife named Janey-E (Naomi Watts) and a pre-teen son named Sonny Jim (seriously, only Lynch could come up with these names). Despite the radical change in appearance from Dougie to Coop, his wife doesn’t seem to suspect this isn’t the same person she’s married to, but his kid seems to know there’s a new weirdo in the house.
When Coop comes to breakfast, while wearing a tie on top of his head, Sonny Jim introduces him to wonders of pancakes while the 1950s era jazz classic “Take Five” plays. Most importantly, Coop takes his first sip of hot black coffee in this episode. This is all extremely silly and charming in a purely Lynchian way. And who knows, maybe all Coop needed was good cup of joe to get him back to his normal self.
What were the weirdest parts of the new Twin Peaks for you? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.
Images: CBS / Showtime
The Many Faces Of Media, and Other AMERICAN GODS Moments Explained
Spoilers for episode 5 of American Gods follow! You have been warned.
As each new episode of American Gods premieres, I worry occasionally that the series will eventually be straightforward enough that there’ll be nothing to “explain” from week to week. “Lemon Scented You,” however, has quelled that fear in me the best way it could: with rapid fire David Bowie allusions. Somebody’s going to have to pick those out for all of you, and it might as well be me, right?
Coming To America
In an interesting departure from the other “Coming to America” we’ve witnessed on the show thus far, this episode documents the coming of Siberian travelers across the Bering Strait with stylized animation, using an aesthetic that feels reminiscent of the Tale of the Three Brothers from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Atsula and her god Nunyunnini should be familiar if you’ve read the book, but they’re not especially important to remember in detail, except to demonstrate that the Gods depend on the people who believe in them for survival. Or, as Ibis puts it: “The Gods are great, but people are greater, for it is in their hearts that Gods are born and to their hearts that they return.”
Laura and the Coin
Now that the show has filled in all of Laura’s backstory, it’s time to move forward to her reunion with Shadow. It’s interesting to see how much more willing Laura is to embrace the world of Gods, a concept Shadow still has trouble with. Then again, Laura is a dead woman whose heart starts beating again when she kisses her husband, so obviously circumstances demand that she start believing more quickly than he does. Her existences still appears to be connected to the coin, which has somehow burrowed her way inside her and cannot be taken out by force–mostly because Laura can straight-up kill anybody who comes after her with that inhuman strength she’s got.
Speaking of which, now that Mad Sweeney knows just who’s got it, he’s not about to give it up easily, telling Laura it’s the sort of coin that “you give to the King Of America himself.” Sweeney calls Wednesday Grimnir, another one of Odin’s names from a mythological poem known as the Grímnismál, and “ginger minge” is Irish slang for a red-headed woman’s pubic hair. Not sure how Laura knows that one, but considering what Sweeney’s calling her, it seems fitting.
Odin’s Raven
Eat your heart out, Game of Thrones—American Gods officially has the best ravens in TV. In Norse mythology, Odin’s ravens Huginn and Muninn fly around Midgard and report information to him. It’s unclear which one this is, but we’ll definitely see them both again before the series is through.
The Media Who Fell To Earth
Turns out that virtual reality limousine where Shadow first encountered the Technical Boy is a device that other members of the New Gods can use, too–maybe Technical Boy stole it for a joyride? In any event. Media is back and she’s got the keys to the limo for the time being. As we discovered in Episode 3, she assumes whatever form will effectively deliver her message most effectively, which (of course) tends to be iconic celebrities. Here she manifests as David Bowie in his iconic “Life On Mars” music video look, because she’s accusing Technical Boy of “beating up the wrong guy”–specifically, Shadow Moon, to whom their leader Mr. World would like him to apologize.
Other references you might have missed, in quick succession: Media says Technical Boy’s “got your transmission and your live wire” (from “Rebel Rebel”) but “your circuit’s dead” (from “Space Oddity); that there is “a terror in knowing what Mr. World is about” (from “Under Pressure,” with a small modification); that Technical Boy is “putting out the fire with gasoline” (from “Cat People”); and that there are “Starmen waiting in the sky” (from “Starman”). She also alludes to the infamous War Of The Worlds broadcast as an example of her power, saying “I was there when the Martians invaded in 1938. What a panic.” And then she disappears into a giant holographic projection of Mars, because of course she does. Somewhere right now, I can hear Bryan Fuller, Michael Green, and episode writer Maria Melnik clapping their hands with glee that they managed to fit all of that into roughly three minutes of screen time.
The Police Station
Even when Mr. Wednesday is trying to con his way out of an arrest, he’s downright poetic; the few lines of verse he speaks are by 19th century poet William Ernest Henley, who also wrote “Invictus.” In any event, everything that happens in the police station is entirely new to the series, placed there to establish a meeting between Wednesday and his “extremely extravagant enemies” and explain why he does not want to work with them. It’s a necessary change, given that media and technology are as much mediums as they are objects that inspire worship. Otherwise, how do you explain online ministries?
With this in mind, Technical Boy offers Shadow an apology, which is somehow more about the problematic optics of lynching a black man than it is about acknowledging that he caused Shadow pain (boy, they’ve really nailed the internet with this depiction, haven’t they?), and Media–dressed as Marilyn Monroe, though Shadow still recognizes her as “I Love Lucy”–offers Wednesday a business opportunity: by naming via a missile after him, the New Gods could secure Odin a permanent means of belief and sacrifice. Naturally, Wednesday’s not on board. “All you do is occupy their time,” he argues. “We gave back. We gave them meaning.”
And finally, in the middle of all of this, we get our first glimpse of the show’s Big Bad: Mr. World, the leader of of the New Gods, as played by the straight-up terrifying Crispin Glover. In the book he’s even more enigmatic than he appears in the series, where he’s the God of… systems? Of global capitalism? Surveillance? Whatever his power derives from, he can somehow use it to mutate the wood in an office chair to attack Wednesday and Shadow on their way out. I have an idea what this could be a reference to, but suffice it to say it would spoil the whole series, so we’ll hold off on that for now.
What did you think of this episode? Anything else you need explained? Let us know in the comments and let’s see if we can’t figure this out.
Images: Starz
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