Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 26

ALIEN: EARTH Finally Introduces Ms. Yutani, CEO of Weyland-Yutani

The infamous corporation Weyland-Yutani has been the real villain of the Alien franchise ever since Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic. In that first film, they were simply called “the Company.” However, we see the name Weyland-Yutani on monitors. It was under this company’s direct orders that the Nostromo diverted to planet LV-426 to retrieve the Xenomorph for their weapons division. And they were ordered to do so as a “priority one” directive. We met the Weyland of Weyland-Yutani, Peter Weyland, in the film Prometheus, and he was played by Guy Pearce. But who is Yutani? Well, we finally meet Ms. Yutani in the flesh in Alien: Earth, played by actress Sandra Yi Sencindiver.

FX/Hulu

In Alien: Earth, creator Noah Hawley introduces us to the face of Weyland-Yutani in the early part of the 22nd century. So far, she doesn’t have a first name (at least not yet). Her official profile says “She has the surety and poise of a woman who owns one-fifth of the entire planet and much more in space. Her grandmother sent the USCSS Maginot on its mission. Therefore, Yutani considers what’s on the ship not just her property, but her birthright.” In this era, Weyland-Yutani is one of the five corporations that rule the Earth. They create/control almost everything, including synthetic beings. The Five function in place of actual governments in this time. One of its biggest rivals is Prodigy, a multi-trillion-dollar company run by the genius Boy Kavalier.

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How ALIEN: EARTH Fits Into the ALIEN Franchise Timeline

In 2120, when Alien: Earth takes place, Weyland-Yutani is a relatively recent power in the world. It formed when the Weyland Corp took over Yutani Corporation in the year 2099 after a fierce bidding war. In her few scenes in Alien: Earth, we see Yutani in a glittering high-rise, taking a call from her cyborg employee Morrow (Babou Ceesay), the sole survivor of the Maginot. When he talks to her, he doesn’t recognize her as the Yutani that he remembers. She reminds him that the Yutani he knew was her grandmother, as his mission left for space 65 years earlier. However, she informs him that he is still under contract to Yutani, and therefore she is still his boss. And she wants him to retrieve the lost alien specimens by any means necessary.

FX/Hulu

Given that the original Alien takes place a mere two years after Alien: Earth, it stands to reason that the Yutani played by Sandra Yi Sencindiver is the same one who is giving orders to the android Ash (Ian Holm) via MU-TH-UR, the Nostromo’s computer system. So this new series is the first time we see the head of the company. The same company that deemed Ripley, Parker, and Captain Dallas as “expendable.” If and when Alien: Earth connects directly to Alien, we have a strong feeling it will be through the character of Yutani. However, we’ve seen little of her so far in Alien: Earth, so we are looking forward to learning more about this ruthless (but very glamorous) CEO. Clearly, a woman who will stop at nothing to get her hands on the deadly alien Xenomorph.

Alien: Earth releases new episodes every Tuesday on FX and FX on Hulu.

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What Are the 5 New Alien Species From ALIEN: EARTH?

The Alien franchise has always focused on just one titular alien — the Xenomorph. Yes, over the years, we got extrapolations of the Xenomorph, like the Queen, and the facehuggers. Yet they all still live within the same family of Alien aliens. But in Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth, we get a total of five alien species recovered by the Weyland-Yutani corporation. Four of these Alien: Earth aliens have never been seen in this franchise until now. They include the Blood Tick, the Octopus Eye, the Orchid, and the nest of alien flies, with the Xenomorph returning to our screens as well. But what exactly are each of these new alien species from Alien: Earth? Join us as we break down each one of these new aliens, collected by the Weyland-Yutani ship the Maginot, using what we know about them so far. But don’t worry, we’ll keep this piece updated as we receive new information on all the new aliens from Alien: Earth.

The 5 New Alien Species From Alien: EarthThe Blood Tick Is a New Alien That Will Make Your Skin CrawlFX/Hulu

If you hate bugs, we regret to inform you that one of the new alien species discovered by the crew of the Maginot on Alien: Earth will truly make your skin crawl. These ticks, for lack of a better term, can burrow into the body of one of their victims. There, they feed on their insides until the sacks in the rear of their bodies become filled with blood. We see this happen to poor Prodigy special forces in episode two. Grossest part of all? Once they implant themselves inside a host body, they gestate inside until multiple bug creatures explode out of the host.

The T. Ocellus, or “Octopus Eye” Is the Creepiest New Alien Species on Alien: EarthFX/Hulu

While the “ticks” might be the most icky new alien on Alien: Earth, the octopus eye might be the creepiest. The T. Ocellus, as the crew of the Maginot called it, travels around octopus tentacles, and can tear out the eye of a mammal-like creature, and implant itself in its eye socket, taking over the body. At first, it does so with a cat, which then attacks several hybrids. Of all the new alien species, this one might be the one that comes closest to human intelligence. It might even be sentient. The Octopus Eye alien sure spells trouble for all the characters on Alien: Earth.

The “Orchid,” or Plant Pod, Looks Like a Plant, But Probably Is a Carnivorous Alien FX/Hulu

Most of the alien species found by the crew of the Maginot are insect-like, or even appear like a sea creature (like the Octopus Eye). But one of them, which we believe is called “the Orchid,” is some kind of plant. The synth Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant) comments, “It presents as flora, but it may be fauna.” The Orchid is definitely larger than anything similar found on Earth, like a Venus Flytrap. It has a tentacle that comes out when the petals unfurl, which we can assume is deadly to everyone it encounters. Flora or not, we wouldn’t want to stop and smell this new Alien: Earth species of alien.

The Fly Nest Is Buzzing with DangerFX/Hulu

The so-called ticks are not the only extraterrestrial bugs appearing on Alien: Earth. We’ve also got a nest of flies, which seems to live inside a hornet’s nest from our own world. We don’t know much about these critters yet, except that they can fly around and grow rather large. And we know there’s nothing good that come from that. All of these new alien species are parasites of some kind, so we expect the same from these alien flies on Alien: Earth. Plus, the fly is Earth’s most annoying bug… so if we extrapolate from there.

The Xenomorph Isn’t a New Alien, But It Is THE AlienFX/Hulu

Finally, on Alien: Earth, we have our classic Xenomorph, the face of the Alien franchise. This seems to be the very same species from the original Alien, complete with eggs which produce face-huggers to plant its embryos in people. So far, everything about this Xenomorph is identical to the ones we’ve known since Ridley Scott’s original 1979 film, designed by H.R. Giger. But who knows what it will become in the future of the series. There could be a whole new twist waiting for this familiar alien species on Alien: Earth.

Alien: Earth Sets Up the Possibility of Countless New Alien Species

Alien: Earth wisely sets forth that if there’s one deadly alien species out there, there are probably countless other ones. While Alien: Earth season one has made it clear it will be sticking with these five alien species this season, should the show and franchise continue to evolve, we may well see many new aliens joining the fray. And so we say, godspeed to all new Alien protganists out there.

Alien: Earth drops new episodes every Tuesday on FX and FX on Hulu.

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James Gunn Reveals Wayne Enterprises As One of Four Dominating Corporations in the DCU

James Gunn’s new DCU stands apart from the MCU in one significant way; it’s a version of Earth with a very long history of Metahumans in it. 300 years, in fact. And this fact altered history. So unlike the MCU, which is (more or less) a version of our “our” world with known cities like New York, the DCU’s United States doesn’t have those same big metropolitan centers. Cities are different, as are governments and giant conglomerates. And Gunn just revealed another big difference in his DCU, and yes, it has to do with Batman. During an exchange with Rainn Wilson for Interview Magazine, Gunn mentioned Wayne Enterprises as one of four controlling corporations wielding power in the DCU. Here’s what he had to say:

There is not a New York City in our DCU. There is not a Los Angeles in our DCU. There is Metropolis, Evergreen, and Coast City. It’s a different map. It’s a world in which some form of superheroes, which we call Metahumans, have existed for at least 300 years and they’ve been a part of our life. But I think that we’re reaching a point in the DCU where there’s three factions. There’s the Metahumans, the governments, and then the corporations. And the corporations are equally important. There’s Luthor Corp, there’s Lord Tech and Stagg Industries and Wayne Enterprises, which are the four big companies that are vying for another type of domination.

DC Studios/WB

We’ve known that Batman exists in this DCU already since Gunn announced The Brave and the Bold back in 2023. And we saw a brief glimpse of the Dark Knight in Creature Commandos. Now we know for certain that Wayne Enterprises exists as well. And it may even be bigger than any version we’ve seen on film before. The Wayne Enterprises we saw in The Dark Knight trilogy and The Batman were sizable. But we’re not sure if they were one of four companies dominating the globe.

DC Studios/WB

Gunn described all of these companies as “amoral,” neither good nor evil. However, their CEOs and figureheads can be good or evil, which changes things. He stressed that LuthorCorp did a lot of good in the world, even though Lex himself was a bad dude. We’re going to assume Bruce Wayne is one of the good ones. Having a corporation as big as Wayne Enterprises in the DCU means we may see the Wayne Enterprises logo in things like Lanterns and Clayface long before Batman himself shows up. Although, we hopefully won’t have to wait too long before we see the Caped Crusader appear in the DCU properly.

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Ben Stiller Won’t Direct on SEVERANCE Season 3

Ben Stiller not only executive produces the hit Apple TV+ series Severance, he’s also directed 11 of the 19 episodes that make up the first two seasons. But for the show’s upcoming third season, Stiller’s directorial contributions will drop significantly. As in, to zero. According to a new piece in the Los Angeles Times, the director of The Cable Guy has had to step back from directing Severance for scheduling conflicts. Namely, he wants to direct other things before time runs out. Ominous.Apple TV+

“I’m at the point in my life where I’m like, ‘The clock is ticking,’” Stiller told the Times. In addition to starring in the upcoming sequel Focker-in-Law, the latest in the miraculously still going Meet the Parents saga, Stiller wants to direct a WWII survival thriller. That movie “tells the true story of a downed airman in occupied France and how he got involved with the French Resistance.” Not only that, but he just finished documentary about his famous parents, will play the lead role in a music industry dramedy in development at HBO, and wants to make a movie based on Rachel Maddow’s podcast “Bag Man,” about the bribery scandal plaguing Richard Nixon’s vice president, Spiro Agnew. SHEESH!

“These things take time to come together,” Stiller told the paper, “and the older you get, the more you realize that you only have so much time.” But don’t worry, he’ll still produce Severance and has spent much of this year putting together season three with directors and showrunner Dan Erickson.

“I love directing it and look forward to at some point again for sure. I feel like season 3 is going to be the best yet as we continue to evolve.”

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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LEGO BATMAN: LEGACY OF THE DARK KNIGHT Trailer Celebrates Batman’s Movie History

It’s been seven years since there’s been a proper LEGO Batman game. But in 2026, the LEGO version of the Dark Knight is answering the call to action once more. Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, DC Comics, and LEGO have announced the brand new LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight game. Previous LEGO Batman games focused heavily on the comics iteration of the Caped Crusader. However, this newest game is mostly inspired by the many cinematic versions of Batman over the years. You can watch the first LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight reveal trailer right here:

Not only do you hear Danny Elfman’s iconic Batman 1989 theme, but there are several other callbacks to the movies in this trailer. We see Bruce Wayne’s origin and fighting the League of Shadows, just as in Batman Begins. There are also moments from The Dark Knight, plus some poking fun at Tom Hardy’s Bane voice from The Dark Knight Rises. A sexy moment between Batman and Catwoman from Batman Returns also gets a nod. Ben Affleck’s warehouse fight from Batman v Superman makes an appearance here too. Even the Batmobile chase scene with the Penguin from The Batman made the cut. We didn’t spot anything from the Joel Schumacher Bat-films, but we’re sure they’ll get a reference.

LEGO/TT Games/Warner Bros. Games/DC Comics

In a statement, DC Comics president Jim Lee said the following:

“Whether he’s the wrathful Dark Knight, the brilliant detective, or the unlikely father of the ‘Batfam,’ Batman has constantly evolved—shaped by the world around him while remaining a timeless symbol. This game brings together nearly every facet of his legacy, letting you experience the full range of what makes Batman iconic. Built with incredible care, creativity, and deep respect for the mythos ,TT Games has crafted a love letter to the world of Batman.”

Players can utilize several different Batman gadgets, including his grapple launcher and Batglider. Not to mention a range of Batmobiles and Batcycles. One can also customize the Batcave to display vehicles, trophies, and collectibles. There is also an assortment of wearable Batsuits based on past Batman-related media. Speaking of Batman suits, players can unlock the 1939 Batsuit inspired by Batman’s first appearance in Detective Comics #27, by signing up for a WB Games account.

LEGO/TT Games/Warner Bros. Games/DC Comics

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will also feature a co-op mode. This allows players to team up with one of Batman’s allies, like Robin or James Gordon. Maybe this is how we get the Chris O’Donnell version of the Boy Wonder in the game? LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will release in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

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Alan Cumming Says Returning to Nightcrawler Is ‘Really Healing’

The former Fox X-Men Universe (which remains alive through Kevin Feige’s sheer bloody will) was and is confoundingly inconsistent. Half the movies are great, the other half are garbage. Characters show up, die, come back totally unrelated, sometimes even die again. It’s a mess, in often the best way. But occasionally, really great characters played by really great actors just didn’t recur because they thought it wasn’t fun. That is the case for Alan Cumming, who played Nightcrawler in X2: X-Men United from 2003. He’s returning to the character for next year’s Avengers: Doomsday and he’s called it “really healing.”Twentieth Century Studios

In a new People interview, which we saw at Deadline, Cumming says his initial experience playing Nightcrawler for X2 was miserable. “I just came back. It was amazing. It was actually really— in a sort of ooey, gooey way, it was really healing and really nice to go back to something that it was a terrible experience when I did it the first time,” the actor said. “A great film, great film. I love the film.”

He went on to say the set in 2003 was “awful for a variety of reasons that I have talked about at length.” This refers to Cumming’s previous calling out of the “abusive” and “dangerous” set under director Bryan Singer, known predator.

In contrast, Cumming says the Doomsday set is a dream. “It was actually really great to go back. And especially, I’m 60 years old. I did not think I would be doing stunts, playing a superhero in my 60s. So that was great. And everyone was really nice. And I got it done really quickly because I couldn’t go, because of The Traitors, when most of my scenes were being shot. So I squashed them all together, and got a green screen and various things and little scenes of people here and there.”

So that therefore means Nightcrawler either won’t be on screen with very many (if any) other characters. We already gleaned that he had never met Pedro Pascal prior to guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live despite already filming Nightcrawler’s fight scene with Mr. Fantastic. Ah, the “fun” of filmmaking. At the very least, Cumming has had more fun playing the furry blue mutant again.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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FALLOUT Season 2 Sets Release Date & Confirms Weekly Release Schedule

We already knew that Fallout season two was coming to us in December. But now the second chapter of one of our favorite shows has officially shared its release date. Fallout season two will release on December 17, 2025. But in addition to that, we received some other exciting news about Fallout season two. Fallout has set a weekly release schedule for its second chapter. Famously, Fallout season one released all of its episodes at once, and we felt that was a mistake considering how amazing the show turned out to be. But Prime Video is saying “Okey Dokey” to correcting that mistake. Here’s what we know about Fallout‘s release date and its full release schedule.

When Will Fallout Season 2 Release?Prime Video

Fallout Season 2 will premiere on December 17, 2025, with its first episode.

What Will Fallout‘s Release Schedule Be Like?

This time around, Fallout season two will release one new episode weekly until its season finale.

How Many Episodes Will Fallout Season 2 Have?Prime Video

Fallout will have an eight-episode season.

When Will Fallout Season 2’s Finale Release?

Fallout season two will release its season finale on February 4, 2026.

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FALLOUT Season 2 Teaser Trailer EXPLODES Our Brains with Mr. House and DeathclawsFallout Season 2 Full Release Schedule

Here is Fallout‘s full release schedule for its eight episodes.

Fallout Season 2, Episode 1 Release Date: 12/17/25Fallout Season 2, Episode 2 Release Date: 12/24/25Fallout Season 2, Episode 3 Release Date: 12/31/25Fallout Season 2, Episode 4 Release Date: 1/7/26Fallout Season 2, Episode 5 Release Date: 1/14/26Fallout Season 2, Episode 6 Release Date: 1/21/26Fallout Season 2, Episode 7 Release Date: 1/28/26Fallout Season 2, Episode 8 Release Date: 2/4/26More About Fallout‘s Second Chapter

Fallout season two will take us back into the world of the game adaptation we came to know and love. Its official synopsis reveals, “The new season will pick up in the aftermath of Season One’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Season Two will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.“

Prime Video

Fallout season two stars Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets, Sweetpea), Aaron Moten (Emancipation, Father Stu), Walton Goggins (The White Lotus, The Righteous Gemstones), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks), Moisés Arias (The King of Staten Island), and Frances Turner (The Boys).

We can’t wait to see more from Fallout in December. Fallout season one currently streams on Prime Video.

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FALLOUT Season 2 Reveals Live-Action Mr. Robert House, Played By Justin Theroux

So far, the Prime Video Fallout series hasn’t had any characters come to life directly from the games. But that’s all about to change in Fallout season two. The Fallout season two teaser trailer sets up a brand new villain in the world of live-action Fallout, but a very familiar face to those who have played the game before. Yes, Fallout season two is bringing to life Mr. House, also known as Robert House, a devious figure CRITICAL to Fallout: New Vegas. In Fallout season two, Mr. Robert House will be played by Justin Theroux. And it looks like Justin Theroux’s Mr. House will be a major villain in season two of Fallout. Prime Video

Mr. Robert House Joins Fallout Season 2 Straight From the Fallout: New Vegas Game

As mentioned, Mr. House’s appearance in the live-action Fallout series marks the first time a MAJOR character from the games has come onto our screens in the Prime Video show. Why Mr. House? Well, in season two of Fallout, Lucy and The Ghoul are heading toward New Vegas, and gameplayers know that is Robert House’s domain. Additionally, as The Ghoul tells Lucy, Mr. House is pretty critical in why the world went up in flames as nuclear bombs exploded everywhere—marking him as our new villain. The Ghoul says, “You wanna know why the world ended? It started here, with one man.” And that man is Fallout: New Vegas‘ Robert House.

The showrunners share that in Fallout season two, Cooper Howard will further investigate his wife’s involvement with the plot to create nuclear war, and that investigation will lead him to discover truths that have major repercussions for the Wasteland. It sounds like this journey will lead him to have quite a few run-ins with Robert House.

Who Is Mr. Robert House in the Fallout: New Vegas Game? Bethesda Softworks

In short, Robert House is the founder and CEO of RobCo Industries in Fallout‘s world. And his company is responsible for much of Fallout’s classic tech, including the Pip-Boy, which Lucy wears on her wrist in the Prime Video Fallout. This product was a partnership between RobCo and Vault-Tec. As far as we know from the games, Fallout‘s Mr. House used his extraordinary intellect to know precisely when the Great War would start (and he was only off by 24 hours). Mr. House put this knowledge toward making sure that he and Las Vegas were ready to survive nuclear war. He also devised a plan to put his brain into a machine so he could live on if the world ended. And, indeed, he is able to do so in Fallout: New Vegas, waking up after the Great War and taking control of New Vegas.

In long, you can read our full explainer on Fallout‘s Robert House here or by clicking the link below.

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Who Is Mr. Robert House in FALLOUT? The History of New Vegas’ Ruler, ExplainedWhat Will Fallout Season 2 Reveal About Mr. House

In the Fallout: New Vegas game, Mr. House was not above profiting from the nuclear war and its fallout. But we weren’t aware that he had direct involvement in causing the Great War in Fallout‘s world. Of course, the Prime Video Fallout series revealed something monumental to us: that Vault-Tec and its leaders were the ones to engineer the Great War and nuclear armageddon. But we’d be surprised if Vault-Tec created nuclear war all alone, without any help from the other companies and corporations in their council.

We saw in season one of Fallout that Mr. House and RobCo were present while Vault-Tec was presenting its idea to take complete power over the world through nuclear warfare. So we feel strongly that we’ll learn in Fallout season two that Mr. Robert House had as much to do with the Great War kicking off as Barb Howard and Vault-Tec. After all, he has the brains to do it. In the Fallout season two trailer he reminds us, “I am the very best at what I do. And what I do is I know everything.”

The Ghoul says in the Fallout season two trailer that Robert House is the man responsible for the world ending. And that sounds pretty definitive to us.

Who Will Play Mr. Robert House in Fallout Season 2?Prime Video

In Fallout season two, Justin Theroux will play Robert House. The Mr. House actor has previously been in movies such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and American Psycho.

Fallout season two and Robert House arrive on our screens in December 17, 2025. Fallout season one is streaming now on Prime Video.

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SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT Anime Trailer Brings Video Game to Life

FromSoftware has provided the gaming world some of the most exciting, most gruelingly difficult experiences in the medium. They also have the most intricate and compelling stories and lore of any game designers. And yes, that does include the Resident Evil series. Games like Bloodborne have turned into comics and Sony is currently producing an Elden Ring movie from Alex Garland. But fans of samurai epic Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Crunchyroll has unveiled a brand new, hand-drawn anime adapted from the game. Check out the trailer for Sekiro: No Defeat

During Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025, Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la, and ARCH officially unveiled Sekiro: No Defeat. The anime will recreate “with reverence” the story of the game, which pits a once-defeated swordsman against some of the toughest foes in Sengoku Japan.

“We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In doing so, we are pouring every ounce of our artistic vision and passion for beauty into its production,” said Kenichi Kutsuna, director of the adaptation. “The final product is being crafted to be a truly memorable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on both dedicated fans of the game and those who are discovering the world of Sekiro for the very first time. Please look forward to it.”

Crunchyroll

The trailer has a definite rustic look. Perfect for the story of Wolf, a retainer for a mystical young lord. The official plot synopsis is below:

Japan is fractured into many independent nations entangled in ceaseless war. At the center lies Ashina, a land of sacred earth and ancient mystery. Two decades after Sword Saint Isshin Ashina reclaimed the region in a brutal coup, a new threat emerges from within: The Interior Ministry. Desperate to protect his homeland, Isshin’s grandson Genichiro turns to forbidden powers. The only hope lies in a kidnapped boy — the Divine Heir — and his silent protector: a loyal shinobi known only as Sekiro.

I really can’t wait to see some of the most iconic duels in the game—specifically Genichiro and Owl Father—brought to life in animation. It’s going to be, as the kids say, the business.

Sekiro: No Defeat will premiere on Crunchyroll in 2026.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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FABULOSA! Invites You to Feel Something Real with Its Gorgeous Seasons of Dance

Let’s face it… Existence has been a complicated prospect of late. Between the world catching fire and the smaller griefs and heartbreaks we still have to contend with every day, gasping onto meaning and connection seems than ever. And if these are all too relatable sentiments, we have a welcome balm to offer you, a small escape to help you feel less alone. And that is the incredible first season of Fabulosa!, titled “Alone Together.” Whether you’ve been feeling too much of late and struggling to contend with it, or conversely feeling totally empty and looking for a way to reconnect, the beautiful movements and stories that Fabulosa! tells through its episodes of dance are here to help. Trust me, the emotional catharsis is real.

Fabulosa! introduces its first “season” of dance with the following quote. “I’ve never been good at spotting my stains. My mom taught me how. But every time a pen leaks, I still call one of my sisters to help me fix the inky black blotch.” And then offers, “Let us clean your stains.” And that is exactly what Fabulosa! does if you let yourself immerse in the beautiful work created by its talented artists. It’s like calling your family to help you clean a stain, but instead it’s calling on a vulnerable outpouring of emotion made palpable through dance and video so that you, too, can access your feelings through it, positive and negative, and let yourself be seen.

But what exactly is Fabulosa!? Fabulosa! creators Steven Bangerter and Mio Ishikawa explain that Fabulosa! is a collaborative entity that focuses on “site-sympathetic choreography, which is dance that sympathizes with the location while prioritizing a human state.” Fabulosa! has kicked off its projects with what it terms its season one, titled “Alone Together,” which features several episodes of dance devoted to the idea. And personally, we love the concept of creating and sharing seasons of dance that tell a story in the way that seasons of TV do. Dance is every bit as visual and storytelling of a medium as any other kind, and arguably one of the most emotionally evocative ones of all. Additionally, Fabulosa! is also working on its first dance film, which you can help support via GoFundMe.

Bangerter and Ishikawa share on their Patreon, which you should definitely join, that “Everything in season one is about aloneness and togetherness, and being alone together. The music and lyrics all speak the same language.” And the movement and dancing sure do as well. The notion of videos threaded together by a theme will be happening in every season of Fabulosa!, with each theme representing one season. Of course, past seasons will continue to inform creations to come. And if “Alone Together” is any indication, they’ll all be executed to great perfection.

What struck me as I watched the incredible videos of “Alone Together” was just how perfectly they evoke that ephemeral pain in your chest, both harrowing and beautiful, that occurs when you taste the bittersweet pain of loss. There’s true grief in them, but also a vision of joy because, often, grief implies that there was also the existence of something beautiful not too long ago. And although only you alone can experience the emotions you hold, there’s a healing nature to seeing the essence of them reflected back to you through Fabulosa!‘s creations, the true gift of knowing you’re not alone in feeling this kind of feeling. Truly, these videos remind you that you are alone, together.

And, in fact, capturing these kind of states is baked right into the title of Fabulosa! Bangerter shares, “Fabulosa! is a great name. That’s the cleaner they used at other beloved immersive experiences within the city, and there’s something about smell that’s really evocative. The concept of smells, how they help your brain register memories, but it’s fleeting, then they go away, it’s magical. I’ve always been interested in how smells do that. Certain experiences I’ve had, had such distinct smells, that now whenever I smell things, it’s just this instant nostalgia and joy and sadness all wrapped up in one, and it’s just really beautiful.”

And that instant evocation of such convoluted sensations is exactly what Fabulosa! accomplishes so gracefully in its first season of dance videos. Or as Bangerter calls them, “Little blurps of video that are little whiffs of memories” that surface, “and then they go away.” For a short and sweet time, Fabulosa! helps complicated bursts of feeling rise to the surface. Among other fluttering notes, “Alone Together” evoked in me loss, joy, grief, community, the fragile beauty of just sitting with someone you love, levity, a search for something or someone missing, loneliness, and light. But just as the bittersweet ache took over, the video ended, keeping me there for just the right amount of time.

Fabuloso!

The videos and work created by Fabulosa! are also so clearly steeped in great love and passion. As mentioned above, Fabulosa! creators Bangerter and Ishikawa previously performed in other immersive experiences in NYC alongside many of the incredible dancers who feature in Fabulosa!‘s projects. The recent loss of some of these performances hit the community of performers who created them and the fans who loved them incredibly hard. But through Fabulosa!, Bangerter and Ishikawa hope to keep both the spirit of exploration the shows offered and the gorgeous community they manifested alive.

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The creators, who manifested this beautiful idea together, note that they especially wanted to keep performing with the casts they adore. They didn’t want to stop working together, didn’t want to stop learning and researching from people who could help them grow and evolve. And “Alone Together” is only the beginning.

For one, season two of Fabulosa! is coming, although we don’t yet know its theme. In it, Bangerter and Ishikawa aim to continue to collaborate with potentially familiar faces, as well as create more involved stories with even greater depth (if that’s even possible, considering how exquisite Fabulosa! season one is). They also tease other projects on the horizon, including dance films, live performances, and work with artists in other disciplines.

To conclude, Ishikawa shares, “We wanted to work with people we loved and be interested in what we do. Some shows we helped create have ended. But our research should never end. I thought it was right to start something.” And ultimately, the results could not be more right or more meaningful.

To support and learn more about Fabulosa!, make sure to support them on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/povofabulosa, and follow them on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/wearefabulosa/. You can check out the entirety of season one, “Alone Together,” in order, below, as well as excerpts from season two. And look out for their dance film, which you can support via their GoFundMe.

If you’d like to follow the fabulous creators and dancers featured in the videos, here they are as well: Steve Bangerter, Mio Ishikawa, Madison Olandt, Babou Sanneh, Spencer William Grossman, Hannah Straney, Ny, Lenin Fernandez Jr, Ryan VanCompernolle, Noah Wang, Andrea Farley Shimota, Patrick Gamble, Quaba Venza Ernest, Miguel Miranda, and Andrea Murillo.

“To the povo fabuloso!” (Fabulous people!)

Fabulosa! Season 1: Alone TogetherFabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 1, Pt. 1

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 1 Pt. 2

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 2

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 3

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 4

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 5

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 6

Fabulosa! Season 1—Alone Together: Vol. 7

Fabulosa! Season 2—A New Way to Dream, Episode 1

Fabulosa! Season 2—A New Way to Dream, Episode 2 Excerpt

Fabulosa! Season 2—A New Way to Dream, Episode 3 Excerpt

Side Quests

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