Daily Archives: November 19, 2012

TV

Boardwalk Empire: 3.10 – “A Man, A Plan…”

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Last week had Nucky trying to rally the other bootleg bosses to his cause, but they all said thanks but no thanks and this week we get to see the beginning of the fallout from that. Thankfully there was no Gillian involved in this one.

I just don’t know where to begin. This was such a roller coaster of an episode that it’s difficult to even find the words to put together in a coherent fashion. Well, I’m one of the “pick the good news first” type of gals so let’s start with Richard Harrow. Oh, Richard, you’ve found yourself a girl and things just couldn’t be peachier!

Seriously this was just about the sweetest thing ever. When he was standing there looking at them playing in the sand my heart melted just a little bit. Yeah, he’s a killer, but killers deserve happiness too right? At least on TV, they do. I am so glad that Julia decided to side with Richard as opposed to staying with her dad. The man is an ass. He’s got some depression issues and still mourning his son, but that doesn’t give him carte blanche to treat his daughter like shit. Kudos to Richard for standing up to him. You can only imagine how many times he’s been called a freak that he just let roll off his back, but Daddy was the last straw and I can’t really blame him.

Julia baring her soul with a story that might seem like no big deal to tell in today’s world but was probably quite scandalous back then. I think her telling Richard that she for sure was choosing him in her life. It comes as no surprise that his response is “I wish I could kiss you.” Oh Richard, you always know the right thing to say to a gal.

I am curious as to what the King Neptune thing was they were doing when the whiskey started rolling in. Was it the same festival that The Commodore first saw Gillian? Inquiring minds want to know.

I also want to know if Eli knew Nelson Van Alden at all. Can you imagine the look on his face when he shows up in Chicago (I have a feeling that Nucky had a sixth sense that shit was going to get bad with Masseria which is why he sent Eli to Chicago) and finds Nelson there helping Capone? When they first had Van Alden move to Chicago I will admit that I could not think of a reason as to why on Earth they would do that. Now, of course, it’s obvious, he is (hopefully) going to be quite a player in the O’Bannion and Capone/Torrio war that is going to be coming to a head here soon.

I can not believe that the restaurant guy reported Van Alden to Capone. After he brought him lefse even. How rude. When they first came in I totally thought he’d called the prohie’s in. I’m sure that Van Alden would maybe prefer the prohie’s after it’s all said and done. I probably shouldn’t have, but I laughed when he started talking about Job. That is such a Van Alden move. Of course, I also laughed at the above picture because his face looks exactly like Mr. Demartino from Daria. A quick perusal of the internet shows me that I’m not the only one. I love the internet.

I’m sort of surprised that Nucky didn’t take Chalky up on his offer for the new club. I mean, I’m not, because that doesn’t seem like something Nucky would get in on and I don’t think he’s ready to have that site be rebuilt, but I thought if he was going to accept anyone’s idea for Babbette’s, it would be Chalky’s. We’ll have to see.

I don’t know why I continue to be surprised by Gyp and his gross overreactions. The moment Franco opened his mouth about the rogue waves, his time was limited. Sinbad (this Sinbad, not this Sinbad) was new so he didn’t know any better about keeping your trap shut. However, even he couldn’t have seen how his life would end. It was bad enough that Gyp buried him in the sand, intending for him to drown in the incoming tide, but to then go ahead and bash his head in with a shovel as a “favor” to Tonino? Seriously, why am I surprised by this? It seems like Gyp is in a one-upping contest with himself. This will not end well for anyone involved.

Such is the nature of hysterics. -Gaston Means

In case you were wondering, Jess Smith of history also killed himself. Granted it probably wasn’t due to Gaston Means standing in his room ready to kill him, but it is widely believed that he committed suicide because he couldn’t deal with all he knew about Daughtery’s dirty dealings. Forget all that because I need to just marvel at Gaston Means. He’s never killed a man himself but he believes that he can do it so strongly that he gets Daugherty and Nucky to each pay him $40K to kill Jess. That’s a lot of money for one person. That Means is a shrewd businessman.

While Means is a good businessman, Rothstein is the best. Even though Lucky thinks Rothstein won’t get into the heroin business because he’s bored, I think it’s because he knows that he is in a good place right now and that perhaps with all the unrest between New Jersey and Tabor Heights, maybe he should lay low? He even tells them, in metaphor form, that he needs to play the situation in a way to put his enemies in a place they can’t escape. So, of course, that means that Lucky and Meyer head over to the South Village to partner up with Masseria. Seriously, guys, this is michegas, not anything Rothstein was planning on not doing.

So with all that out of the way, Owen.

My mom always has said that if the phone rings after 10 pm, it is bad news. I think we can all now agree if something is delivered at 4 am, it would be better to just go ahead and refuse delivery.
Even though I knew Owen’s days were numbered, I was 100% positive it was going to be at Nucky’s hand. Surely he knew what was going on between Owen and Margaret right? RIGHT? Given his reaction to Margaret’s reaction, I’m not so sure he did. Speaking of Margaret, this was so not her episode. Her vagina class is canceled (although she had to feel some sort of victory when the nun agreed that the class was helpful), she’s going to St. Louis but Owen isn’t following until at least a month if not six weeks, then Owen is dead, and she’s pregnant with his baby. I have this strange feeling that Margaret is going to be spending a lot of time in dark rooms for the rest of the season. I think the internet would like the darkroom as well because you would not believe the number of people rocking in the corner thanks to this episode. Who am I kidding? If you are a person seeking out and reading Boardwalk Empire reviews/recaps then you probably are in the corner as well.

I don’t watch previews because I like to be surprised (especially with shows like this one) but I almost want to seek out next week’s preview because I want to know the fall out of Owen’s death. Is Margaret going to tell Nucky she’s pregnant? How can she though because surely he will know right away whose baby it is, but I think he’s always wanted to have another child so maybe he’ll just forgive and forget and raise the baby as is own. We’ll just have to see. Only two more episodes left this year!

This episode had it all; Chalky, Nucky not moping around with a floosie, the New York crowd, Capone, Van Alden (who would have thought he’d become a favorite?), and most importantly, no Gillian. It was a wonderfully written episode that drew you in and unlike other episodes that have felt disjointed when so many groups are involved, it flowed quite well. As awful as Owen being dead is, it was perfectly done and as much as I loved the Easter dinner episode, this one was even better. I might have to step out on the limb and give it a five out of five.

It takes a lot to make an episode where a major character dies a favorite, but I think this one did just that. Now if Mickey had been the one who died instead, this episode would be a 17 out of 5. How is he still alive?!?!?!

Until next time Boardwalk fans, here’s some Kleenex to dry your tears and get some Gatorade to replenish your lost fluids. We will get through this together.

Image: HBO

 

 

TV

Tyreese Joining the Cast of The Walking Dead?

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I’m one of those fans who hates The Walking Dead TV show. Passionately. At least, I did anyway. Most people are quick to accuse me of hating it simply because it’s different from the comic, which is erroneous. During Season 1, I was delighted to see the show veering from the comic. I liked guessing what was next, rather than knowing what was coming, and the CDC Lab finale was riveting and unpredictable television for me. I found myself entranced that the show was set to stand on its own legs, and take chances with its source material, and do new, daring, exciting things with the show that hadn’t been done on the comic.

Then season 2 came along, and was singlehandedly one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen. Suddenly every character acted in a way that seemed forced, and reeked of writers scrambling for character motivation. Nobody talked or acted naturally, everybody did stupid things constantly, and worst of all, nobody was likable.

There’s been plenty of hate on Lori for season 2, and rightfully so. Her character was singlehandedly one of the worst changes to the series from the books, since the show’s writers decided to make her an insufferable, illogical, stupid shrew-woman who was righteously hypocritical, and defiantly indignant at the same time. [Ed. Note – I hated her in comics too.] It was maddening as each week the show I watched that was adapted from a thrilling, human drama that involves an apocalyptic survival scenario, was turned into an overly melodramatic soap opera that occasionally had zombies in it. My problem wasn’t that the show was “different” from the comic, I mean it was, but it was “different” from the show it had been. Which is a good one.  It was now just a terrible show, in and of itself, and when compared with the comic it became impossible to imagine how insanely dumb the writers were for taking such a brilliant story, and screwing it up that badly.

It was so bad Rick & Carl were even sad about it.

When it came around to hearing about season 3, I had no interest in watching it. I wasn’t even angry the show had adapted the comic poorly, I just was angry the show had gotten so bad. However, by the time the fifth episode of the third season had aired, everybody and their mother was talking about the most recent episode. My disdain for the series notwithstanding, I decided to relent my hatred and give the show a second chance to get better. While it didn’t immediately convince me, sure enough by the time I got to the 5th episode, the show had redeemed itself. Suddenly characters were acting like people again, and not struggling writers trying to shoehorn in exposition. Suddenly the acting had improved, stakes had been raised, and it was back to being a human drama about survival rather than some horror/zombie knockoff of All My Children.

What bodes even better for the show, is the fact that with the recent losses the characters of the show have sustained, we’re getting a new addition, to complement and enhance the show.

via [EW]

[quote]

In an interview with EW.com Kirkman stated the December 2 fall finale of the AMC drama will feature a new character straight from The Walking Dead comic.

“There’s a new character added,” Kirkman told EW. “A big deal fan favorite from the comic book is introduced into the show in this episode, so be on the lookout for that.”

EW speculates that it might be Tyreese, a fan-favorite character from early in the comic series — and Kirkman could neither confirm nor deny.

“I don’t know, man!” he said. “I don’t know. I got no clue!”

While Kirkman is playing coy, rumors have swirled that actor Chad Coleman (best known from The Wire and I Hate My Teenage Daughter) has been spotted in the Atlanta area where the show films and could be playing the comic book fave. Whomever it is —  be it Tyreese, or another character entirely, like, say, friendly scout Aaron or Fu Manchu mustache rocking Abraham — he (or she) will be appearing on Dec. 2

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Fans of the comic will no doubt be excited to hear that Tyreese could be making his way to the show. I’ve long though it was going to be Tyreese, as I could have sworn I saw a stocky black guy of the right build to play Tyreese in one of the background scenes at Woodbury this season. At this point, I find it necessary to warn any readers who aren’t up to date on the comics, or the show, to beware that the next section has comic SPOILERS in it (click the + below to read anyway).

[toggle_simple title=”SPOILERS” width=”640″]Fans of the comic know that Tyreese’s death is probably one of the more brutal from the book, but even more interesting is his relationship with Michonne. Considering Michonne has left Woodbury, if Tyreese is already in Woodbury this leads to an interesting divide in storylines and relationships that will contrast interestingly with the established relationships in the book. Does this mean Tyreese could end up with Andrea? It could be the case, since Dale already died a long time ago.

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So if it does turn out that Chad Coleman plays Tyreese, I gotta say that’s pretty good casting. I gotta say, the shows quality has done a hard about-face in quality from one of the worst shows on television, back to being one of the best. It’s pretty wild, but unless everyone takes another trip back into stupid town like season 2, I’ll be sticking with the show.

I gotta say the dude’s a dead ringer.
TV

Game Of Thrones: Updates – Season 3 Teaser & Photos! Plus Season 2 Blu-Ray Details…

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Being a Game Of Thrones fan has been pretty exciting for the last few years. It’s not often that an epic, sprawling, complex fantasy series is adapted near perfectly into a TV show that transcends its initial fandom. I, like many other fans, had only tangentially heard about the Song Of Ice & Fire book series in passing, up until news of it being adapted into a TV show started to surface. Having been a staunch Hard SF advocate most of my life, fantasy fiction was something that never quite held my interest, but I decided to give the first book a go. I quickly found myself really wrapped up in it, and started watching the show while reading the book in tandem. A few weeks later the first season ended, and I found myself addicted to the novels, and read right through and up until the third.

I’ve since finished the third book, and I’ve found myself at a curious standstill, unable to continue. Watching the second season was a curious experiment, as I found myself noticing what was changed or different, rather than just sitting back and enjoying the show. Since A Storm of Swords was such a captivating book, I plan these next two seasons to be the last I spend, with foreknowledge of the novels. I’d rather be surprised by what’s happening in the show, and read the book later, and have it act as a sort of “extended directors cut” version of the story. I have books 4, 5 & 6, but for now I’m content to let them sit on the shelf, until season 4.

Well lately it seems like progress is rolling along for season 3 of the show, which will be adapting A Storm Of Swords, what is considered by fans the best entry in the A Song Of Ice and Fire series. It’s considerable length will come into factor and end up being split into 2 seasons for the show, meaning season 4 will still be events from ASoS. The sad thing is, all we have to go on right now are some meager set photos. HBO is keeping a tight ship on this season, and for good reason, as this season is packing most of the bigger wallops from the books into it, and will assuredly floor fans of the show who haven’t read the books. Everyone else who has, will get to enjoy all of their friends reactions to the twists and turns of the story, and be surprised by what new changes are made….

So while these aren’t the most exciting set photos on the planet, at this point any details of the show I’m ready to gobble up. I’m anxious to see my favorite scenes from ASoS onscreen, and even more antsy to see how horrified my friends reactions will be to what happens this season. In the future, I’m hoping we’ll get some better promo materials, or far more revealing set photos to speculate on. For now, we’ll just have to wait patiently and live with this teaser…

One last thing: For those who are looking to whet their GoT appetites, you’ll be happy to know the DVD/Blu-ray of Season 2 is now available for pre-order. As usual it’s packed with extras, bells, whistles, and comes in a delightful box to hold it in. The good folks over at [IGN] have the full list of extras:

[quote]

Blu-ray with HBO Select – includes all DVD features plus:

  • War of the Five Kings – Track the claims, strategies and key players involved in the battle for the Iron Throne with this interactive guide that follows the movements of various armies detailing their victories and defeats.
  • Histories & Lore – 19 animated histories detailing the mythology of Westeros and Essos as told from the varying perspectives of the characters themselves and featuring, in-part, illustrations from Game of Thrones storyboard artist Will Simpson.
  • In-Episode Guide – In-feature resource that provides background information about on-screen characters, locations and relevant histories.
  • Hidden Dragon Eggs – Find the hidden dragon eggs to uncover even more never-before-seen content.

DVD:

  • Creating the Battle of Blackwater Bay – See how the epic Battle of Blackwater Bay was brought to life in this exclusive, in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the climatic episode. The 30 minute feature showcases never-before-seen interviews with cast and crew.
  • Game of Thrones: Inner Circle – Actors Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Michelle Fairley and Liam Cunningham talk in detail about their experiences shooting season two in this roundtable discussion moderated by executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
  • The Religions of Westeros – Hear author George R.R. Martin, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss discuss the competing religions in the series and how they influence the various characters in Westeros and beyond.
  • Character Profiles – Profiles of seven major characters as described by the actors portraying them including Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Robb Stark, Theon Greyjoy and more.

Audio Commentaries – 12 commentaries with cast and crew including David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington and more.

[/quote]

The best thing out of all of those has got to be the audio commentaries. I remember being disappointed by the limited commentaries for the blu-ray of season 1, and wishing there were more. I can’t wait to marathon the first 2 seasons in preparation for season 3.

THE INTERWEBS

This Week’s Best Geeky ‘Pinterest’ Finds

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We’ve returned for another edition of “The Best Weekly Finds in the Pinterest Geek Category!!!!!”. There is a wide variety of pins in this one, everything from breast exams to USB thumb drives. Without further adieu, let’s get on with the show.

With all the news recently regarding Hostess and their connection to comics, it only seems appropriate to start off today with this one.  I’m fairly certain that The Hulk would love the “real fruit filling”. I am curious as to where they acquired that massive fruit pie as it’s much larger than any I’ve ever seen. Then again, The Hulk looks rather diminutive so who knows what the hell is going on there.

Pinterest is a great place to find tattoo ideas. They actually have an entire category dedicated solely to tattoos but there are times where the body art bleeds over into the geek category.

This is one of those times. I’m equally intrigued and appalled by this. On one hand, it’s cool. On the other hand, there is no way I would even consider getting one like this. I have no aversion to tattoos, have a few myself, but they are certainly not of the Steve Buscemi/Darth Vader mash-up variety.

This song is everywhere. Unfortunately my husband loves this song more than life itself so I’ve had the great pleasure of listening to this song ten thousand times in the last month. Now that I think about it, perhaps this might find its way into his stocking this year. A great gift for any YouTube viral hit fan in your life.


I think we all, unfortunately, know someone who has said something like this. For whatever reason, the general non-nerd/geeky public seems to think that all comic book characters exist in the same world. Even if they know the names Marvel and DC, they really don’t understand what those two things entail. It’s a sad, sad situation. Thankfully there are people like myself, and you dear reader, who find it within ourselves to attempt to shine a light on the ignorance. Fight on my friends, fight on.

I’m torn on this one. I really want to hate it just on principle, but honestly? It’s rather entertaining. I can’t say that I would have sought out an interpretation of The Lord of the Rings by My Little Pony but thanks to the wonder of the internet and Pinterest, this has come into my life. I’ve decided that it is better to just embrace it rather than fight it. If nothing else, maybe it will bring a new generation to Tolkein’s work. I have to tell myself that so I can get some sleep at night.

When I came across this one I damn near clapped because it is such a good idea and it something I never would have expected to see.

If you are of the womanly persuasion, you’ve no doubt seen the traditional self breast check diagram. I think we can all agree that this one is far superior. So now there’s no excuse ladies, check yourselves! If She-Hulk can do it, so can we.

That concludes this edition of “The Best Weekly Finds in the Pinterest Geek Category!!!!”.  Perhaps next week I’ll kick off the Christmas holiday season with geeky Christmas related pins. If they exist, I’m do everything in my power to find them.

Until next time!