It’s a good day when you get to write about FX’s excellent Fargo. Though creator Noah Hawley is currently hard-at-work on his newest series, the upcoming Legion, the novelist-turned-showrunner will return for another round in North Dakota sometime next year, and he’s already gathering another exceptional cast. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) is now set to join Ewan McGregor and Carrie Coon in the critically-acclaimed anthology series.
Variety reported on the latest casting. Winstead will play Nikki Swango, “a crafty and alluring recent parolee with a passion for competitive bridge playing.” She’s also “a woman with a plan, focused on always being at least one move ahead of her opponents.” We’ll have to wait and see how that factors into the impending season.
Set in 2010, a mere few years after the first season’s 2006 setting, Fargo‘s third season will focus on McGregor’s Emmit and Ray Stussy, who are not identical twin brothers, who’ll soon get intertwined in some small-town violence and crime, as one would expect. Coon, meanwhile, will play Gloria Burgle, the chief of the Eden Valley police. Additionally characters should be announced in the weeks to come. Although no one from season one is expected to come back, Slashfilm reports one undisclosed character from season two will work their way into the new season.
There’s no word yet on when season three will air, but it looks like the production start date is on the near horizon. Season two is nominated for 18 Emmys, and Sunday will determine how many Hawley and his team win. It already won two during last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, so things are already looking up.
Winstead currently stars on CBS’ political farce Braindead, but that show’s fate remains on the balance. The showrunners are currently working on CBS All Access’ Good Wife spin-off and, with Winstead’s joining this newest Fargo season, a second season for the summer comedy series looks more unlikely than ever.
And so the new season of the new Berserk anime ends. Not with a bang but with a sensation like the entire thing has been put on triple speed halfway through and you didn’t realize you hit the button on the remote and have to scramble to stop it. Things happen so quickly and with little explanation in the last nine minutes of the episode, you’ll find yourself pulling up Wikipedia in a desperate attempt to to figure out what just happened (yes, this is spoken from personal experience). Considering everything else which was explained in detail in this series, its a wonder they decided not to properly explain the game changing ending to the arc. Basically it all happens so fast and causes the plot of the entire series to move forward faster in the last half of this episode than in the majority of the rest of the season.
Other than the rushed nature, this episode also suffers from unnecessary comedy moments and a lot of attention paid to Nina. Seriously, was this character more endearing in the manga? She comes off as one of the most selfish and whiny individuals in recent memory.
There was at least a few good moments. The events at the end, though confusing and a bit rushed, are at least some of the better bits of animation from the season. Also, Guts does get to showcase his skills in dispatching his enemies. Unfortunately, its not against the multitude of demons which were surrounding him before but a whole new threat which appears out of nowhere and just adds to the confusion which is going on with the final scene.
So there you have it, all the new Berserk which will be aired for 2016. Expect a full review of the season soon but don’t get your hopes up of a glowing review. This show proved hope is a fool’s dream.
This is the second review I’ve done of an Old Tomorrow beer. But, since I wrote my review of Old Tomorrow Beer’s Canadian Pale Ale, the fledgling brewery has updated their website. The brewery’s “About” page now describes their high-minded mandate, brewing truly delicious craft beer that celebrates moments of Canadian greatness. As my other review says, I really enjoyed their CPA, so I picked up a couple 473 mL cans of Old Tomorrow Beer’s Track 85 Lagered Ale.
Track 85’s name is a reference to the Canadian Pacific Railway, completed in 1885, that links Canada’s east and west coasts. A major work that Old Tomorrow Beer’s mascot, Sir John A. Macdonald, fought for, the completion of this railway was key to unifying Canada. In fact, its completion is likely as powerful a symbol of Canadian nationalism as, if not more than, the country’s first steps toward confederation in 1867. But enough about the name of this beer, how does it taste?
Old Tomorrow Beer: Track 85 Lagered Ale – First Sip
Track 85 Lagered Ale pours a slightly amber golden colour with a relatively thin layer of head. I smell green apple as I take my first sip. It tastes slightly tart off the top and mellows to a refreshingly grainy flavour. Track 85 Lagered Ale presents well as a crowd-pleaser. Its sour to sweet flavour and thin mouthfeel make for a beer you hope to find at a late (or early) summer barbecue.
Old Tomorrow Beer: Track 85 Lagered Ale – Last Sip
This is a classic after-a-hard-day’s-work beer. It doesn’t demand much attention: it’s an excellent beer to open up and enjoy straight from the can. And, though 4.5% ABV might not seem like much, beers with lower alcohol percentages have taken many a beer lover by surprise. I’d like to try this beer with a wedge of lime and see how it measures up against a Corona. But that’s a challenge for another day.
The UnPOP guys bring you their first UnPOP “Kernel”! A Kernel, outside of being a tasty, buttery UnPOPped nugget at the bottom of the bag, is our way of releasing some unused content from previous episodes. Sometimes, in order to create the best possible UnPOP episode, many bits and conversations are cut from the podcast entirely. Here is where those pieces are resurrected and polished for your listening pleasure!
As we prepare for our big midnight review of Blair Witch, we decided to dust off some ghost stories as experienced by the UnPOP crew which we told during the Ghostbusters episode. As Halloween lurks around the corner, feel the chills as Austin recounts his lifelong experiences with the ghost of “Claire” and much more!
Have a topic you’d like to hear UnPOPPED? Send any comments/love/vitriol to unpopentertainment@gmail.com
At long last, The UnPOP Podcast is on iTunes! Check us out there!
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Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show?
Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.
If you are looking to sponsor the podcast email matt@popaxiom.com as well.
About the Monkeys Fighting Robots Podcast:
A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.
Never heard of Matt Sardo? For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
Who is EJ Moreno? Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion of filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.
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The origin story continues on Season Three of GOTHAM, and the stakes are higher than ever, as Super-Villains more ambitious and depraved are introduced, and a realignment of alliances shakes up the fight for power in Gotham City.
Season Three will peel back the curtain on the infamous criminal organization known as the Court of The Owls. With the Indian Hill escapees on the loose, JIM GORDON (Ben McKenzie) must take matters into his own hands as a bounty hunter in Gotham. He makes it his mission to find HUGO STRANGE (guest star BD Wong), the mastermind behind the horrifying Indian Hill experiments, and FISH MOONEY (guest star Jada Pinkett Smith), one of Strange’s subjects. Meanwhile, GCPD Detective HARVEY BULLOCK (Donal Logue) and Captain NATHANIEL BARNES (Michael Chiklis) remain at the forefront of the fight against crime in the monster-ridden city. Also, BRUCE WAYNE (David Mazouz), with the help of his trusted butler and mentor, ALFRED PENNYWORTH (Sean Pertwee), and former Wayne Enterprises employee, LUCIUS FOX (Chris Chalk), discovers there are still more secrets to uncover regarding his parents’ murders.
As the city sinks deeper into chaos, GOTHAM will continue to follow the evolving stories of the city’s most malevolent villains: THE PENGUIN (Robin Lord Taylor); EDWARD NYGMA/the future RIDDLER (Cory Michael Smith); SELINA KYLE/the future CATWOMAN (Camren Bicondova); BARBARA KEAN (Erin Richards), TABITHA GALAVAN/TIGRESS (Jessica Lucas) and BUTCH GILZEAN (Drew Powell). The series also will catch up with the future POISON IVY (Maggie Geha), who, after an encounter with a monster from Indian Hill, finds herself reborn as a young woman who’s harnessed the full power of her charms; and will dive into the origin stories of JERVIS TETCH/MAD HATTER (Benedict Samuel), a talented hypnotist teetering on the edge of madness; and the TWEED BROTHERS.”
Gotham returns for its season 3 on Monday, September 19, on FOX.
When fans heard about this episode there was a lot of speculation about what would happen. Would Onion befriend monsters and Steven would have no choice but to fight against them despite Onion’s protests? Would it cause him to have to look at his mom’s point of view when it came to making tough calls? No, it is in fact an episode about Steven hanging out with Onion’s friends who are in fact only around for the summer.
A couple things need to be addressed here. First, the fact Steven fights monsters on a regular basis. Why would he be afraid of some kids in bad Halloween masks? Also, does he not grasp the concept of pretending? Did he really think Garbanzo was hurt and Pinto had healing powers?
Now for the big problems. This show is one of the best animated series on TV and it’s been repeated extensively through these reviews. Sadly, the creative team doesn’t seem to know how to balance the general Beach City elements with the more fantastical elements it has introduced through the Gems. There is a possibility of an alien invasion in the future. Why are we worried about Onion? Sure, he’s an interesting character with his inability to talk and his destructive tendencies but is this what the Onion fans were really hoping for? There really being nothing to him but being a little kid? Fans were hoping he would meet monsters or hang around in the temple with the Crystal Gems but instead they got him playing make believe in the woods.
This series has shown it’s possible to have the Beach City characters and have fantastic elements all at the same time. Episodes like Beach Party, Historical Friction, or Greg The Babysitter showed great moments of regular citizens affected by the science and influence of the Gems. It has been shown to be possible to keep the human characters and keep telling a rich and deep story. This episode though isn’t the brightest moments for Steven Universe. Both the show and the character.
Welcome to the Turnbuckle Bandwagon, MFR’s semi-regular column on professional wrestling, sports entertainment, and some fun stuff.
10 weeks ago, the first ever WWE Cruiserweight Classic began. A tournament showcasing 32 of the best 205 lb. and under professional wrestlers on the WWE’s big stage. The WWE audience was introduced to a slew of new faces, as bringing in outside talent is not something the WWE has done in the past. More than a few made their mark. Some well-known, like Zack Sabre Jr., Tajiri, and Kota Ibushi. Some not so well-known who endeared themselves to the crowd, like Jack Gallagher and Cedric Alexander. Through all 4 rounds, and amazing performances, it came down to two men, both not expected to be in the final.
Gran Metalik (Mexico) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (England)
Gran Metalik (known as Mascara Dorada in CMLL) would upset Zack Sabre Jr. ZSJ is widely considered to be one of, if not the best technical wrestler in the world, was bested by a luchador/striking style hybrid in Gran Metalik. An amazing match that mixed Lucha Libre, technical wrestling, submissions, and high-flying, Metalik would best ZSJ and move on to the finals.
T. J. Perkins (The Philippines) vs. Kota Ibushi (Japan)
Kota Ibushi is one of the best performers on the planet. This is not an opinion, it’s an obvious fact. The Golden Star has had more 5 star matches in a span of a few years than most wrestlers get in their entire career. Perkins, the former Manik, has taken his place among the elite in this tournament. Working his way through NJPW, TNA, ROH, and even WWE’s prior developmental promotion, Florida Championship Wrestling, TJP seems to have finally found his place. Ibushi threw everything he had at his underdog opponent and TJP just kept coming. Perkins, known for his high-flying, would also employ his submission moves to ground Ibushi and submit the odds on tournament favorite to move on to the final of the CWC.
T.J. Perkins vs. Gran Metalik – CWC Final
There are times as a wrestling fan that can be hard, and then there are those moments that make you love wrestling. Moments that are recalled years later as seminal moments, where something began. A rivalry born, a new era started. Right before this match, one of those moments happened.
Triple H aka Paul Levesque is the mastermind behind NXT and the CWC. He would enter the ring before the match. He would announce that not only would the winner of the match be the first ever Cruiserweight Classic Champion, but would also move on to Monday Night RAW as the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion. The Cruiserweight Division will make its RAW debut next Monday, bringing back a style of wrestling that has been missing from the WWE for quite some time and has influenced wrestling since its rise to prominence in the mid to late 90s.
Both men would rise to the occasion in a match worthy of what a tournament final match should be. A performance that had everything a wrestling fan could want. From striking to Lucha Libre to submission, Perkins and Metalik would push each other past their limits. T.J. Perkins would emerge victorious, and now sporting some extra hardware, with his kneebar, which he had been dispatching his opponents with throughout this tournament.
The Future Is Bright And Has A Sweet Looking Title
Before and during the CWC, rumors were floating around that the WWE was going to reintroduce the Cruiserweight Title. The cruiserweight division will showcase the best talent that is available to the WWE. You will see high flying, you will see technical wrestling, you will see striking, and you will love every minute of it. T.J. Perkins will be leading the charge as the first Cruiserweight Champion of this era in the WWE and it is going to be fun to see who else shows up from the CWC on Monday Night RAW.
Did you have a favorite moment from the CWC and WHO are you hoping to see in the new Cruiserweight Division? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter @MatPDouglas.
The WWE Cruiserweight Classic is available on demand on the WWE Network
The Disney Funko Pop! figure collection is expanding again, this time with “deluxe” versions of some classic princesses, according to the Funko Blog. Yes, I will admit–I love Funkos of all shapes and sizes. However, as the line of vinyl figures continues to expand, I find myself drawn more to those that have something unique about them. The new line of Disney princesses fits that bill.
Do We Really Need More Disney Funko? (Yep)
Instead of the standard character standing with its arms by its sides, the new figures show the girls dancing, twirling, moving in some way. They are also more screen-accurate than some of their predecessors. Cinderella’s stark yellow hair has been toned down and Rapunzel finally has her signature floral braid.
Ariel, Tiana, and Belle all have on different dresses than their predecessors. Ariel in particular comes in both matte and sparkly, though the glittered version is a Hot Topic exclusive.
What They Could Have Done Better
Perhaps the only disappointing element of the new princess collection is a distinct lack of tiny companions. One tactic Funko has used to make new figures of the same characters more enticing is adding an additional, albeit tiny, companion to the main character. Original Rapunzel came with Pascal, and Tiana was accompanied by a tiny Prince Naveen in frog form. The new figures could have taken advantage of this trend with Chip, Sebastian, Gus, etc.
The newest princesses are on their way to retailers this fall.
Do you collect Funko figures? What makes you add one of these vinyl cuties to your bookcase/ desk/ shelf? Tell us your thoughts and show off your collection below.
The rumoured Man of Steel sequel was just made official. Talking to Newsweek, Henry Cavill’s manager Dany Garcia confirmed that the Man of Steel sequel is in development at Warner Bros.
As you can see in the quote below, Garcia discusses the Superman actor’s upcoming projects which include next year’s Justice League and an official sequel to Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.
“Henry has a big appetite. We’ve been in a five-month period of time where he’s re-strategizing, acquiring property [for his production company Promethean], he’s filming [Justice League] now, he’s in development for the Superman standalone… he’s beginning to expand that world. It’s beautifully teed up. In a year from now, or two years from now, he’s going to be a force globally.”
Henry Cavill will next suit up as Superman in Justice League alongside Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa. The film is scheduled for release in November 2017.
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
Are You Excited To See A Man Of Steel Sequel? Be Sure To Let Us Know In The Comments Section Below!
