Tag: Netflix

YOU *SPOILERS*

by Deidra Kathleen

Okay, let’s talk about You.
No, not you, dearest gentle reader – the show You on Netflix.
Having just finished the final season, I have to say that my love/hate relationship with this show surely turned toward the latter – yet I could not stop watching the blood-spattered dumpster fire.
Empathically this series was like a malfunctioning garbage disposal. Watching this series, you see more and more what a self-centered psychopath the leading character played by Penn Badgley truly is despite his belief otherwise. And every bit of hope that surfaces that maybe that same protagonist, Joe Goldberg really has changed or might, you see yet another bit float up – showing the audience yet again his true nature remains unchanged.

In the first two seasons, I naively had hope for our obsessive leading man – especially in the second season when it seemed he had found a perfect match in his romantic interest and partner-in-crime, Love. But when that pairing literally went up in flames in season three without any plot twist with the ending, my faith in this series did too – yet, I kept watching. I suppose it was my curiosity for how the writers would keep interest with the same old: he falls in love (read as becomes obsessed with a woman), stalks her, kills, rinse (most often literally), and repeat.

Season four? Let me just say, ugh. I kept wondering why these people were allowing this outsider to remain in their inner circle after their supposed friends were being killed. And as much as I hated some of them and how they treated those around them, I hated this lack of logic even more so. The queen b of the group, Lady Phoebe had a few dozen spoonfuls of naiveté and a big heart all mixed with the fashion of Badgley’s other most well known show Gossip Girl. I suppose that was the reasoning of keeping Joe Goldberg in the inner circle – quite the same logic that Badgley’s character from Gossip Girl, Dan Humphrey was allowed to stay within that elite circle – because a similarly high-ranking kindhearted beautiful blonde believed in his character. I cannot help but wonder now – what is it about Penn Badgley that gives off this seemingly normal guy kept inside an elite circle casting vibe?

Compared to Gossip Girl, I think perhaps this show was a bit too much for me especially during the final season of You. Empathically it felt like getting food poisoning over and over again from the same restaurant and still ordering from there hoping they had decided to up their practices overnight – like that of a toxic relationship. A nonstop sour feeling remained in my stomach and hope that maybe just maybe – someone – maybe even Joe would put an end to the bloodshed. And though he did try, sadly his attempt failed. And after all this I have to say one good thing – the whole The Sixth Sense – psychopath edition ending was interesting but I really feel like this season could have been compressed by a couple episodes.

I did find comfort in The Nightingale (Marienne) being set free but shortly after I was sickened once again for the person who set her free was sent to her own hell. Yes, she got to live but she did nothing wrong and gets imprisoned. And yet Joe gets to waltz around murdering people because his newest “love” is wealthy beyond belief. It gives you a reminder that there are people in similar situations out there. I suppose I find relief in happy endings; color it my want for escapism. In contrast, this show was more a reminder of mental and literal imprisonment without a wanted ending of justice for someone like me.

**Featured image: All rights reserved to Vogue & Netflix

SDCC 2022: Netflix’ ’The Gray Man’ Training Program Kicks Off SDCC With A Bang!

by Derek Kraneveldt

I’m so excited to be back in San Diego.

The spectacle of the convention itself, and the fact that it spills out through what feels like the entire Gaslamp District of San Diego, is simply baffling. The scale of SDCC is simply like no other event that I’ve ever had the privilege of being to, and as incredible as the exhibit hall, panels, and exclusives are, the offsite activations have to be my absolute favourite part of the SDCC experience (aside from seeing my Geekscape friends).

I wasn’t quite sure how offsites would look this year — without a convention for the past two years, would studios realize that they didn’t actually need them to build excitement for their upcoming projects? Would they be fearful of staffing issues (or sickness) and do things on a smaller scale to combat this? Would it be business as usual?

Before preview night opened on Wednesday, I had the fantastic opportunity to check out the huge offsite that Netflix built for their new star-studded Russo brother direction action thrilller, The Gray Man.

Interestingly enough, this offsite has been set up for a movie that drops in just a couple of days, rather than a property that’s still months away (or years, as it was with Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series, which popped up at SDCC for multiple conventions before it finally released). This should definitely help the film’s early numbers (not that a cast including folks like Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and Billy Bob Thornton won’t) — I might be a pretty impressionable guy, but even just walking by the setup I was thinking that ”maybe we should check this out when we get back to the hotel tonight.”

The event is hard to miss, but for those in San Diego this week The Gray Man Training Program sits at the ABM Parking Lot at the corner of 1st Ave and Island Ave (this is where Prime Video was set up back in 2019 for The Boys, Carnival Row, and The Expanse). The offsite is open from Thursday, July 21 – Saturday, July 23 10am-7pm, and Sunday, July 24 from 11am-4pm.

The activation is a high-energy, interactive escape experience set on a tram car, inspired by the epic chase scene in the new Netflix Film The Gray Man. Once aboard the tram, fans will have to prove they have what it takes to become the next Gray Man in a test of skill, strength, and speed while transporting a top secret file to safety before the mercenaries catch up and the time runs out. The heart pounding mission will include various obstacles and special effects, and will culminate in a rooftop sprint as fans race against the clock to complete the mission. Fans will leave with a badass customized social takeaway that puts them at the center of their own action film.

Once you hit the front of the line, this is the start of the actual experience.

There was a decent lineup of press members present when I arrived at the activation. For those attending during the daytime, some umbrellas are set up to shield you from the San Diego sun. A giant display shows off the trailer for The Gray Man on repeat, and it’s loud enough that you’ll probably hear it if you’re pretty much anywhere close to the activation itself. Note that even for the press preview, this line took quite some time — attendees were completing the challenge one or two at a time, and took about two minutes once you actually began. Also, I’ve now memorized this trailer verbatim, as it’s the only thing that plays… over and over again.

Once you get closer to the actual activity, it looks pretty phenomenal. A life-sized crashed subway car greets you, complete with flying sparks and regular bursts of smoke. It’s a little tough to know exactly what you’ll do once it’s your turn, but it’s pretty clear that a ton of cash went into the activation, and that it’s going to be a damned good time.

Spoilers for the offsite activity ahead — you’ve been warned.

You finally hit the front of the line, and you’re sent in to be briefed by an agent. The agent tells you that they’re trying to determine who has what it takes to become the next Gray Man, and gives a brief overview of the challenges that you’ll be facing. You also receive a small metal necklace — one side has The Gray Man’s logo, while the other side has a pattern of sorts on it (I’m not quite sure at this point if the pattern is associated with the film, but I’d guess that it is).

Another agent then puts you into position at the end of the tram car, and instructs you to enter and get to work as fast as you possibly can once the door opens. Once you’re inside, you’re told to look for visual queues that will help you move on to the next area.

The first area was super easy and really took just a few seconds to solve. The second area however, really seems to require two people to have much success. I found instructions that I thought I was following, but then second-guessed myself when they wouldn’t work. Time ran out, and I failed this portion of the challenge (someone later confirmed that I was doing the right thing, but that it really took three hands to be able to fully solve it).

For the final portion of the activation, you end up on top of the tram car, and have to run across and insert your necklace into a briefcase of sorts to finish things up. A camera on a wire captures your run, and afterwards you can email yourself a cool video of your time on top of the tram.

Overall, the experience that Netflix crafted for The Grey Man was a very fun one. At the time of this writing, I don’t believe that Netflix is doing any sort of pre-registration to partake in the activation, and due to the one or two people nature of the experience itself, I’d anticipate lines to be long (well duh, it’s SDCC) and slow moving. In any case, if you have the time (or will be wandering the Gaslamp without a badge on one of the convention days), The Gray Man training program should definitely be on your to-do list.

Pop Culture Parallels: Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1

by Kaitlin Cornell Krusoe

Pop Culture Parallels

Spotlight: Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1

Since Stranger Things hit streaming in 2016, it has become synonymous with nostalgia. The Duffer Brothers and their team are experts in integrating pop culture references in every aspect of the show; from dialogue to music to set decoration. The first season took the world by storm and became a modern phenomenon, not an easy feat for an original story. Unlike Marvel or DC with their own backed IP, the Duffers used an entire quarter-century as their color palette to create a world to play in that feels lived in. 

Season 4 utilizes the magic created in their breakout season with needle-like precision. Here are some of the Easter eggs from season 1 that might predict what happens when Volume 2 drops on July 1st. 

So, like Steve, let’s “DIVE” in!

Is Eleven turning into Dark Phoenix?

It’s no secret that Eleven and Jean Grey have similar powers. Eleven has even been placed in tribute X-Men covers. X-Men has a great influence on the series from the start, when Will asks for Dustin’s X-Men 134 comic book in the pilot. Eleven also finds a trophy in Mike’s room that is a woman with wings, very similar to Jean. 

The plot of 134 has resurfaced thematically in Season 4. This comic has the X-Men facing off against The Hellfire Club (sound familiar?) and is the start of the Dark Phoenix Saga where Jean Grey gives in to the gravity of her powers. 

Her main antagonist is Mastermind, a being with psionic power. He creates complex telepathic illusions to toy with his victims, similar to Vecna, and his illusion to seduce Jean Grey unlocks The Dark Phoenix. Enraged, Dark Phoenix destroys Mastermind by blasting him with the knowledge of the universe, overloading him to the extent that he turns catatonic. The image of this is directly referenced in Eleven’s showdown with 001, when she unlocks her powers and sends him to the Upside Down. 

PREDICTION: While Eleven won’t go full dark, her full powers will be unleashed, leading to major sacrifice and consequences.

“We can reshape the world, remake it however we see fit”- 001

When Little Eleven throws 001 into another world, we see him falling through a red void. It is not the Upside Down at all. There is no Hawkins or eerie particles floating in the air, there isn’t even gravity; it is pure energy. It is this energy that turns him into the monster as we see him. 

The Upside Down existed as a void of pure psionic energy, and it is this energy that gives 001 his original powers. Therefore, he is connected to the world before he arrives, and is able to shape it as he wants to. 

The artistic decision to mirror the red void with Eleven’s memories of being born, both with a distinctly red tint and shards of light, describe visually that each of the characters are being “born” into who they were meant to be. Like it or not, 001 becoming Vecna and accessing his power was a rebirth for him.

PREDICTION: We will find out where the Upside Down came from and that it’s this dimension and the Mind Flayer that sought out Henry Creel.

Vecna Makes Upside Down Hawkins

When 001 falls into the Upside Down, it’s curious that there is nothing but vast empty space and pure energy. It is still unclear whether Eleven created the Upside Down or merely accessed it, but what is clear is that 001 probably used his powers to shape it into Hawkins, the only place he was remotely happy. 

Vecna is like Mastermind in many ways; he has psychokinesis and telepathy, and uses his telepathy to create illusions in his victims. And even though he desires to be a part of Hellfire Club, he acts on his own and remains solitary. When Jean essentially makes him a god of all knowledge, it doesn’t kill him but sends him into a different world in his mind where no one can reach him. Vecna is like a god in the Upside Down, and is separated from the real world. 

If that’s true, then it stands to reason that those with psionic abilities can not only influence the Upside Down but change it. The Upside Down is going to be the place for the final battle this season, but it will be super exciting to see the location possibly used as a weapon itself. 

PREDICTION: We will get a 001/ Eleven battle and find out why the Upside Down looks like Hawkins, and why it’s stuck in the past.

What music brings Nancy back?

Max’s favorite song was easy to spot, and is easily one of the greatest moments of the series. But Nancy being captured by Vecna is a little trickier to fix, and it doesn’t seem like he’s letting go anytime soon. So, what is going to wake her?

Nancy’s music box: It plays a rendition of “Lullaby and Goodnight” by Brahams. Robin draws attention to it, remarking that it makes music. Eleven also opened the box in Season 1 Episode 3, when she’s exploring the Wheeler house. Seeing the room both stuck in 1983 and in the present of 1986, the music box is one of the few things that stay the same. Even the wallpaper is different, and no one likes changing wallpaper. Hopefully someone in the group remembers the tune.

Another idea is that it’s a song she and Steve shared while they were dating, which would further cement their rekindling romance. Conveniently, he’s in the Upside Down with her… *strokes non-existent beard*

The songs I’ve found that are the most likely are:

“Every Little Bit” by Jackie James and Jackie Curnow: this is playing in the car when Nancy and Barb are driving to Steve’s, and might represent the last good memory with Barb.

“I Melt With You” by Modern English: Music playing at Steve’s pool party, which means he would know it enough to sing it to her. 

“Hazy Shade Of Winter” by The Bangles – Nancy makes out with Steve while Barbara is taken by the Monster. This is less likely because the song starts after Barb is taken and rolls through the credits. 

“Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner – First song as Nancy loses her virginity with Steve. I think this is less likely because of the cheese-factor alone, and there’s no real proof that the characters could hear this song playing.

PREDICTION:

“Old Time Rock and Roll”- Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band– Before Nancy tries to beat the Demagorgon with a baseball bat, Steve confronts her in her garage, and sings this song to her, telling her he has a “Tom Cruise” vibe. Since Robyn also pointed out the Tom Cruise poster still on the wall, it could it be a fun memory to pull her back into reality.

Will we get some Joe Keery-oke in Part Two?

Who is The Hellfire Club??

The DnD groups name unfortunately puts them in the spotlight of the Satanic Panic that swept the 80’s, but it isn’t just a cool name. 

The Hellfire Club was the name of a social club in Britain and Ireland. It had many iterations but basically operated the same way: members would convene at a local tavern or someone’s house and drink and talk philosophy, politics, and religion. The group was known for “engaging in obscene acts” which was mostly making fun of church rituals. They would even dress up (as Bible characters, but hey, cosplay is cosplay). 

The name Hellfire Club was plucked from history by Marvel Comics and used in the X-Men series. It was a social club for wealthy elites, like it’s namesake, but the Inner Circle contained supervillains trying to influence world events that our heroes had to face. Included in this group was Emma Frost, Mastermind, Sebastian Shaw, Magneto, and Phoenix. The Hellfire Club was the villanous group our heroes faced in “UnCanny X-men 129-134” when Jean Grey becomes Dark Phoenix. I’m sensing a pattern. 

The boys knew this reference, Dustin uses Xmen to help Eddie understand the world he is now thrust in. And while the name is definitely ‘metal’… it’s about to cause them more problems than they realize. 

PREDICTION: The Hellfire Club will disband after the events of the season regardless, given the entire towns hatred of them. The Basketball Team will become an obstacle to the Hawkins Crew, and will be victims in Vecna’s larger scheme. 

Flipping Freddie Krueger

Season 4  leans more heavily into the horror genre than in previous seasons. With their resident superhero powerless and miles away, the Hawkins gang are more out of their depth than ever before. And having bodies turn up with broken bones and a creepy haunted house, it’s hitting all the buttons. 

Casting Robert Englund as Mr. Vincent Creel was a bold choice. He is most famous for his role as Freddie Kreuger, a staple horror villain of the time who would attack teens with the same claw-like hands as Vecna. He is also no stranger to heavy prosthetic makeup, and could not see once the eye makeup was applied. 

You cannot cast Englund without thinking of Freddie, and I think the Duffer Brothers did that on purpose. Many horror villains like Freddie start the same: he once was human, something horrible happened to him, and now he is imbued with supernatural or inhuman abilities he uses to wreak havoc and murder gloriously. Freddie is terrifying because he invades peoples dreams before he kills them, makes them question reality before slicing them with his knife fingers, all while hearing that eerie song. 

The Duffers used this as an unconscious reference point, giving us a horror movie base for them to flip on it’s head. Like Freddie, Vecna also uses people’s dreams, conjures illusions, and makes it impossible for his victims to tell real from unreal. We begin season 4 identifying him as a warlock, a monster, a 5-star general of the Mindflayer. It is the Nina Project that reveals at the last moment that Vecna is not only human, but a victim of Brenner himself. He is given context and backstory and understanding. If the internet is any indication, fans of the show even seem to like him. 

The Duffers used the Freddie story as a backdrop and completely reversed it, reimagining it and making it feel alive and interesting, arguably moreso than the many remakes we’ve seen recently. The time of the 80’s horror movie is back, and almost perfected.


PREDICTION: Robert Englund is only credited for one episode on IMDB, so Victor will not make another appearance. However Vecna could suffer the same weakness as his iconic Freddie conterpart. He is safe in the dream world, but once he enters the real world he is vulnerable and can be killed. I think Vecna will die this season.

Powers at Play: Vecna in DnD

When Eddie named his campaign villain as Vecna, diehard fans can’t help but relive the moment when Mike slams the demagorgon miniature on the table with flourish and pizazz. The season’s major villains are codified in the same way. So what does that tell us about Vecna, and what other powers could arise in Volume 2?

Vecna is considered one of the greatest villains in Dungeons and Dragons canon, being a powerful wizard who transforms into a lich, or a creature who defies death with magic. He is only considered a legend in the 1st edition with only artifacts of him available to players. The 2nd edition expands his character more. He started as a human, and was trained by his mother in the arcane arts before her execution. He vowed revenge against the land and everyone in it. 

Now, as a nerd, I have never seen stats like Vecna. He utilizes magic to control his undead army and conquer the world, which means he deals necrotic damage. He is immune to being frightened, poisoned, blugeoned, paralyzed, charmed, pierced, stunned, or being exhausted. He does not require air, food, water, or sleep to live. His passive perception is 25, which is stupidly high. So far, even though the Stranger Things character is not based off of DnD, the stats check out. In DnD, Vecna has two weaknesses: light from holy clerics, and a magical sentient sword. In the lore, one of his followers (Kas) was gifted the sword, and it spoke to him to usurp his master and take his power.  

Vecna has never appeared in daylight, and although we are absent a magical sword, a betrayal is definitely possible. But will that result in the desire to take his place in the Upside Down? 

PREDICTION: Sunlight will come into play, and he will definitely make his way into real life Hawkins. Hopefully the hang will find a magic sword.

Time is running out

Time is a consistent theme this season. Eleven talks about how time feels in her letter to Mike, calling everyone “time travelers.”  It is the grandfather clock that inspired Henry Creel to use his powers. The grandfather clock appears and chimes to Vecna’s victims. The Upside Down is stuck in November 6th, 1983. And even the use of the simultaneous timeline of Vecna and the Orderly plays with the audience’s awareness of time in the show. 

It’s possible the use of the grandfather clock could be signaling the grandfather paradox, a logical theory that if you went back in time and killed your grandfather before he had children, your birth would be impossible. Not only is there an inevitability in the passage of time, or the looming end to someone’s time in death, but there is a certainty that the events that take place were meant to happen exactly as they did. Logical destiny. 001 and Eleven are intertwined permanently.

PREDICTION: Volume 2 will finish the time theme in preparation for final season, and destiny will play out as the Upside Down and Hawkins collide like a Venn diagram.

Time to get help…?

There is also the use of clocks as a literal signal that Vecna might be present. One other character is tied to time: the school counselor. She wears a key necklace with a clock embedded in the center, and both times Max visits her, the wall clock is prominently featured and ticking underscores the music. The counselor only appears in scenes with Max, and she is the only commonality between all of Vecna’s victims. 

PREDICTION: The counselor is either a pawn for Vecna or an illusion he creates to choose his victims and gain their trust. I honestly hope it’s the latter. 

How will this end? Only time will tell…

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 premieres midnight Friday July 1st on Netflix. 

The Geekscape ‘Punisher Season 2’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Will there be a Punisher Season 3? With Marvel’s deal with Netflix almost at an end (Jessica Jones Season 3 is still on its way) it appears unlikely. But we still have Season 2 to deal with so I sit down with Ian Kerner to talk through the 13 episodes story arch. Right off the bat, I say that Punisher Season 1 may be my favorite Marvel Netflix show… so is Season 2 another bad ass brawl-fest? What’s up with Billy Russo becoming Jigsaw? Is Frank in full on Punisher mode when we meet him? Is this season as solid as the first? Where does it rank amongst the other Marvel Netflix shows? And what might be the future for these characters after Netflix? Ian and I do a deep dive through all these subjects so get ready and here is your SPOILER WARNING!

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Geekscape TV Reviews: Is Bandersnatch Just a Gimmick?

by Ron Purtee

It’s a common understanding when it comes to Black Mirror, you are going to get a little sad. The saying is “I’ve never been so excited, to get so depressed.”, and on any other given day, the new installment of the Charlie Brooker helmed program would do just that.

Bandersnatch is quite different.

Instead of ramping up any kind of depression that you may have, Bandersnatch goes right for the anxiety that’s lurking deep within. It doesn’t hit you right away though. It’s more of a growing anxiety.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is essentially a choose your own adventure film. Yes. An interactive movie. It takes place in 1984 and follows the life of Stefan Butler. A young programmer trying to get his game, Bandersnatch, off the ground; programming it on his own. Early on in the film, he has a meeting with a hot new developer promising to make his company the Motown of the video game world.

Promising to get the game done by the deadline proves to be a challenge for Stefan as he encounters all sorts of twists and turns in his life that YOU control. At certain points, you decide what Stefan does. From what music he listens to on the bus, to what will be the final outcome between him and other pivotal characters during the course of the film.

I’m trying to stay as spoiler free during this review because this is something that should be experienced, not decided upon based on a review. That being said, Brooker has outdone himself with Bandersnatch. We have all dealt with a choose your own adventure book in our lifetime but nothing like this. You are driven as mad as the character when it comes to the choices you have to make and are left kind of broken at the end of it because you realize that you are not only making decisions for the character but ultimately for yourself.

Like every other episode of Black Mirror, you are taken on a journey that you could see yourself taking in the real world. Like a, well, mirror up to your face, showing you what darkness can lie beneath.

Don’t think that you can just put your Fire Stick on and watch Netflix and enjoy Bandersnatch though. According to Netflix, Bandersnatch can be watched on newer devices including “smart TVs, streaming media players, game consoles, and iOS devices running the latest version of the Netflix app.” The episode does not currently work on Google Chromecast, Apple TV, the Windows App and browsers using Silverlight. We don’t know if that is going to change but the feeling is that Netflix didn’t have a chance to optimize things in time for the release of Bandersnatch. So keep your fingers crossed!

When it all boils down, Bandersnatch, well, Black Mirror as a whole, is a show that holds nothing back in showing the world its faults and the darkness that we all have lurking somewhere in there. There are no happy endings in the world of Black Mirror, but I think it wouldn’t be as good if there were.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM0xWpBYlNM

The Geekscape ‘Daredevil Season 3’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Marvel’s popular Daredevil has returned to Netflix for a 3rd Season… but does this one hit a bullseye!?! Bad pun. I know. But things are a bit rockier for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen in the wake of Netflix’s cancellation of both Iron Fist and Luke Cage. What does that mean for future Marvel Netflix shows? Or the upcoming Disney streaming app? And as we get into this SPOILER FILLED episode, what were the highlights of the season? What do we still have questions about? Where do we go moving forward? Really, we just want to keep talking about how awesome Bullseye’s origin was and can’t wait to see more of him! But obviously, we do that in a ton of detail! It’s all here so enjoy!

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The Geekscape ‘Iron Fist: Season 2’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Netflix and Marvel’s ‘Iron Fist’ Season 2 is out… and is a huge improvement over the controversial first season! There’s a new showrunner and only 10 episodes as things get shaken up for both the show and Danny Rand after the events of ‘The Defenders’ crossover! And Ian and I answer all of your questions and give you a couple Easter Eggs in the process! How is Alice Eve as villain Typhoid Mary? Is Davos the best villain in the Marvel Netflix universe? What’s the next step in Danny Rand and Colleen Wing’s relationship? Does this set anything up for ‘Daredevil: Season 3’? How does Misty Knight and Luke Cage relate to the events in ‘Iron Fist’? Does this set up ‘Iron Fist: Season 3’ for adapting Matt Fraction’s ‘Seven Capital Cities of Heaven’ tournament storyline!?! It’s all here in our Geekscape Special!

 

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The Geekscape ‘Luke Cage Season 2’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Season 2 of Netflix and Marvel’s ‘Luke Cage’ has returned to the streets of Harlem and this season picks up right where ‘The Defenders’ and Season 1 left off! Luke and Claire are trying to further their relationship after the revelations about Luke’s father in Season 1 and Claire Temple is dealing with the injury she suffered battling The Hand in ‘The Defenders’! On top of that, new villain Bushmaster has hit the streets and he wants to take back what he thinks is rightfully his: Harlem’s Paradise, the club at the center of the Harlem crime world. What moments in Season 2 were the strongest? Which characters surprised us or had the best arcs? And how did the final episode change things in a big way for the future of Marvel’s Netflix universe? It’s all here is MAJOR SPOILERS filled detail!

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Geekscape 477: Sitting Down With TV Writer & Showrunner Jack Kenny!

by Jonathan

Jack Kenny’s TV writing and showrunning career goes back over 30 years and includes geek favorite shows like ‘Warehouse 13’ and ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’! I recently visited Jack’s home office to wind back the clock and talk to him about his career in television. From modern day politics to Jack’s recent short filmmaking to his thoughts on the future of television, this episode covers a lot of bases, both professional and personal. Jack’s been a good friend and mentor for a few years now and I definitely want to give him a big thanks for being so candid with me! I think it’s a great, candid view into TV writing and more! Enjoy!

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The Geekscape ‘Jessica Jones Season 2’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Marvel and Netflix’s ‘Jessica Jones’ Season 2 is here and that means it’s time to sit down with Ian Kerner and break it all down! Ian and I sift through the ins and outs of the season and answer the big questions! What were the highlights of the Season and what did they mean? Is Season 2 an improvement on Season 1? How do things effect the rest of the Defenders and MCU as a whole? What were the big Easter Eggs and some of our favorites? There are MAJOR SPOILERS in this episode so unless you’ve watched ‘Jessica Jones’ Season 2 or just want it completely spoiled for you, go listen to something else on the Geekscape feed!

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Netflix’s ‘Jessica Jones’ Season 2 trailer is here!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Jessica Jones is back. She is still angry. She is still drinking. She still does not want a sidekick.

The Netflix trailer that was released on Wednesday gives viewers a look into the new season and into the backstory of Jessica Jones. In the trailer, she explains that her parents died in a terrible car accident, someone did experiments on her, and she wants to know how many more like her are out there. With seventeen years of questions, it’s time for her to get some answers. Simple things, right?

It might cost her though.At the end of the trailer, there is someone clapping their hands, almost mockingly. Who is that with Jessica on the roof? Could it be the return of Killgrave? Or someone else?

Season 2 of Jessica Jones brings back Kristen Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Ann Moss, and Eka Darville. New seasons of Daredevil and Iron Fist are expected to be released later this year.

Take a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSvnepZS26s

 

The Geekscape ‘Punisher’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Netflix’s ‘Punisher’ series finally arrived and it took no prisoners! I know that we’re a little late on this one but it doesn’t matter… because we don’t take prisoners either! Ian Kerner joins in to talk about Jon Bernthal’s take on the Punisher and how it stacks up against the competition. Nowhere is safe to hide as we ask all the questions! What does this mean for Daredevil, Luke Cage and the rest of the Netflix Marvel universe? Is this Microchip a better version than the comics? What about Ben Barnes and the rest of the cast? New characters, old characters… which pieces were adapted properly? And of course, what can you maybe expect in Punisher Season Two? There is a LOT to like in this series so listen in as we sift through the bodies and look for survivors!

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BoJack Goes Missing In The Season 4 Trailer For ‘BoJack Horseman’!

by The_acz

Out of all of Netflix’s original shows, BoJack Horseman has to be one of their most interesting original series to date.

While at first coming off as just weird and filled with shock humor, quickly evolves into a deep commentary about Hollywood and celebrity culture at large.  Season 4 looks to be expanding on what it built in Season 3 as we see a worried Diane trying to contact an off the grid BoJack after being gone for over 3 months. While the trailer does drop hints of what we can expect out of the new season, it’s really impossible to know what’s going to happen. BoJack is a series constantly throwing curveballs. Check out the trailer below and get ready for your yearly dose of depression! BoJack Horseman Season 4 will premiere on Netflix September 8th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf12qwPWDVI

The Geekscape ‘The Defenders’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

You know how we do this! Marvel’s ‘The Defenders’ arrived on Netflix last week so you KNEW we were going to do a special with Ian Kerner to go over every last detail of the series! MAJOR SPOILER WARNING as we give you our thoughts and answer all of your major questions! Where does this match up with the other Marvel Netflix shows? Is this the last we’ll see of The Hand? What was Alexandra’s big plan after all? Who is “Sister Maggie”? Where does this leave each Defender going back into their own shows? And obviously, who would Ian want to see on the team for a ‘The Defenders’ Season 2!?! Enjoy!

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‘Bojack Horseman’ Season 4 Premieres This September!!

by The_acz

While shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black continue to be big money makers for Netflix, the company is also starting to grow their other shows as well.

Shows like Stranger Things, and even the newly launched Castlevania have proven to be successful in finding a big audience willing to stick by it. The biggest show out of these is of course Bojack Horseman. The animated adult comedy originally had a rough start, but quickly exploded shortly after the end of Season 1 and the start of Season 2. Now, a little over a year after fans were left hanging in Season 3, Netflix has finally announced a release date for the highly anticipated 4th season. Check out the announcement below and tell us what you think in the comments below!

New ‘Death Note’ Trailer Gets Us Excited For August Premier

by Courtney Dossett

With a little less than two months until its premier, Netflix released another Death Note trailer today.

Unlike the trailer released in March, the new trailer gives us a better look at the story of Death Note for those of us who maybe less familiar with the anime. From what I could see in the trailer, Light (Nat Wolff) seems to be a lot different than the boy portrayed in the anime, with Ryuk (Willem Dafoe) prompting him to use the Death Note instead of Light jumping right in on his own and writing names. We also get to see and hear more of L (Keith Stanfield), in this trailer, and the conflict between him and Light. All in all, it will be interesting to see how Netflix’s interpretation will compare to the anime.

 

What did you think of the trailer? Are you ready for the premier August 25? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

Netflix’s ‘Castlevania’ Series Gets Its First Teaser Trailer

by Natalie Kipper

July is coming up shortly. It is a month of conventions, BBQs, and (hopefully) air-conditioning. Oh yeah, and vampire-slaying. That last one is courtesy of Netflix’s upcoming series, Castlevania, based on the long-running video game series of the same name. The first teaser trailer for the show was released yesterday and it is sure to get your blood pumping! The animation has a definite anime flavor to it.

The official synopsis cleanly describes Castlvania‘s plot:

Inspired by the classic video game series, Castlevania is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepe himself. The animated series written by best-selling author and comic book icon Warren Ellis and executive produced by Warren Ellis, Kevin Kolde, Fred Seibert and Adi Shankar.

You can take a gander at the trailer below. And post what you think of it in the comments. I know I am pretty psyched to watch this new show!

Netflix Announces: ‘The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance’ Prequel!

by The_acz

Remember The Dark Crystal? That really trippy and creepy Jim Henson film that probably scared the daylights out of you as a kid?

Today, Netflix announced that they are currently working on a prequel series to the cult classic film, and will release it sometime soon. The best news about this has to be that the series will be staying true to its roots by keeping the characters as puppets and animatronics, instead of going the CGI heavy route like most would do. What do you think? Have you ever seen The Dark Crystal? Are you planning on watching this prequel? Tell us in the comments below!

 

‘The Defenders’ Gives Us The Next Super-Friends

by Natalie Kipper

Netflix digs deep into the Marvel library for their upcoming original series, The Defenders. The show sees a partnership between heroes Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) as they fight to take on enemies both on the battlefield and within themselves. Netflix published a trailer for The Defenders on Youtube yesterday, which can be watched just below this sentence.

https://youtu.be/4h3m7B4v6Zc

As you can see, while the show does have a tinge of angst, it also has some humor in it. That scarf comment about a minute and forty seconds into the video certainly made me laugh. I can imagine this will be a “dream show” for fans of these popular characters.

Marvel’s The Defenders launches on Netflix worldwide on August 18, 2017. Are you planning on tuning in?

The Geekscape ‘Iron Fist’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Ian Kerner is back to break down all 13 episodes of Netflix and Marvel’s latest series ‘Iron Fist’! This series was met with a ton of controversy from the beginning… so did it hold up? We talk about what worked, what we want to see from ‘Iron Fist’ Season 2 and ‘The Defenders’ and why how it all compares to the comics! Was ‘Iron Fist’ worth watching? Yes. Did you get everything you could out of it? Not until you listen to this special!

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We’ve Got Movie Sign! Check Out The Newest Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’

by Shane O'Hare

It’s…it’s finally happening. It’s here. The Netflix Original reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is almost online, and today we’ve got this teaser trailer. WATCH IT!

This is a glorious moment. Die hard MSTies have been dreaming of a revival of their favorite show, and with the generously funded Kickstarter campaign, the dream became a reality.

I was a little nervous when the new cast and crew was announced; changes include new voices for our beloved robots, and a new host. The addition of some flashy Hollywood names, which, to quote a MST3K expert on the subject, is just “diluting the charm of the show with LA stars”, which made a lot of fans  cautious as to how it would all turn out. That being said, Hampton Yount and Baron Vaughn, taking on the roles of Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo respectively, could not have been a better choice. They fit the bill perfectly and I cannot wait to see them riffing on movies. Jury is still out on Felicia and Patton, but I believe Joel Hodgson, the shows creator and lead on the revival, made the right choice.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 returns this April 14th, only on Netflix!

Shall We Begin? Netflix’s ‘Death Note’ Teaser Is Here!

by The_acz

Netflix has finally released a teaser for their adaption of Death Note, and the response has been a bit mixed so far.

The teaser is pretty basic, as it just shows the Death Note showing up, and Light reading the rules of the book. The trailer ends with a tease of Willem Dafoe’s Ryuk. Personally, it’s a bit silly with people already going into a frenzy and throwing the whitewashing card into the mix. Give it a full length trailer to make a more accurate judgement. Check out the teaser below and tell us if you’re excited for the film in the comments below.

The First Teaser For Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Okja’ Is Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m beyond excited for this one.

Not because I was a big fan of Snowpiercer (that would be our old pal Eric Francisco, who is bound to have multiple Snowpiercer tattoos at this point), but because I had the pleasure of being a part of the film’s month-long Vancouver shoot. The care, intensity, and passion that every one of Okja‘s crew members (and getting to speak regularly with the film’s impressive visual effects team) has firmly planted Okja on my ‘must see the moment it becomes available’ list.

Finally, Netflix has revealed the very first teaser for the film, which doesn’t showcase just what Okja is, but definitely leaves you wanting much, much more. The company also revealed that the film will launch on June 28th.

This grand global adventure follows a friendship too big to ignore. Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named Okja. Following her across continents, the coming-of-age comedy drama sees Mija’s horizons expand in a way one never would want for one’s children, coming up against the harsh realities of genetically modified food experimentation, globalization, eco-terrorism, and humanity’s obsession with image, brand and self-promotion.

Here’s The First Teaser Poster For Netflix’s Upcoming ‘Castlevania’ Series!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’ve only known that the series is officially in the works for a couple of weeks at this point, but Netflix has just released the very first teaser poster for its upcoming Castlevania series.

Inspired by the classic video game series, “Castlevania” is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepe himself. The animated series is from Frederator Studios, a Wow! Unlimited Media company, written by best-selling author and comic book icon Warren Ellis and executive produced by Warren Ellis, Kevin Kolde, Fred Seibert, and Adi Shankar.

Shankar took to Facebook late last night to reveal the image and to reiterate that the series will launch later this year.

It’s been some time since I’ve really played a Castlevania title, but as a huge fan of the series growing up, with the incredible team behind the project, this is going to be bad ass.

Take a look at the image below, and let us know if you’re excited!

https://www.facebook.com/theadishankarbrand/photos/a.1595984600635168.1073741829.1425430891023874/1882190505347908/?type=3&theater

Netflix Releasing A ‘Castlevania’ Series This Year!

by The_acz

After over 10 years in development, Castlevania will finally be getting its due.

This evening while talking about their upcoming project, Netflix announced that they are hard at work on a Netflix series for the critically acclaimed Konami series created by Koji Igarashi. No specific date has been announced, but they’re hoping to have it out by 2017. The series will be split into 4 parts and will be written and produced by one of the original Dead Space writers, and pretty major comic book writer and all around idea man, Warren Ellis. Are you excited about this announcement? What game series are you hoping Netflix tackles afterwards? Tell us in the comments below!

Check Out The Official Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Iron Fist’!

by The_acz

We’re just about 5 weeks out from Netflix’s Iron Fist series, and to celebrate, Netflix themselves have finally dropped an official trailer for us to tide us over until the big day arrives.

There’s nothing amazingly stand out here, but the trailer does do a good job conveying the tone of the series and setting the mood. Iron Fist will be the 4th Marvel Netflix show out of the current 6 planned. Check out the trailer for yourself below. Are you excited for Iron Fist? What’s your favorite Marvel Netflix show? Tell us in the comments!

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 01/11/17

by Karson

It’s that wonderful time of the week again, new comic book day! Choosing what to read can be daunting (and expensive!). Don’t worry though, Geekscape has you covered. Each week we give a few best bets for a comic book that you’re sure to enjoy. Let’s get into it!

DC

DC is on such a high right now. Their Batman books are solid, their Superman books are solid. Young Animal is maturing. They’re pumping out tons of awesome content, but this week there is one title that jumps off my pull list…


Justice League/Power Rangers #1
📝 Tom Taylor
🎨 Stephen Byrne, Eduardo Nunez

Two of comics greatest teams team up for the very first time! Something terrible has happened in Angel Grove! When the Command Center is breached and the teleporters are damaged, Zack is flung into another universe, where he’s mistaken for a villain by a mysterious masked vigilante. Can the other Power Rangers get to their friend in time to save him from Batman? Co-published with BOOM! Studios.

Well, I’m sure we’ve all thought of it before in either our dreams, action figure battles, or discussions with friends and now we finally get to see it unfold in comic books! That’s right, it’s Power Rangers + Justice League. Need I say more?

Marvel


Jessica Jones #4
📝 Brian Michael Bendis
🎨 Michael Gaydos

Jessica Jones latest case has revealed a new hidden evil in the Marvel Universe. An evil so terrifying she was willing to rip her family apart to save them from it. But was the sacrifice enough? Another all-new blistering chapter of Marvel’s premier detective.

This series is getting good. It’ll scratch the itch while you wait for more Marvel Netflix content.

Netflix Tiptoes Into The World Of Gaming

by TinyNightmare

In an interesting turn of events, Netflix put out an original 8-bit style game featuring the stars of some of its shows, including one of my favorite love-to-hate characters of all time, Piper Chapman among other characters from their popular shows such as Stranger Things, Narcos and Marco Polo even though it got cancelled.

Netflix Infinite Runner, an autoscrolling platformer where characters jump to collect items or avoid obstacles, seems to have gone a little under the radar as it seems to be a foreshadowing of what may come next from Netflix: Video Games.

For all of us geeks and nerds out there, this may be a very good thing considering how well they have done with the recent netflix originals series and how they have changed the way we consume movie content.

When the idea of the second screen concept came out, marketers by all accounts failed to capitalize on this concept, but we may be seeing the early signs of Netflix succeeding where others failed.

Be on the lookout because you may be the next character in House of Cards to steal the Secretary of State’s Secure USB flash drive with information that could make or break the election.

Check Out These Stills From Duncan Jones’s New Netflix Original ‘Mute’

by The_acz

While 2016’s Warcraft didn’t go exactly the way that director Duncan Jones wanted it to, that’s not going to stop him from moving forward with some of his newer projects.

Jones’s newest project titled Mute is a more traditional return for him. Mute is a Netflix original that stars Alexander Skarsgard, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, and more. The story centers around Skarsgard’s character Leo, who is a mute bartender due to childhood trauma who all of a sudden finds himself searching for his girlfriend, played by newcomer Seyneb Saleh, in the deep underbelly of Berlin, the city he lives in. The film is a futuristic thriller and is planned for a 2017 launch on the platform sometime this year.

Click on each image to see the full sized versions. These are gorgeous!

 

No Surprise Here: ‘Luke Cage’ Is Getting A Second Season!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Always forward.

Finally, after way, way too long a wait, Netflix has confirmed that Luke Cage will be receiving a second season.

Naturally, Netflix didn’t reveal just when we’ll be able to watch the next set of episodes, but I’d imagine it’ll be quite some time, seeing as we still have The Defenders, Iron Fist, and more Jessica Jones to get through first.

For now, take a look at the reveal teaser below, and we’ll be sure to share more as soon as the news comes in.