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The 100 3x3: Ye Who Enter Here

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The 100 3x3: Ye Who Enter Here

Previously: Clarke’s captured by a wandering member of the Ice Nation—who turns out to be royalty—and Nyko’s injury leads Abby and Lincoln to make an important decision on the future use of Mt. Weather.

THIS WEEK ON THE 100

When Lexa tries to talk Clarke into helping the Arkadians become the 13th Grounder clan (and bowing before her in the process), Clarke isn’t having any of it. And when Roan sees Clarke’s anger, he tries to make his own deal: for her to kill Lexa, and align with the Ice Nation instead. While Clarke’s mulling her options, she realizes that the only way to save her people is to agree to Lexa’s plan. At a summit of the 12 clans that was supposedly called to broker a treaty with the Arkadians, Lexa and Clarke announce their true intentions, shortly before Bellamy, Pike and Octavia come bursting through the doors, trying to stop an assassination attempt—leaked to them by Echo, former Mt. Weather cage-neighbor of Bellamy’s.

Unfortunately, Echo wasn’t telling the Arkadians the truth, which is made horribly clear when the assassin that was supposedly at the summit sets the self-destruct on Mt. Weather—killing Gina* in the process—and Mt. Weather blows up, taking with it the lives of 30+ people from Farm Station and any hopes of not going to war with the Ice Nation.

*We hardly knew ye.

MOMENTS

- Clarke calling Lexa out on the true reasons behind the summit, and asserting once again that she has the upper hand.

- The Blake siblings having an adorable moment outside Mt. Weather.

- Clarke looking FIERCE at the summit ceremony.

- Sinclair calling Raven out on her stubbornness. We all just want you to be better, Raven!

- Lexa swearing fealty to Clarke. It definitely seems like she wants to make amends, but ...




GIFs via chatnoirs-baton.tumblr.com

HOLY SH*T X 100

Damn, Lexa! Way to start the episode off with a literal (and—sorry for this mental image—squishy) bang. Remind me not to get on her bad side when she’s standing near an open window.



GIFs via chatnoirs-baton.tumblr.com

(THIS. IS. POLIS.)

- Damn, Echo! Way to sell out Skaikru. We JUST met the people of Farm Station!

- IT’S THE QUEEN! AND EFFING EMERSON!

ARKADIAN OF THE WEEK

Sinclair hasn’t been around all that much, and he’s been kind of a jerk for much of that time. But he gave Raven some much needed tough love tonight, and I have to give him major props for that.

SAY WHAT

“You’re angry, Clarke. But I know you. What you’ve done haunts you. And it’s easier to hate me than to hate yourself.”—Lexa, trying to prove that she knows Clarke.
“Oh, I can do both.”—Clarke, not giving a damn.

“Otherwise, go float yourself. Because I will never bow to you.”—Clarke, meaning it ... at the moment.

“Don’t do anything stupidly heroic.”—Gina, trying to be sweet to Bell.
“Garden-variety heroic. Got it.”—Bellamy, trying to make us believe in this relationship.



GIFs via chatnoirs-baton.tumblr.com

“I’m sorry, Clarke. I never meant to turn you into this.”—Lexa, trying once again to make Clarke understand.

“I took a chance on a zero-G mechanic with a heart defect. Why don’t you take a chance on her, too?”—Sinclair, giving Raven some much-needed love.

“She left us to die on that mountain. She will always put her people first. You should come home to yours.”—Bellamy, cracking our hearts in two.
“I’m sorry.”—Clarke, grounding those two halves into dust.

BURNING QUESTIONS

- … still with the intro voiceover?

- So Trikru’s capital is called Polis, but the building really looks like one of the Marina City towers in Chicago. Where, exactly, are they? (And why am I so hung up on this?)

- We’re assuming that Monty and his mom weren’t in Mt. Weather, right?

- Why did the Ice Nation let Emerson live? Also, why—and this is a rhetorical question—is he such a dick?

Guys, this is only the third episode in this season. The writers are pulling absolutely no punches! Let's take it to the comments.

Next episode: “Watch the Thrones”

 

Shameless Self-Promotion!

Check out our The 100 themed t-shirts!


Procrastination Pro Tips: Logan’s Back On Gilmore Girls and Donald Trump is Dolores Umbridge

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Procrastination Pro Tips: Logan’s Back On Gilmore Girls and Donald Trump is Dolores Umbridge

Happy Friday! Let's get to it.

Book Related Things

Did you hear that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (the May 2015 FYA Book Club pick!) is getting a sequel?

J.K. Rowling has announced the locations of four other magical schools.

Here's how Harry Potter money translates into US dollars.

Marissa Meyer is working on post-Winter graphic novels.

Hot Dudes Reading: the book!

Nan Lawson's "meet cute" series has some favorite YA pairings.

Litographs added We Were Liars to their collection!

15 life lessons Anne of Green Gables has taught us.

 

Movie Related Things

A genius has mashed up this photo of Dolores Umbridge and Donald Trump. Appropriate!

Kate Winslet agrees that Rose let Jack die.

New Ghostbusters images!

Best friends of rom com heroines.

Did you like the movie Brooklyn? There will be a TV spinoff.

 

TV Related Things

Yay! Logan is definitely back on Gilmore Girls. (Kandis and I have discussed and decided that Rory and Logan are back together after significant time apart. So shall it be.)

For more Gilmore Girls news from this week, check out our series YA Onscreen.

Outlander has cast Jamie and Claire's daughter.

Eliza and Alycia talk Clarke and Lexa.

The Cruel Intentions series is on. Ha! (I laugh, but I'll totally watch it.)

The Flash/Supergirl crossover is happening.

Downton Abbey meets Star Wars.

The complete list of 120 Minutes episodes. Man, I miss that show!

 

Miscellaneous Things

You can now study tacos at the University of Kentucky. 

Uzo Aduba took her high school prom date to the SAG awards. Awwww!

This dad wins at being a dad. Can he build us all indoor fairy treehouses too?

This Australian teen wants to be the first hijab-wearing ballerina.

The science behind Resting Bitch Face.

 

That's it for this week! Did we miss anything? 

Open Thread: February 5-7

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Open Thread: February 5-7


Well hello there, big boy.

Is there any better topic than food? 

(No.)

Tell us about the best thing you've ever eaten, or your favorite thing to eat. Got photos and/or recipes? We want to know! Did it make your body tingle and your eyes roll up in their sockets? Was it crazy fancy or down home goodness? Do you like to cook, or do you prefer to let someone else do it for you?

You can also feel free to chat about anything else you'd like! If you're just joining us, feel free to introduce yourself.

The Vampire Diaries 7x11: Things We Lost In the Fire

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The Vampire Diaries 7x11: Things We Lost In the Fire

Hello vamp lovers! I'm filling in for Amanda, while she's visiting the Holy Land (aka Wine Country) for her birthday. Let's do this!

Previously on The Vampire Diaries: Caroline is pregnant with Alaric’s magical twins. Stefan and Damon were both stabbed with a magical sword and sent to a hell dimension. Bonnie was able to pull Stefan out, but Damon’s lived Goundhog Day hell within the Phoenix stone for a bit longer.

What Went Down

We rejoin the massacre, already in progress, with Damon having thought he was still in purgatory, having killed all of his friends. When his day doesn’t reset, and he realizes he’s not dreaming this time, and quickly feeds his blood to Matt (aw, who knew he cared?) and Bonnie. As soon as Caroline revives, she knocks him out with a hypodermic to the neck. When he wakes up, he’s not at all surprised to find himself in chains.

Stefan is very understanding about Damon’s near massacre, possibly because he had a bit of trouble with hallucinations, after his little trip to purgatory, too. And while Damon was sleeping, Julian has turned the town into vampire Fast and the Furious, complete with biker bars. Bonnie and Matt are acting as border patrol. Stefan plans to babysit Damon, until he’s sure he can be trusted, and then promptly loses him. Julian taunts them both about how long it takes to adjust to being back from the dead.

Tyler, who’s visiting for Caroline’s baby shower, tries to convince Matt that trying to save the cesspool that is now Mystic Falls isn’t worth it, and that getting out was the best thing that ever happened to him. Matt gives Bonnie hell for giving Heretic Nora a pity invite to the baby shower, and things get violent when she overhears. Matt storms off and then gets arrested on his way home for drunk driving, and the cute cop who hauls him in, wants to know what’s up with all the super crazy weapons stash in his truck.

Caroline finds out that Alaric is planning to move to Dallas, after the birth, to keep the babies safe. Caroline pretends like she doesn’t want to be involved after they’re born, but as if Caroline could refrain from attempting to manage anything?

Holy CRAP

-The brothers Salvatore are BOTH crazypants at the same time. This seems... unsafe.

-Post-Phoenix Stone Stefan believes he’ll never be happy until Damon is out of his life for good.

-Future Matt is a militant monster hunter!

-In one of his hallucination fits, Damon appears to have SET ELENA’S BODY ON FIRE!

Vamp of the Week: Caroline Forbes

Because Caroline is always the best. The end.

Hero Hair/Nefarious Grin

Hero Hair: Tyler showed up for his ex-girlfriend’s baby shower, even participating in the dreaded shower games. And he’s taking the job of Elena’s casket guard very seriously. Even if it means shooting Damon. Which, let’s admit it, was just a bonus.

Nefarious Grin: Now that the Salvatore brothers are a chocolate-covered mess, and having been through the Phoenix Stone adjustment period himself, Julian is enjoying it (and their town) immensely.

Sound Bites

Damon: “I’m ready for my bro hug.” What's a little attempted murder between friends and brothers?

Tyler: “You guys have got to be kidding me. This is still my house!” 

Bonnie: “We gotta get you a new profile photo. Is that a gun?”

Damon: “What happened to your Hero Hair Campaign to Protect Mystic Falls?”

Stefan: “I’m not gonna give up on you. Not now, not ever. You’re stuck with me.” #TeamSalvatore

Burning Questions

-I’m really dying to know how they’ve explained Caroline being pregnant with her professor’s babies to the non-supernatural people in their world?

-Texting while driving, Matt? What kind of deputy are you?

-Who the hell is The Huntress?

-“We’re out of bourbon.” Have scarier words ever been spoken?

What on earth happens in the next three years? I’m here for all your theories! Let’s talk in the comments.

The Originals 3x11: Wild at Heart

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The Originals 3x11: Wild at Heart

Previously on The Originals: Jackson was killed and given a Viking funeral. Vincent was instrumental in getting Davina shunned by the witches. Cami transitioned into a vampire. Aya and the Strix turned on Tristan, and now he’s sleeping with the fishes.

The Original Dysfunctional Family Drama

Aya and Marcel lead the Strix in toasting the tragedy of the deposed Tristan. Their new witch, Ariana, is brought in to assess the Strix members’ loyalty. Aya claims the prophecy threat to Elijah is still all too real, and they must protect their sire line by any means necessary. Aya invites Elijah over so that Ariana can enter his mind and see if what form the prophecy threat will take. There’s something about a white horse, and a flame, but who cares? Because Elijah is wet.

Poor Davina is still being shunned, but she has Josh on her side, so I’m not even sure what she’s pouting about. Aya introduces Davina to The Sisters, the Strix’s coven of witch consultants. Aya offers her the spell to raise Kol, in exchange for joining The Sisters. Davina goes to Spooky Witch Purgatory to find Kol, to ask him if the spell will work. I am sad to report that she finds Kol 1.0, and not the far superior, 2.0 version. In the Purgatory world, Davina is chased by the spirit of the witch she had killed, and Ariana helps Davina get out safely.

Klaus offers to train Cami in feeding and restraint. She finds his hypocrisy obnoxious. And he really doesn’t want her to be quite so like him. So, she breaks his neck and does what she wants. Fair, girl. And then she runs into Hot Detective, and turns on her new vampire charm, to get some of her dark objects back.

Hayley and Hope go back to the Mikaelson compound, because she can’t bring herself to stay at the apartment she shared with Jackson. Hayley insists on taking Cami to talk her through being newly dead, thanks to Mikaelson drama, since she’s been there. But Cami is kind of an awful biatch about to her. She realizes there’s something wrong with her and apologizes, but I’m not sure these two are ever going to be besties. Hayley urges Klaus to give Cami some damn space already. Immediately after which, they realize that Cami figured out the weapon from the prophecy that could kill them, and stole it on her way out.

Holy Fang

Mean Girl Vampire is the worst. But Avenging vampire Cami is AMAZING. I’d like to think I’d use my superpowers to make sure waitstaff get generous tips, too.

Elijah killed Ariana because of what she saw in his head (I’m assuming the part about Rebekah’s whereabouts)! Seems pretty harsh, since she helped him out and all.

Winners and Losers

Winner: Cami. Vampire Cami is a devious pain in the ass, but I do appreciate her urge to revel in no longer having to be anyone’s victim.

Loser: Hayley. Her grief and guilt continue to be heartbreaking. “The truth is, my husband died because he loved me. And loving any of us is a death sentence, isn’t it?”

Original Snark

“Do you happen to have any kind of comment box or a complaint hotline? Because I have a few thoughts on your customer service, that, trust me, you do not want to end up on Yelp.” I LOVE YOU, JOSH.

“Hayley, this family comes with many, many hardships, but there is at least one benefit. You will always have a home here.” That time Klaus made me cry forever.

“And turn your hat around, you’re an adult.” Uh oh. I may love this version of Cami best of all.

“What I do, and what you do, are not the same thing!” Aw, Klaus doesn’t want any competition in the evil department.

“If you looked up ‘uncool’ in the dictionary, there would just be a tiny little drawing of what’s happening right now.” Davina has the best get-a-grip friend, and she doesn’t even listen to him.

Haunting Questions

- Am I the only one that’s crazy distracted by the abundance of available parking in this version of the French Quarter?

- Why does Cami’s humanity switch seem to be set to ‘off’ by default? And what on earth is her dark object scheme?

Next: “Dead Angels”

Superhero Sundays: Feb. 1-5

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Superhero Sundays: Feb. 1-5

Almost all of our favorite shows are back (we miss you, S.H.I.E.L.D.!) and we need to talk about them ALL. We've got supervillains, we've got adorkable dates, we've got some classic soap opera drama on Arrow, and we've got a glimpse into Agent Carter's past. PLUS some mind-boggling news and comic reviews. Let's get to it!

Small Screen Supes

Speedy Synopses

Supergirl 1x12: Bizarro

It's been teased for a few weeks, and the new supervillain is here: Bizarro Supergirl! Maxwell Lord has used Kara's DNA to create someone he can control to match her powers. The dastardly and rather smug super-genius has experimented on seven women before successfully merging the DNA, and now that he has his weapon, he sets her against Supergirl.

Determined to have a night off once in a while, Kara and Adam (Cat's estranged son) go on a few dates. They are ADORBS together, but each date is interrupted by emergencies or being kidnapped by Bizarro Supergirl. Oops. Kara realizes she doesn't have a chance for a normal life and ends things with Adam before either of them gets more hurt. Cat, who was acting a little Bizarro herself by being kind to Kara while they were dating, turns icy and suggests they keep their own relationship strictly professional.

Bizarro Supergirl sets her sights on who Kara really loves--James Olson--to bait Kara into the open. James confesses his love of Kara as well. Meanwhile, Lord overplays his hand by revealing he knows Supergirl's real identity, and Alex Danvers takes him to prison inside the DEO. Bizarro Supergirl and Kara fight, and when she's severely injured, Bizarro Supergirl has a change of heart. The DEO puts Bizarro Supergirl into a deep sleep until they can find a treatment for her condition. (Kelly)

The Flash 2x12: Fast Lane

Harrison Wells has finished his Speed Force absorbing thingamajig (I'm sure there's a science-y term for it) and attaches the device to Barry's suit. When The Flash races off to stop the new metahuman villain Tar Pit, the device absorbs 2% of his Speed Force. Wells delivers the stolen Speed Force to Zoom, who threatens Jesse with torture if Wells doesn't finish the job.

Meanwhile, Iris has had enough of Wally West's dangerous drag racing hobby, and threatens the race organizer with an exposé if the races aren't called off. When Team Flash discovers that the organizer is on the list of Tar Pit's targets, The Flash speeds to the race---and so do Iris and Joe, looking for Wally. Tar Pit causes the cars to crash, and when the glass debris flies toward Iris, Barry isn't fast enough to stop it.

When Wells overhears Barry talking about how his missing speed is responsible for Iris's injury, he confesses to removing the Speed Force to save Jesse. (Thank goodness the Wells-hiding-something subplot wasn't dragged out for once.) Team Flash tosses him in the metahuman prison. They concoct a device to stop Tar Pit (more SCIENCE!) and he's captured safely. Barry thinks more about Wells and offers the pretty good argument that people will do anything for the people they love, so Team Flash decides to set Wells free---and go with him to Earth-2 to save Jesse. (Kelly)

Agent Carter 2x04: Smoke and Mirrors

Peggy and Jarvis track down the meathead who tried killing her at Stark Manor, and after a bit of finagling they tranq him and stick him in the boot of her car. She tries her best to keep this from Sousa but the yells and thumps from the trunk give her away. He agrees that they need Hunt to name names and go a little bit off book (by torturing him with a very bad cold virus) in order to get the intel. Just when they have a warrant and are gunned up for a manhunt, Red from That 70’s Show turns up with an executive order to search all of the SSR’s files. Just what is this guy’s angle anyway? Why is the War Department so keen on slowing down the work of the SSR? Peggy’s got this guy’s number; she doesn’t trust him at all.

In flashbacks we see a young Peggy and a young Whitney both being stomped down for wanting to be something more than what the world will allow them to be; Peggy insists on rescuing the princess from the dragon while playing with her brother Michael, and Whitney’s intelligence is ignored, even despised, by her mother who just wants her to smile and be nice to “Uncle Bud”. (EW.) Peggy was a code-breaker at the beginning of WWII and she almost married a young man named Fred but Michael referred her to become a spy for the S.O.E. She doesn’t understand why and goes forward with her engagement. On her wedding day her family is told that Michael has been killed in action and this tragedy propels Peggy to take off her veil and pack her bags for the road that will lead her to become Agent Carter. Young Whitney leaves Oklahoma for Hollywood, determined to use her beauty to find a life different from her mother’s since no one is interested in her extraordinary mind. She finds an agent who tells her how pretty she is when she smiles, and the girl who would NEVER smile for Uncle Bud smiles for this man. And now I want Whitney Frost to dismantle the patriarchy one creeper at a time.

Peggy and Sousa let Hunt escape after they bug his shirt, and he goes running back to Chadwick. When they realize that Hunt has spilled the beans Whitney very nonchalantly closes all of the curtains and proceeds to absorb him into her body while her husband stands there gaping like a fish.

Dr. Wilkes still isn’t corpulent and he’s starting to see a crack in reality, one that’s compelling him forward. Well this can’t be good! (Amanda R.)

Legends of Tomorrow 1x03: Blood Ties

Rip has decided that Team Legends is going to try a different tactic to weaken Savage - by hitting him in his purse. He's starting to feel the guilt of Hawkman's death and tries to set off on this quest alone, but Sara isn't having it. Once they infiltrate Ye Worlde's Oldest (and Shadiest) Banking Establishment Sara realizes that every single employee is armed and/or a trained killer. Fighting montage! And Sara's bloodlust comes front and center, shocking Rip and making Sara feel like a monster.

Meanwhile Cold decides since they're stuck in 1975 he's going to try and change his (and his family's) future. He recruits Heatwave (who's willing) and Jax (not so much) to man the launch ship and steal an emerald from the Central City Museum - the same emerald his father would try to steal (unsuccessfully) and get sent to prison. Daddy Snart was never a good guy but five years in the clink turned him into the type of awful that beats his wife and kids. Snart tries to deliver the emerald to his childhood home in the dead of night and runs into his childhood self. Aaaand we all silently weep on our collective couches as he tries to give this wee kid a pep talk on survival. Daddy Snart ends up in prison anyway, having tried to sell the stolen emerald to an undercover cop, and Leonard doesn't get that burden lifted from his soul. (Talk therapy, Leonard. It works wonders.)

Kendra still has tiny shards of the Magical Dagger in her bloodstream so Ray atom's up and is injected into her by Professor Stein. He loses confidence when hit by an asteroid of a fragment and flees before all of the shards are destroyed. Stein pulls a Coach Taylor and gives Ray the boost of confidence he needs and they save Kendra.

Everything gets a bit Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as Sara and Rip learn that Savage is going to use Hawkman's body in a blood ritual. (Savage is gross, y'all.) They try to recover him but Savage's minions trap them in the ritual. Oh, and this isn't the first time that Rip has tried to kill Savage; he went after him in ancient Egypt, so now Savage recognizes him and I really think that's something he should've disclosed to his team. (Please make Rip more likeable, show.) (Amanda R.)

Lucifer 1x02: Lucifer, Stay. Good Devil

This week’s episode kicks off with Lucifer converting an end-of-days street crier - and the rest of us - when he morphs into his true demonic form for a moment. He’s convinced he’s avoided the trap of becoming “too empathetic,” but therapist (and lady love) Linda isn’t so sure - could there be someone new in his life that’s leading him down the path to humanity? Chloe has some questions of her own for Lucifer - like, how is his last name actually Morningstar? And why didn’t he exist before five years ago? Lucifer’s made no secret about his past, but he wants to know more of Chloe’s - namely, the source of her strange immunity to his powers. A search of her house yields no answers, but it does make Lucifer’s brother, Amenadiel, suspicious of his feelings for Chloe. He wants Lucifer to come back to Hell before he changes too much.

Meanwhile, Chloe’s new case contains a blast from the past. Although still on leave from her injury, she’s on the case of a famous actor’s son who crashed and died while on the run from the paparazzi. Turns out that the particular paparazzo in question is Nick, who hounded her when she was still acting - and who crashed her father’s funeral. Nick’s a slimeball, but Chloe’s not too sure he’s the killer. She and Lucifer track down Nick’s protege Josh - a super slimeball who, under Lucifer’s particular brand of questioning, reveals he’ll do whatever it takes to be first. Chloe convinces Nick to testify, but Lucifer is convinced Josh needs a more intense intervention. Calling upon Mazikeen and Amenadiel, Lucifer makes sure that Josh ends up exactly where he belongs - in jail, while Chloe gets to witness her first true instance of time-bending weirdness as Amenadiel pleads with Lucifer to go back to Hell, and Lucifer refuses. Could Lucifer actually be the Prince of Darkness? (Savannah)

Arrow 4x12: Unchained

Star City’s got another mayoral candidate—Damien Darhk’s also-evil wife, Ruve Adams. More importantly, Felicity’s finally got a superhero name! Yay! It’s “Overwatch.” Oh. Um, yay? Also, Roy’s back! But only because he’s being blackmailed by a hacker, The Calculator (I mean, this name….), to steal high tech items. Team Arrow figures out the villain is planning on using his ill-gotten goods to deploy a “web-nuke” that will end up destroying the city. Felicity goes head-to-head with him in an epic hacker battle where she, of course, is the pwner, not the pwnee. After it’s done, Roy disappears once more into the shadows, and Felicity rocks a badass Palmer Tech presentation, in which we learn The Calculator is actually her dad.

In worse news, Thea’s bloodlust is also back. Merlyn drops by to villain-splain that the Resurrection Pit requires blood sacrifice and if Thea won’t supply it through murder, it will feed off of her life force. Oliver is so upset he considers going to Damien Darhk and offering to drop out of the mayoral race in return for help for Thea until Merlyn surprisingly talks him out of it.

Meanwhile, Nyssa’s on a quest to find a magical flower in order to win back her father’s kingdom, cause apparently that’s just how they do in Nanda Parbat. Anyways, she fights Katana to get the flower, but ends up making a deal with her. Then she shows up at Thea’s bedside, telling Ollie she’ll trade him a cure for Malcolm Merlyn’s head. Done? Done! (Amanda K.)

Hero of the Week: Barry Allen, The Flash

This has not been Barry's season. The weight of Earth-1 and Earth-2 have been heavy on his shoulders, Zoom gave him a thorough beatdown, PLUS he lost Patty. But it's his unfailing willingness to keep moving forward and do good that inspire Wells' quick change of heart. Not only is Barry quick, he's quick to forgive, so they're off to Earth-2 to save Jesse (Quick). (See what I did there.)

Honorable mentions: Felicity Smoak, Arrow

Villain of the Week: Whitney Frost, Agent Carter

A peek into Whitney Frost's life this week gives us all just a little bit of sympathy for the mechanical-genius-turned-actress-turned-supervillain. (Seriously, hearing "you'd be prettier if you smile" over and over might turn anyone into a supervillain.) Frost is still dealing with the side effects of the Zero Matter explosion, but she's learning to use it to her advantage, much to the dismay of anyone who crosses her. 

Honorable mentions: Bizarro Supergirl, Supergirl, Maxwell Lord, Supergirl

Ab-tastic!

Henry Cavill (Superman) posted a shot of himself training for the upcoming Justice League film, and oh... my.

*fans self*

Biff! Bam! Pow!

Image via http://cbssupergirlgifs.tumblr.com/

Pull List

Top Titles

Captain Marvel #2 by Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, with art by Kris Anka

Captain Marvel and Alpha Flight warily enter a mysterious ghost ship with visions of Aliens dancing in their heads. It's hard to spook Carol, but she's definitely not a fan of what they encounter on board. Meanwhile, back on the station, Abigail Brand must play host to aliens who seek an audience with Captain Marvel. Carol seems at home in space, even if she'd rather be on the front line than the one in charge. The new Captain Marvel series and creative team are finding their footing and seem to be setting up a solid start, although I feel like I need to do some homework to remind me who's who in Alpha Flight. (Kelly)

Giant Days #11 by John Allison, with art by Max Sarin

What I love about Giant Days is how it simultaneously captures the college experience while also infusing the storylines with so much humor and imagination that these familiar stories never feel stale: break-ups, school elections, exam freak-outs, and the iron-clad will to do as little laundry as humanly possible. Susan learns the hard way that sleep is VITAL for basic human functions, and putting your boyfriend on the back burner is only going to make you single. (Amanda R.)

Scarlet Witch #3 by James Robinson, with art by Steve Dillon and Chris Visions

Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness travel to Ireland to uncover why the land is sick and dying. Wanda suspects dark, broken witchcraft is the cause, and she's determined to fix it, tracking the spell to its source. Each issue of the series is eerie and dramatic, and yes, magical. (Kelly)

Pick of the Week

Batgirl #48 by Brenden Fletcher & Cameron Stewart, with art by Babs Tarr

Dinah is in town! I love this comic when Babs and Dinah are together. Dinah is in town looking for help finding her mother. Babs is finding more holes in her memory, and so Frankie and Dinah are determined to figure out what's been causing them (and the horrible nightmares Babs has been having). There's betrayal at the end of that tunnel (and this issue) so hopefully Dinah will stick around for a bit longer for our Babs. (Amanda R.)

As Seen in the Daily Planet

News

Guys. Guys. GUYS. The Flash (Grant Gustin) is heading to National City this March on Supergirl.

TNT might have passed on the Teen Titans TV show, but there are still plans for Titans in the works.

Oogachacka! The first rehearsal photos from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 were shared online.

A DC Super Hero Girls comic is coming for Free Comic Book Day.

Legends of Tomorrow's Wentworth Miller talks about Captain Cold and his own life.

Deadpool has over 100 Marvel Easter eggs hidden inside, says Ryan Reynolds.

Saga made a guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory this week, but sadly, the memorable cover was mocked rather than celebrated.

Olivia Munn shared a photo of Psylocke's psychic knife in action.

Speaking of the X-Men, did you know there's a spinoff show called Legion in the works? Here's the cast.

Trailers

Teaser for next week's journey to Earth-2 (EARTH-2 BARRY IS EVEN CUTER THAN OUR BARRY):

I'm still squealing about the Supergirl/Flash crossover announcement, are you? What did you think about the reveal of Felicity's father? And did you see this photo of Chris Hemsworth in the new Ghostbusters movie? Okay, it's not a superhero movie, but this photo must. be. seen.

Between Two Lockers With Mandy C.

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Between Two Lockers With Mandy C.

In case you missed the announcement, over the next few months, we’ll be running a Between Two Lockers special series featuring your fave FYA writers and contributors.

Also, in case you’re wondering if I often refer to myself in third person—no. Only when I’m running special series I also happen to be a part of.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

What’s your name?

Mandy Curtis

Where are you from/located?

Rogue River, OR / Austin, TX

What do you do when you’re not writing for FYA?

I am a technical/web writer for a large technology company. I write content about how to use products, how to fix issues, etc. for the company's support website. (Side note: I am one of few people I know who has a career that uses or is similar to the field in which they got a college degree.)

What do you look like?

Where can you be found on social media?

Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Tumblr

THE ACTUAL YA-RELATED QUESTIONS

How long have you been writing for FYA, and how did you start writing for the site?

I first started writing for FYA in May 2013; my first post was a Swimfantage on the Science Bros.

But let me back up a bit. I joined the Austin chapter of FYABC as part of a personal 30 before 30 project in early 2013; one of the "to-dos" on the list was to force myself out of my comfort zone—and social events like book club meetings with a bunch of strangers are definitely out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Soon after joining, I asked Posh, who's the leader of ATXFYA, how I might go about writing for the site; she asked me to submit two samples. The rest is history.

How did you come to read YA as an adult?

Honestly—I blame/thank Twilight for that. I jumped on that bandwagon pretty hard right before it exploded into the thing it eventually became, and quickly realized that YA books weren't just for teens, that they could be super entertaining and full of themes that spoke to me, even in my late 20s. I haven't looked back.

Why do you think YA is an important genre, for both actual Ys and those of us who are more A?

Like I started to touch on in my previous answer, I try not to judge books by their genres. Too many people scoff at the YA genre, in particular, for being "for kids." I think that just because a protagonist happens to be between the ages of 13 and 20 doesn't mean that they aren't dealing with issues and/or having adventures (etc.) that can't translate to or resonate with people of any age. Plus, YA protagonists are frequently much less jaded than adult ones, and I'd rather read about exciting firsts than stuff like the drudgery of paying bills.

What are five of your favorite YA books?

Shhh ... ooot, I knew this question was coming, but I purposely put it out of my mind until now. I am TERRIBLE at picking faves of pretty much anything, but here goes—in no particular order:

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Every series by Ellie Marney
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Do you have a favorite YA character or couple? If so, who are they, and why are they The Best?

I have a crap memory, so I can never remember things like this when I'm put on the spot. But one couple that stands out is Rachel Watts and James Mycroft from Ellie Marney's Every series. They're not perfect people—far from it in Mycroft's case—but they're trying to be their best. And their relationship is off the charts swoonworthy.

THE YA QUESTIONS

If your real life adolescence was a YA book ... What would you, the main character, be like?

The bookish and nerdy overachiever who's often the teacher's pet (even though she doesn't mean to be). She thinks no one likes her or knows who she is, and never fails to be surprised when she's proven wrong.

Who is your secret crush?

Early high school: The super hot—tall with blond curls, great singing voice, could dance, totally kind—guy in show choir.*

Late high school: The sweet, romantic guy I met in Chemistry who'll come over to my house to watch Roswell regardless of how lame he thinks the show is and brings my mom flowers when he picks me up for the Homecoming dance.

*Yes, he was straight.

What is your number #1 source of angst?

Boys. No, grades. No, boys. No ...

At what point would the reader pump his/her fist in victory?

When the ragtag Show Choir I'm a part of wins first place in a regional competition despite our having nearly no funding or professional help.

And who would play you in the film adaptation?

A younger Gaby Hoffman—more for her personality and physical features than ancestry.

I was once told that I looked "so much like Charlize Theron." I thanked that person, but in my head was totally thinking she was either on something or had some vision impairment I didn't know about.

THE SLUMBER PARTY QUESTIONS

What is your #1 favorite food?

Pretty much anything that falls under a generic heading of Americanized Asian: Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai … And the more Sriracha I can put on it, the better.

Tell me about your area of expertise.

My brain stores pop-culture trivia like it's actually useful knowledge, to the detriment of memories I'd really like to hold onto and certain life skills. Also, I can drive a stick shift.

If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick?

THIS IS HARD. And I will probably think of some really awesome substitutions immediately after I share this, but ...

The Leaders: Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake (The 100)
The Brains: The Tenth Doctor (Doctor Who) and Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)
The Brawn: Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews’ character in the Expendables franchise)
The Master Spies/Assassins: Sydney Bristow (Alias) and Celaena Sardothien (The Throne of Glass series)
The Distraction: Loki (The Avengers)
The Getaway Drivers: Dominic Toretto (The Fast and Furious franchise) and Rey (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

What is your best karaoke song?

I like to warm up with a little "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith, and later in the evening (when most people are too tipsy to remember the performance the next day and free-flowing with compliments regardless of quality of said performance), bust out a rendition of Martina McBride's "Independence Day." Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" is another crowd-pleaser.

Tell me something scandalous!

Although I have seen most adaptations and "inspired by" films/TV shows, read the zombiefied version, and adore Mr. Darcy even when he's being dickish ... I have never read the original Pride & Prejudice.

What is your favorite adult beverage?

I like a good cider. Although, full disclosure, I am one of those FYA HQ weirdos that Posh mentioned in her B2L who doesn't really drink much.

What is the most crucial snack food and/or movie/or anything you'd bring to an FYA slumber party?

I'd definitely bring some food, but what depends on my mood. If I'm in a savory mood: Munchies. If I'm in a sweet mood: Some sort of cookie or pastry. If I'm in an in-between mood: Kettle corn.

I'd also bring the Blu-Rays of the first two seasons of The 100 and a variety of fandom blend teas.

What book have you read the most number of times?

Probably the Harry Potter series. (Hashtag humble book blogger brag: I don't really have time to re-read books. I should really make the time to, since there are many books I'd love to read over again, and my crappy memory helps with not remembering plots, haha.)

YA authors are so cool. Who would you give a BFF charm to?

All of the authors I've had the pleasure of meeting through being a part of FYA have been fabulous people, and I totally get nervous when meeting them and/or working with them because I really want them to think I'm cool. (I get really nervous around celebrities. And yes, authors are totally celebrities.) So, really, I'd have a hard time picking just one to be my bestie.

That said, I recently did a B2L with Susan Dennard, author of Truthwitch. I got super nerdy in the MASH section because of the things she listed as likes on her blog, and she not only went with it, she seemed to really appreciate my choices. I'm always down for more awesomely nerdy friends.

Out of all of the characters you’ve read, which one do you most wish you could be?

Someone from the Lunar Chronicles, probably either Cinder or Scarlet. They get to go on awesome adventures—IN SPACE—and are both all-around awesome. It would just come down to whether I wanted to be the most famous fugitive in the solar system or merely one of her known associates.

AND NOW, MASH

The magic number (chosen by a random number generator) was 7.

M A S H

SPOUSE

Neville Longbottom
Tom Hiddleston
Bellamy Blake
The Rock

HONEYMOON

Ireland
District 13

A hotel on the moon
The future

# OF KIDS

0
1
2
23 (most adopted)

JOB

Celebrity stylist
Astronaut
CIA agent
YA book blogger

INCOME

Paid in wishes
Paid in winning lottery tickets
Paid in rare pop culture memorabilia

Paid with more hours in the day

HOMETOWN

Austin, TX
Colby, North Carolina
Portland, OR
Cupertino, CA

PET

A unicorn
A creature that also functions as a space ship
A magical talking cat
A dog named Mrs. Mollie Weasley

VEHICLE

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D
A TARDIS
A fire-engine red 1971 Chevy Nova
The Pig from The Raven Cycle

Do you have additional questions for Mandy C.? Or maybe just want to comment on something particularly awesome that she said? Head to the comments!

The SUPERNATURAL Rewatch Project: The Sluttiest Angel

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The SUPERNATURAL Rewatch Project: The Sluttiest Angel

The Road So Far

Welcome back to the Supernatural rewatch, darlings. This week brings us both the first appearance of everyone’s (or at least my) favorite angel, Balthazar, a Bobby-centric episode, and a shirtless, exercising Sam.

Cheers to second Christmas!

THE OFFICIAL FYA SUPERNATURAL DRINKING GAME:

Take a drink every time:

•  There’s a corpse

•  A demon possesses/de-possesses and/or makes a deal with some hapless schmuck

•  Someone on the show takes a drink

•  Dean crams his face full of junk food

•  Anyone is tied up

•  Either brother picks a lock

•  Someone employs a Titan of Classic Rock as an alias

•  The Glorious and Faithful Impala is damaged in the line of duty

6x3: The Third Man

Monster of the Week: Angels

A couple of police officers in a small Pennsylvania town are succumbing to mysterious and disgusting (think: peeling skin, boils) ailments! The Winchesters interview a third cop who says he and the dead deserve what they got after what they did: shooting an unarmed kid and then planting a gun on him to cover up their crime. Right after he confesses, a swarm of locusts chew their way out through his brain, and I have to go hide under a blanket briefly.

The boys notice the deaths all have an Egyptian Plague theme and decide to bring the big guns in on this. Cas! He responds to Dean’s prayers after ignoring Sam’s for months which sets off our gigantic hero’s pissy-face, big time. Cas says the devastation was caused by the Staff of Moses. Aaron, the little brother of the framed dead kid has a chunk of the Staff, given to him by the angel Balthazar in exchange for his immortal soul!

They all track Balthazar to his disco sex mansion (is it any surprise Balthazar is my favorite angel?). Cas tries to guilt trip him into giving back the weapons of Heaven. It doesn’t work and Balthazar appears to ditch him when a very angry Raphael shows up. But when Cas is peril, he pops back in and turns Raphael’s vessel into a pillar of salt á la Lot’s wife. The Winchesters take advantage of Balthazar’s pity and trap him in holy fire until he agrees to return Aaron’s soul. They plan to double cross him and leave him there, but Cas releases him in a show of angel solidarity.

Heaven and Hell of it All: Cas doesn’t know what brought Sam back from Hell and that’s why he’s been avoiding him like (wait for it) the plague. He also says it’s been chaos in Heaven since the almost-apocalypse. Now there’s Civil War. Raphael and his followers want to rule Heaven and Cas and others have been trying to stop him.

Cas has to perform an excruciating ritual on Aaron to get information, and Sam has absolutely no problem with it, further hinting that he came back from Hell wrong. When Dean confronts him about it, Sam says while being in Hell might have tortured Dean, he feels genuinely okay about it. Dean, of course, takes this as an insult to his manhood. 

Drink Count: 6 for corpses and beer swigs.

The Quotable Winchesters: “I think we can rule out Moses as a suspect.” –Cas.

Most GIF-able moment:

That moment when Sam was so hot, the hooker forgot to charge. It doesn’t really work like that show, but we appreciate the eye-candy nonetheless.

Notable Cameos:

Sebastian Roche of The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Fringe and a host of other sci-fi/fantasy projects plays Balthazar.

6x4: Weekend at Bobby’s

Monster of the Week:  Crowley

Flashback! A year ago, Bobby summoned Crowley to get his soul back. But, being evil and all, Crowley reneged on the deal they had, saying he’d give our favorite coot ten years before he’d send the hellhounds after him.

In the present, Bobby’s trying to torture Crowley’s real name out of a demon, doing research for unappreciative Winchesters, answering a host of phone calls for hunters all over the country, and fending off a thirsty neighbor who comes bearing peach cobbler. Then Rufus shows up, demanding he help bury an Okami’s body, followed closely by the FBI looking for Rufus, and before he’s even got that sorted, the Okami rises from its grave. Jeez, no wonder Bobby always looks so tired.

He realizes the Okami is after his cobbler-bearing neighbor and shreds the thing in her wood chipper, covering her in a stream of blood. It hardly needs to be said that she rescinds her earlier dinner invitation. But while Rufus left in him the lurch with the monster, he comes through in another way, finding the location of a ring connected to Crowley’s human life. They use the ring to raise the ghost of Crowley’s son, Gavin, which Crowley assumes Bobby plans to use as a bargaining chip for his soul. Being evil and all, Crowley hates his son and tells Bobby to go screw. But, being wicked smart and all, that was never Bobby’s plan. Gavin told Bobby Crowley’s history. He was a tailor who sold his soul for a bigger…um…. needle. He also told him where Crowley was buried, and Dean and Sam are at his Scottish grave that very moment, ready to torch his bones. It works! Crowley folds and Bobby’s all re-ensouled and stuff.

Heaven and Hell of it All: Crowley’s been promoted to King of Hell!

Dean calls Bobby to talk about what might be wrong with Sam, and is highly offended when Bobby puts him on hold to prioritize his own concerns. He actually tells him to stop being selfish and Bobby snaps, reading them both the riot act, because he is awesome.

Drink Count: 9, for corpses, drinks, a cheeseburger, and Rufus’s amazing alias, "Luther Vandross."

The Quotable Winchesters: “Sam, Dean, I love you like my own, I do. But sometimes you two are the whiniest, most self-absorbed sons of bitches I ever met…I know you've got issues. God knows I know. But I got a news flash for you: You ain’t the center of the universe. Now it may have slipped your mind that Crowley owns my soul and the meter is running, and I will be damned if I’m going to sit around and be damned! So how about you two sack up and help me for once?” –Bobby, fully deserving of the “YAAASS QUEEN” I shouted at the screen.

Most GIF-able moment:

It may have been Bobby’s episode, but the boys’ battle with an offscreen lamia wins hands-down.

Notable Cameos:

Jennifer Aspen of Party of Five and Glee plays Bobby’s thirsty neighbor

Next Week: The boys go hard. Twihard, that is.


Sentenced To the Chair

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Sentenced To the Chair

BOOK REPORT for Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton

Cover Story: I Am, I Cried...
The Best: Razor, The Patchwork Sailor
The Worst: The Wrong Side of the Road
The Weird: The Girl in the Red Coat, Unputdownable
Bonus Factors: So What's Really Going on Here?
Break Glass In Case Of: A Need for Goosebumps

Cover Story: I Am, I Cried...

The mundane chairs kind of add to the ominous nature of the cover, and the book itself. No game of musical chairs, this.

The Deal:

A boy named Jack--a curious boy--finds himself in an abandoned house. He stumbles into a room where twelve shadowy figures sit around a candlelit table.

"You're late. But then again, we all are."

Jack is invited to take the thirteenth empty chair. The figures begin to tell haunting stories, one after the other. Jack is enthralled, but scared. Who are these people? And will Jack be expected to tell a story? He doesn't belong here...right?

The Best: Razor

A reporter pretends to be interested in buying a murder house, so he can get a chance to photograph the gory aftermath. Unfortunately, the cleaners did too good of a job. There's no evidence that a killer was ever there. Not a single thing...

The Best: The Patchwork Sailor

A young boy working at a seaside pub has heard ever tale of the deep from his sailor customers. But there's something unusual and familiar about this new guy, with his patchwork clothes and mismatched eyes.

The Worst: The Wrong Side of the Road

A hit and run driver has gotten away with murder. So why his his taxi driver so quiet and weird? Predictable jump scare.

The Weird: The Girl in the Red Coat

A bullied, motherless girl is suddenly defended by a strange kid who never shows her face. Excellent kid voice and original ghost.

The Weird: Unputdownable

A struggling writer moves into a house and finds himself filled with inspiration. He simply can't stop writing amazing prose. He can't stop. Not ever.

Bonus Factors: So What's Really Going on Here?

As the characters finish their stories and blow out their candles, Jack realizes that he, too, will have to spin a tale. But who are these people? Why are they here? Why is Jack here? He doesn't seem to belong.

And no, it's not what you think.

Break Glass In Case Of: A Need for Goosebumps

These stories are all between ten and twenty pages, so any of these chapters would make a nice break between longer reads. But I warn you, it's not an easy book to put down, especially when Jack's chapter grows near. A nice source of good spooks, without keeping you up at night.

Well, maybe that Razor chapter.

Full disclosure: I received neither money nor whiskey to write this review. Thirteen Chairs is available now.

 

2016 YA Film Adaptations

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2016 YA Film Adaptations

2015 marked the end of an era with the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2.

Many other YA book-to-film adaptations have volunteered as tribute to take the franchise’s place, but few have reached Katniss levels of badassery. In 2016, a new crop of contenders will be released, and maybe—just maybe—we might see another Mockingjay rise from the ashes?

Notes: Some of the following movies are more YA-adjacent than straight YA, and all dates—which are for the U.S.—are subject to change.

FEBRUARY

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Released: Feb. 5

Based on: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen)

The Deal: Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen's classic tale set in 19th century England, about the tangled relationship between lovers who must face an army of undead zombies.

Familiar Faces: Lily James, Douglas Booth, Sally Phillips, Charles Dance, Jack Huston, Lena Headey, Matt Smith, Emma Greenwell, Aisling Loftus

The Great Gilly Hopkins

Releases: Feb. 19

Based on: The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

The Deal: 12-year-old wisecracking Gilly Hopkins finds herself shuffled from foster home to foster home until she meets Maime Trotter.

Familiar Faces: Sophie Nélisse, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Julia Stiles

MARCH

Allegiant

Releases: March 18

Based on: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

The Deal: Beatrice Prior and Tobias Eaton venture into the world outside of the fence and are taken into protective custody by a mysterious agency known as the Bureau of Genetic Welfare.

Familiar Faces: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Naomi Watts, Zoë Kravitz, Maggie Q, Ansel Elgort, Jeff Daniels, Bill Skarsgård, Keiynan Lonsdale

The Little Prince

Releases: March 18

Based on: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Deal: A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to make sure she's prepared for it. Her neighbor, The Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of The Little Prince.

Familiar Faces/Voices: Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, Marion Cotillard, James Franco, Benicio Del Toro, Ricky Gervais, Paul Giamatti, Albert Brooks, Mackenzie Foy

APRIL

The Jungle Book

Releases: Apr. 15

Based on: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

The Deal: An orphan boy is raised in the jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear, and a black panther.

Familiar Faces: Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Lupita Nyong’o, Giancarlo Esposito, Ben Kingsley

MAY

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Releases: May 27

Based on: Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

The Deal: Alice returns to the whimsical world of Wonderland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.

Familiar Faces/Voices: Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman (RIP </3), Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska, Michael Sheen, Sacha Baron Cohen, Toby Jones, Andrew Scott, Rhys Ifans, Ed Speelers, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Spall, Lindsay Duncan

JUNE

Me Before You

Releases: June 3

Based on: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Deal: A girl in a small town forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man she's taking care of.

Familiar Faces: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis, Charles Dance, Janet McTeer, Ben Lloyd-Hughes

JULY

The BFG

Releases: July 1

Based on: The BFG by Roald Dahl

The Deal: A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.

Familiar Faces//Voices: Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, Penelope Wilton

OCTOBER

A Monster Calls

Releases: Oct. 14

Based on: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The Deal: A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mom's terminal illness.

Familiar Faces: Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell

NOVEMBER

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Releases: Nov. 18

Based on: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (and J.K. Rowling)

The Deal: The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Familiar Faces: Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Ron Perlman, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Dan Fogler

DECEMBER

Let it Snow

Releases: Dec. 9

Based on: Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

The Deal: Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks.

Familiar Faces: TBD

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Releases: Dec. 25

Based on: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Deal: Teenager Jacob follows clues that take him to a mysterious island, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores the abandoned bedrooms and hallways, he discovers that its former occupants were far more than peculiar; they possessed incredible powers. And they may still be alive.

Familiar Faces: Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Allison Janney, Asa Butterfield, Judi Dench, Chris O’Dowd, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp

SOMETIME THIS YEAR, MAYBE

The rest of these films are rumored to be opening this year, but don’t have definite release dates and/or many details to share:

Ashes in the SnowBased on: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

FallenBased on: Fallen by Lauren Kate

NerveBased on: Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

November CriminalsBased on: The November Criminals by Sam Munson

 

Did we miss an adaptation you’re excited about? Let us know in the comments.

The X-Files 10x4: Home Again

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The X-Files 10x4: Home Again
PREVIOUSLY ON THE X-FILES

Last week, Mulder and Scully solved a murder case in which a man who could change from lizard to human and back again was terrorizing a small town. It was delightful and you can read the whole recap here. Fifteen years ago previously, Scully and Mulder had a son named William by some sort of immaculate conception (or possibly just good old fashioned doing it - we're not sure) that they gave up for adoption to protect from evil forces both in and out of this world. Scully, having always wanted to be a mother, has been haunted by this ever since.

THIS WEEK'S CASE FILE

(Ouch, That's) Cold Open
Some jerk named Cutler is spraying an alley full of homeless people with fire hoses, telling them they've got to relocate to Franklin Hospital Or Else. As he disappears upstairs to his office, a garbage truck pulls up and the homeless people all dive into their tents. The truck stops, then pulls away, leaving a big scary looking dude in its wake. Upstairs, Cutler's on the phone when the lights go out. He barely has time to dial 9-1-1 when the Band-Aid Nose Man bursts into his office and literally rips his arms off. Flies swarm as Band-Aid Nose Man throws Cutler's arms into his garbage truck, then hops in and gets cozy in the trash bags. 

Okay sure, we're listening.

Mulder and Scully: On the Scene
Our heroes are inspecting this gory crime scene when Scully gets a call from her brother William. Her mother, Margaret, has had a heart attack and is in the ICU in D.C. She immediately leaves to go be with her mother, and Mulder stays behing to solve the case. He notices some Banksy-style graffiti on a billboard overlooking Cutler's office (the graffiti is of the Band Aid Nose Man, but Mulder doesn't know this of course) but when he checks security footage, he realizes the art wasn't there at the time of the murder, so it must be the killer's signature. As he leaves to see what he can find out about that billboard, he steps on a disgusting, gooey Band-Aid.

Outside, he's distracted from his billboard errand when he approaches two people arguing: Daryl Landry, Cutler's business partner, and Nancy Huff, president of the nearby school board. Landry wants to move the homeless to Franklin Hospital so he can build a fancy apartment complex here, and Huff doesn't want them at the hospital because it's two blocks from her school. So who speaks for the homeless in this situation? "The Band-Aid Nose Man speaks for us," says a strange man nearby. He gestures up to the billboard, but the art has been cut away. Since the Band-Aid must have come from this guy, Mulder takes it to his lab guy and learns there are no pathogenic agents on it. There's something gross and gooey, but it's not alive or dead. While Mulder follows this gooey trail, we see that it was actually two hipster art dudes who stole the street art.

Band-Aid Nose Man angry! Band-Aid Nose Man not get modern art!

As they brag about how the homeless are gonna make them that sweet money, the Band-Aid Nose Man steps out of the artwork and kills them both, ripping them to shreds and throwing them in his Garbage Truck of Doom and Body Parts.

I.C(are 4).U.

Meanwhile, Scully has hauled ass to D.C. to be with her mother. The nurse says Margaret regained consciousness for a minute, but she only asked about Charlie - Scully's estranged brother. As she watches her mother in the hospital bed, she has a flashback of Mulder, all young and hot, watching over her as she laid in a hospital bed after her abduction and saying "I'm here." A nurse appears and explains that Margaret changed her living will to DNR last year, mysteriously signed by two retired naval officers. Scully's dealing with the thought of turning her mother's machines off when her phone rings, and Mulder says, "I'm here." And HE IS THERE, FOR HER, AND OUR COLLECTIVE HEARTS CLENCH. Because this? This is the heart of this show. The showrunners might frustratingly deny us the makeouts we so dearly want, but they don't hesitate to show us, over and over again, how much Mulder and Scully love each other.

Mulder fills her in on the case, and Scully tells him about her mom. "She asked for Charlie," she says. "Why would she do that? And why would she change her will without telling me? Also what's this quarter? And why am I speaking like I have laryngitis?" Later, the elusive Charlie finally calls, so Scully puts him on speaker and when Margaret hears his voice, her eyes open. She looks at Mulder and says, "My son...is named William too." Then she dies. Scully slays our hearts as she cries into Mulder before needing an immediate distraction.

Proof of Scully's alien DNA

Parts and Crafts

School Board President Nancy Huff drives to her fancy house in her fancy SUV, listening to "Downtown" by Petula Clark. She's eating her fancy white lady yogurt when a garbage truck appears up the street. Band-Aid Nose Man's back and he's coming for you, lady! Nancy finds maggots and green goo on her immaculate staircase, and when lightning strikes, she sees the gooey guy at the top.

This is what you get for putting styrofoam in the recycle bin, Nancy.

He comes down the stairs and she gets one good hit in before he puts her in her own trash compactor - all to a rousing round of DOWNTOWN, THINGS WILL BE GREAT WHEN YOU'RE DOWNTOWN, EVERYTHING'S WAITING FOR YOUUUU.

After finding some spray paint bits on the Band-Aid, Scully and Mulder are able to track a guy to an abandoned warehouse, where Scully legit roundhouse kicks this dude to the ground - in heels. He shows them to the basement and bails, because there's some scary stuff down there and also, conveniently, no power. You know what that means? Flashlights: on. Two seconds later a weird monster thing jumps out in front of them and it's scary and I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING NOR DO I HAVE DVR AND CAN'T REWIND FOR A BETTER LOOK.

 

They find an art studio where the street artist, Trashman, is hiding from his own literal demons. Apparently, Trashman was mad about the treatment of the homeless people and designed a monster, then somehow made it come to life. He welded a man into consciousness. OH-KAY. And even worse: this thing he created basically exists to act out the artist's most violent ideas. And if that's true...old Landry's time is almost up. Mulder and Scully hurry to find him with Trashman in tow. Over at the hospital, Landry has no idea the end is nigh. He's just going about his biz-nass, being a dick to homeless people when Band-Aid Nose Man appears, extra gooey this time. Scully and Mulder hear the screaming and hurry to find him - and find him they do - limbs all in a pile.

We end with Scully and Mulder sitting by a lake with Margaret's ashes. Scully realized her mom just wanted to know Charlie would be okay before she left. She knew Dana and William would, but she needed to know about Charlie. But she also wanted them to be responsible and make sure that wherever William is, that he's going to be okay. Scully cries, explaining to Mulder that he will find the answers to his biggest mysteries, and she'll be there when he does, but her mysteries - she'll never get an answer.

BIGGEST COVER UP

An artist can will his art to life? 

WORST KEPT SECRET

An artist can will his art to life.

MONSTER OF THE WEEK

BAND-AID NOSE MAN. Let's just say this episode made me really thankful our garbage truck comes during the day, as opposed to, like, 4am. (Fun fact: His creator, Trashman, was played by Tim Armstrong, lead singer of Rancid.)

THIS WEEK'S TOP-RANKING AGENT

This episode was all about that Scully. Her mother was always the constant, steady force in her life - during years of being dragged through hell with Spooky Mulder, she could always turn to her mom to remind her that this world wasn't as awful as she sometimes started to believe. So the loss of Margaret is a big one - not just for Scully but for all of us. Gillian Anderson slayed our hearts through and through, and then managed to rebound in time to roundhouse kick a dude to the ground while wearing heels.

THIS WEEK'S LOSER-HUMAN HYBRID

Three way tie between Cutler, Landry and Huff. They treated people like trash and they ultimately became trash themselves.

FROM THE BUREAU SURVAILLANCE FILES

"Back in the day is now." - Mulder

"Her last words were about our child, her grandchild, that we gave away." - Scully

"There are spirits floating around us and if you think real hard, they come to you. And then they become alive with a life of their own." - Trashman

"I want to believe...I need to believe that we didn't treat him like trash." - Scully

BEST SCULLY EYE ROLL

Not so much an eyeroll as a sassy retort, but Scully was dealing with some heavy stuff this week.

UNSOLVED CASES

- What was the quarter from Margaret's necklace from? Why is it important?

- Who are these two military men who signed the change on Margaret's living will?

- Are we ever going to find out if William's okay? POOR SCULLY UGH.

- Did anyone else think the character of Nancy Huff actually looked straight out of a 90s episode of The X-Files? Like one of those bit-part hot chicks Mulder would've flirted with to piss off Scully?

- We've only got two episodes left, and while MOTW episodes > mythology episodes, I can't help but wonder where this mini-series is going. There's been no mention of the Tad O'Malley/Cigarette Smoking man conspiracy from the first episode. Is there time to wrap it all up?

Tell us what you thought in the comments! All GIFs via giphy.

YA Onscreen: Ava DuVernay May Direct A WRINKLE IN TIME

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YA Onscreen: Ava DuVernay May Direct A WRINKLE IN TIME

Welcome to YA Onscreen - let's hop to!

Please oh please let this pan out: Selma director Ava DuVernay is being pursued to tackle a new adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time, which, to be honest, has never really had a very strong feature adaptation.

And the Gilmore Girls gossip just keeps on coming! After last week's hopeful message that Melissa McCarthy may still make an appearance, Sookie started throwin' some shade.

Oh snap! The rest of the scoop is sweeter in tone: Liza Weil is returning, and so is Matt Czuchry! And SQUEE I missed you, Michel!

NBC has ordered a pilot sequel to Cruel Intentions, focusing on Sebastian's son. And oh-man-oh-man they're trying to get SMG to reprise her role.

Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches is being made into a television series, with eyes on the entire All Souls Trilogy to be adapted eventually. Here's the synopsis: 

It’s the story of Diana Bishop, a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript, she is compelled to embrace the magic in her blood and enters a forbidden romance with charming 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont.

Read the FYA review here!

Read this great interview about The 100's Clarke and Lexa.

That's it for this week - give us your thoughts downstairs!

Boy or Girl? Yes.

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Boy or Girl? Yes.

BOOK REPORT for Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Cover Story: Bang Bang
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Straight Up With A Blogger Twist
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ, Orange County
Relationship Status: Wingwoman

Ready to find out more? Head over to our series on Kirkus!

Jane the Virgin 2x11: Chapter Thirty-Three

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Jane the Virgin 2x11: Chapter Thirty-Three

So, question: what's the Platonic Ideal of passing the Bechdel Test? Because as I was pondering Jane this past week—you know, like any human with a heart who watches this perfect show does on the reg—I realized that almost universally, every male character in Jane's world spends the majority of their time concerning themselves with or speaking to one another about women. Exceptions: any conversation about Mate(li)o, and the large percentage of Rogelio's time obsessing (charmingly) about himself. But otherwise, nearly every arc of consequence has to do with a woman's goals and actions, and the men—who are still fully realized humans about whom we care a great deal!—are there NOT to swoop in and fix things, but to support the ladies (often by just standing there, looking hot). 

Hey, future culture and society: more of this, please!

AWARDS

THIS WEEK'S MVP(arent)

Without hesitation, Rogelio. Aside from the diamond incident (and really, who amongst us hasn't lost a precious stone to the ravenous maw of child or pet?) he proved both to Jane and himself that he is more than capable of caring for a small human, resulting in Jane having one more name on her emergency babysitters list, and in him knowing that he really will make the cut as a father for his future dream babies with Xiomara.

BEST TELENOVELA TWIST

The telenovela twist of Rosa's real identity was plenty juicy, but I think the best twist to the story overall this week was the very real, un-telenovela twist of Xiomara coming to the difficult realization that she doesn't want to defer her dream of singing for another twenty years by starting a family with Rogelio. Jane and Beyoncé may be able to balance ambition and motherhood, but Xiomara finally knows herself well enough to know that that isn't her, and that if she wants to make her dream career work, she has to commit to putting herself first. Now that's a way to put a kink in a romantic arc!

BEST PRODUCT PLACEMENT

The Chevy Malibu, Jane's new car whose hi-tech systems she cannot effectively use when flustered from kissing her professor's sweater.

WHY does she have a brand new car, when Rogelio gifted her a perfectly cute and useful new Mini Cooper last season? Who knows! But you can bet your assets Jane got the best trade-in value possible for the Mini whenever she made the switch. 

PREVIOUSLY ON JANE THE VIRGIN

Jane and her accidental artificial-insemination baby daddy, Rafael, fell in love, but then broke up because life is complicated and they are not in the same place right now—Jane being, specifically, in a creative writing grad program with a very hot advisor. Rafael's ex-(scheming)(trophy)wife Petra intentionally artificially inseminated herself with him, not to scam money this time around, but to scam his love. It backfired a bit and she ended up pregnant with twins and married to an absentee Czech cyber-criminal, but also because life is complicated, she and Rafael are finally growing close again, for real. It helps that both of their mothers are criminals, Raf's specifically being the über-drug lord, Mütter—this after learning last year that his STEPmother (and his sister's true love), Rose, was the über-drug lord Sin Rostro (docu-series coming soon to the USA Network).

THIS WEEK

Three Ladies and a Little Bathroom

This week's flashback—and really, this week's present—is low-key actually about Xiomara, even though Jane hasn't gone anywhere. In it, we see our three Villanueva women crowding their single tiny bathroom on a school morning, Xiomara brushing her teeth behind Jane brushing her hair next to Alba hidden in the shower. Xo inconveniences both mother and daughter when she turns on the faucet to rinse and flash-freezes Alba, then spits directly into Jane's hair—the latter causing Jane to explode about how Xo shouldn't even BE home anyway, because she should be at a real job instead of turning down dance instructor gigs in favor of chasing after her singing dream.

OUCH. Jane! Learn to be a bit more respectful of your parent's feelings (No, for real—learn. Or else you'll be sorry in T-ten years)! Jane apologizes, but it's no use. Xiomara has already mentally pushed her singing dream to the back burner, in order to be a better mother to Jane.

Follow Your Dream(s)

Back in the present, we are reminded that Xo pushed her dreams to the back burner, but not off the stove entirely—you will recall that she still sings at a local club whenver she can get the chance, although what with Solano/Mateo drama in the past year, she's had to cancel more than she's gotten to follow through. So when her gig manager calls to offer her a last minute slot on a night Jane is teaching and Raf has meetings, Jane encourages her to take it and not feel guilty. Which is really nice and supportive of her, considering how much grief Xo was just giving Jane over her surprise sexy dreams about Professor Jonathan Chavez, and the lovely new shade of lipstick Jane is wearing today for her meeting with him…

Fortunately, Rogelio sweeps in then with a rack of Carnaval gowns and a crew of stylists whose names he has completely wrong, here to whip up A Look for Xiomara's "40 and Fabulous" party posters (lol, Ro). Unfortunately, Jane's only off the hook for the Professor Chavez thing, as once Rogelio overhears that she doesn't have anyone to babysit Mateo in a few days he corners her, gigantic, open scissors waving melodramatically in the air, and "convinces" her to let him have a shot. 

If Jane had hoped her day would improve after she lost babysitting chicken with her dad, she was bound to be disappointed: her crushing hormones can barely keep it together at her meeting with Professor Chavez, her reading between every line he critiques in her chapter, and hallucinating him with his shirt off as he tells her to "drill down" on the male love interest in her final pass before her public reading.

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His advice is good, and makes her reading a success…but it is maybe a little TOO good, as she accidentally slips "Jonathan" in in place of her lead character's name right as the sexy climax hits. EEK. Her family notices, WE notice, but JONATHAN doesn't seem to. Instead, he increases his familiarity with Jane when they are debriefing afterwards, asking if just maybe she'd be willing to…bring him and his mom to meet Rogelio on the set of his new show. Unsurprisingly, his mom is a huge fan. So! It's a date?

Marbella?? I Barely Know 'er!

Over at the Marbella, Raf and Petra are phone conferencing on how Wesley Masters, Jane's ex-writing program BFF who sold her and the whole Solano family out for the dubious distinction of a gossipy local scoop, has somehow become even worse, now filming his own low-budget True Miami Story to stream on his own low-budget TMZ page detailing the newest developments in the Solano/Marbella boondogle. Namely, that Raf's mother is as much a secret crime lord as Raf's stepmother.

How did Wesley get this information? *shrug emoji* Doesn't matter, the Marbella is losing guests and much-needed income to it regardless, including, most pressingly, a giant event wedding for a local artist. Making the questionable move of reminding us all of his disGUSTing playboy past, Rafael assures Petra that he will take care of everything with the runaway wedding party, calling on his old charming (sleazeball) ways to convince the bride—whom he knows vaguely from those very same playboy days—to move things back to the hotel.

"You think you can charm a woman the week of her wedding??" Petra asks, dubious. "Well, it worked for you, didn't it?" Raf's sleazeball voice oozes back, as we are served with a flashback to that night Rafael decided to stick it to Lachlan by stealing Petra away from him the very day they got engaged. "You'll go out with me Saturday," Playboy!Rafael declares, like some regular old Michael Cordero. "Mother, I think I've snagged an even bigger fish," ScamQueen!Petra whispers into her phone after she finally agrees and Playboy!Raf struts away.

So, Petra agrees to Raf's present-day plan, mostly, insisting only that she accompany him as Plan B. Only, twist! It turns out it wasn't Wesley's revelation of Raf's connection with Rose and Elena that made the bride take her business elsewhere—it was the revelation that Petra was once again involved with the Marbella. Petra, who was also a different kind of (real) monster back in the day. Petra, whose treatment of lowly baristas was so condescending and vicious that it actually inspired the bride's first great sculpture, "Trophy Wife."

 

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Petra is horrifed, not just for the reminder of who she used to be when she was still always terrible, but also at the knowledge that her behavior is going to cost the hotel dearly. Rafael tries to comfort her, reminding her that her monstrous behavior with the likes of lowly baristas occasionally got positive results, like that time she suspected their wedding caterers were overcharging them for fish and so investigated, was proven true, and ended up getting a significant discount on the order. That memory gives her an idea, though, and she ends up offering the angry bride a free wedding, making sure to be completely upfront about how the wedding moving venues would devastate the Marbella's reputation and earnings, and how the wedding's guests will likely have such a positive experience in their free suites that they will become repeat, paying guests. Oh, also she agrees to have the bride's "Trophy Wife" sculpture installed in the Marbella's lobby.

Raf is so impressed by Petra's handling of the whole situation, he ends up kissing her later that day when they finally sit down and take a breath. And Petra, in her third fit of shocking character development, pushes him away. "Are you over Jane?" she asks sadly, knowing the answer. And he's not. So they can't. Not yet.

Honesty AND humility AND self- control with victory so close at hand? Petra really has changed!

One Telenovela Diva and a Little Baby

After Jane and Xiomara spend a whole afternoon babyproofing Rogelio's condo ("Why does he have a bowl filled JUST with marbles??"), and after Xiomara extracts the promise from Rogelio that he won't text or tweet or take a lavender bubble bath even once while Matelio is in his care, Jane finally let's go of enough anxiety to go through with letting El Presidente babysit Mr. Sweetface.

Unfortunately, Rogelio forgot to cancel and/or warn Xo about a bunch of self-promotional tweets scheduled to post at regular intervals all day (everything in showbiz is fake), a fact which results in Xo leaving a frantic series of texts and tweet links for Jane (which her new Chevy Malibu reads out in a hysterically flat robot-lady voice), and Jane frantically pulling over tothe shoulder to call her dad immediately to check in. She is initially chagrined to hear Ro's explanation, but the chagrin is short-lived, as the slight distraction of the phone call keeps Rogelio from paying attention to the tiny diamond for XIomara's surprise engagement ring that he was holding in his palm to show Matelio just as Jane called, and Matelio…eats it. 

The pediatrician reassures Rogelio and Jane both that Matelio will be just fine, and that they should just stay on the lookout for a sparkling poop in the next couple of days, but Jane is too livid to forgive Rogelio right away. "I KNEW this was a bad idea!" she shouts at him. "Is hould have trusted my gut!" 

JANE. If only you had learned a lesson sometime in your youth not to say hurtful things to your parent in a fit of anger!

Bring Your Daughter and her Professor and his Mother to Work Day

Rogelio is devastated by Jane's explosion, but he nevertheless agrees when Jane asks if she can bring Professor Chavez and his mother to a taping. Did I say "nevertheless"? I meant obviouslyInevitablyJoyfully. And he doesn't even think twice about the fact that the scene they are taping is a semi-nude daytime sex scene. He just slips on a lavender silk robe and slips into fan service mode. It IS a wonderful day to be Rogelio!

 

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Jane and Professor Chavez start bonding for real as they watch his mom fall to pieces as Rogelio takes her on a studio tour. "Call me Jonathan," he says, ticking off the first sign Xo told Jane to watch out for. "Let me walk you to your car," he adds, touching the small of her back as she turns to leave, ticking off the second sign. "Let me lean in and kiss you," his body language says as they reach her car and he goes in to open the door for her, she THINKS ticking off the third box. And so she goes in for the kiss…and hits his shoulder. Because he was definitely NOT going in for the kiss. 

"And then what happened?!?!?" Xo and all of us demand later that evening. "Well, he helped me do the highest-point U-turn in history as my New Chevy Malibu tried to do the same thing, and it was SO AWKWARD," Jane's falshback shows us. "We've all misread signs," Xo shrugs, completely unhelpful. THANKS MOM.

Follow Your Dream(s): Redux

If Xo has been particularly unhelpful with Jane's lust life, she's had an excuse: between her anxiety over reaching her 40th birthday with nothing to show for her life but a moderately successful career of teaching ten-year olds to Whip and Nae-Nae, and her anxiety over her gig manager cutting her from the schedule permanently due to her inconsistent follow-through, and her anxiety over stumbling on Liliana's wedding ring when babyproofing Ro's condo, only to have Ro give it to Jane as a family heirloom…she's justifiably distracted. 

The first two anxieties are the strongest, though, and so when the club manager calls to offer Xo a last-minute spot on the same night of the small birthday BLOWOUT Rogelio had planned for her, she doesn't hesitate in taking it—special surprise from Rogelio waiting for her or not. He is initially upset at her selfishness, but obviously comes around to recognizing the need to fight for one's career, and he comes to support her just like Jane and Alba do. Afterwards, he meets her in her dressing room to apologize for speaking harshly, and to break out the tiny diamond that Matelio finally passed to propose to her, in one of the most moving speeches any of the characters have had this year. "I feel like ever since I was sixteen, my whole life has just been me finding my way back to you," he says, voice wavering, promising a whole happy future for him and Xo and their future babies.

"I…want to," Xo croaks back. But. But she can't let the next twenty years be all about anyone but her. She gave up her dream before; she can't do it now. Not even for Rogelio. Is that a dealbreaker? STAY TUNED UNTIL NEXT TIME.

As for Jane, she's facing a dealbreaker of her own: her acting on her crush crossing the line between student and advisor, ESPECIALLY for a student writing sexy romance novels her advisor needs to critique. In one of her baddest boss moves to date, Jane goes to Jonathan's—erm, Professor Chavez's—office the next day to take full repsonsibility for her actions, and to assure him that she can and will move on as if things were back to normal. He's unconvinced, but Jane is resolute.

Unfortunately, her resolve and her creative brain aren't exactly in sync, and Jane loses a whole afternoon of productive writing to disclaimers on propriety and consent for every lingering touch in her new chapter. And so the next day she returns to Professor Chavez's office and let's him know that she'll be finding a new advisor—she just can't risk her writing by doing otherwise. "Are you sure?" he aks. Yes, she is. "In that case…do you want to go to dinner?"

 

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GET IT, GIRL.

Luisa Alver: Reading From the Wrong Script Since Day One

Speaking earlier of completely unhelpful moms, the new CSI tech at the Miami PD has discovered that Elena's stepdaughter Clara, digitally aged up, is none other than Rose. 

 

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Yep! Luisa not only fell in love with her stepmother, but her stepmother is also her half-stepSISTER. Step-half-sister? Either way, ROYALLY screwed up. A fact which Luisa fixates on in the police station for a solid ten minutes before referring offhandedly to the chauffeur in the photo's background, whom she knows well. LUISA. How have you survived the world all these years, you beautiful, dumb, genius unicorn!

Thankfully, Luisa knows how to get in touch with the chauffeur, and so she agrees to work with the police to set up a possible sting, hiring him for a ride to nowhere in an effort to get a message to Rose. "Just tell her that no matter how hard I try, I can't get over her," Luisa says, her new lady-love Detective Susanna listening in sadly over the wire, "and that if there is still any hope, that she should send me donuts. She'll know what kind."

Later that evening, there's a knock at Luisa's door. It's not donuts, though—it's Susanna. And she is there to break things off with Luisa, echoing Petra as she notes that Luisa still isn't over her other love, and so if it is ever going to be their time, it isn't now.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, Elena has finally tracked Rose down. And she is brunette (poorly) and yes, definitely Elena's (step)daughter. And they are teaming up to find that chip…

 

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True fact: my dad, who by season 5 of ALIAS still didn't know who I meant when I referred to "Vaughn," turned to me after this shot and asked, "Have we seen her before?"

NEXT TIME

Jane and Jonathan get it ON. Or do they? We will have to wait a whole TWO WEEKS to find out! See you all on January 22…

 

<-- Jane the Virgin 2x10: Chapter Thirty-Two

Jane the Virgin 2x12: Chapter Thirty-Four -->

The DAWSON’S CREEK Rewatch Project: Screams, Schemes, and Beauty Queens

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The DAWSON’S CREEK Rewatch Project: Screams, Schemes, and Beauty Queens

Follow the whole rewatch here!

Last week, on Dawson’s Creek.

Welcome back to the Dawson's Creek Rewatch Project! Last week, Meredith asked me if Pacey's charms are as effective on me since I'm basically watching this for the first time - the answer is A DOYYYYY. I also nursed a crush on Joshua Jackson from his Mighty Ducks days, and while I may not have spent much time in the Creek, I was quite fond of him in other stuff, like Cruel Intentions and Gossip, and more recently in Fringe and The Affair. So yes, watching him on DC now, I still think he's just as cute as kittens in mittens.

Let's drink to Pacey!

The Dawson's Creek Drinking Game

Drink Once every time:

Joey purses her mouth or chews on her lip

Joey tucks her hair behind her ear

Joey climbs into or out of Dawson's window

Sex makes Dawson and/or Joey extremely uncomfortable

Jen brings up her atheism

Grams says "Jennifaaah"

Someone says the words "black boyfriend" in reference to Bodie


Drink Twice every time:

Dawson mentions Spielberg

You have literally no idea why Joey is mad

Pacey gives someone a really good hug

Cool Jen Lindley is totally crapped on by the universe

Onto the episodes!

1.11 "The Scare"

Is it super cool of Kevin Williamson to pay homage to his own horror movies on his own TV show, or is it kiiiiiind of narcissistic? I have no idea, and I honestly do not even care because "The Scare" is such a fun hour, even though it's a little convoluted at times and I'm getting sick to death of Dawson's undying love for a girl he's known for like, 2 months, tops. I was sick of it even before he started talking to her. I AM DONE.

Anyway! Dawson loves Friday the 13th and playing dumb scary pranks on everyone and watching horror movies because he is a teenage boy, and that's what he does. Joey is not so amused by his incessant prank-playing:

Dawson's dumb pranks continue at school, where Pacey is amused and Joey is too good for them (she's too good for everything) and Jen feels...weirdly left out. So left out that she has to make a whole awkward to-do about it over lunch and there's lots of stuttering and uncomfortable glances, and it's way more cringe-worthy than any episode of The Office. Meanwhile, Cliff wants another chance to impress Jen, who informs him that Dawson was super imaginative and original in his date-planning (mostly he just filmed her like a proto-Wes Bentley in American Beauty, but whatev), so Cliff goes to Dawson for advice - and it looks like our pouty-baby Dawson has grown up a lot since his last nap because he actually plays nice with Cliff.

Jen gets home and receives a threatening note and a gross Scream-style phone call, which she assumes is all Dawson's doing.

Oh, by the way, there's a serial killer targeting young women in New England, which Jen thinks is sad because clearly he's lonely (and this opinion says a lot about how Jen chooses her men). Also it's like, super easy to tell who is stalking Jen. I know Cliff about as well as Jen does, and I could totally tell it was him on that phone.

Speaking of! Cliff shows up to pick Jen up for what he promises will be an ORIGINAL and IMAGINATIVE date. Gram is impressed with young Cliff...or should I say CLIFFORD:

Like any good teenager, Jen is immediately turned off by her adult guardian's approval, and even more so when Cliff announces that his big date is...a trip over to Dawson's house for a seance. And what was supposed to be a small gathering gets a bit crowded when Pacey and Dawson bring home this crazy lady they found at the corner store. Her name's Ursula, she's really obnoxious, and we meet her in the middle of a fight with her abusive boyfriend, Eddie, while Pacey and Dawson just sort of shrug about whether or not they should stop this guy from PUSHING HIS GIRLFRIEND AROUND. The less said about Ursula, the better. Her entire purpose in this episode is to make things more awkward than they already are and also to make light of abuse for whatever bizarre reason. I would be offended if it felt mean-spirited, but it's just kind of dumb.

Things get weird during the seance when the power and the phone both conveniently go out, and Joey pranks Dawson by faking her own murder, and Jen finds a menacing note left for her on a mirror. Once again, she accuses Dawson of messing with her, only to once again react overly-sensitive when she finds out it wasn't Dawson (it was Cliff. Good god, woman), and when he tells her that he's given up on trying to get her back, she tries to kiss him and it's the most counter-productive and frustrating thing and I hate it.

Ursula's boyfriend goes ballistic and breaks into Dawson's house, and after they finally leave (together, no less), Joey and Dawson have a very Teen Talk about how each of them would be sad if the other one died. And all of this just makes me wish that Joey would go full goth already and stop appropriating the snotty attitude if she's not just going to watch Beetlejuice and figure it out.

How many times did I have to drink? 9

Most meta moment: In an episode FILLED with them: Dawson and Joey watch I Know What You Did Last Summer, written by Kevin Williamson. Dawson has a Scream poster, and then there's the scene with Jen on the phone that pays homage to Scream, which Williamson also wrote. Oh! And Joey mentions Elm Street.

Least true thing anyone said this week: Jen, defending Dawson to Cliff: "What are you talking about? Dawson's fun!" Jen, no.

Truest thing anyone said this week: Ursula the party-crasher:

Welcome to 1998: Jen totally called a cell phone "a cellular."

1.12 "Beauty Contest"

As the title suggests, this one's all about beauty pageants - specifically, the horribly named Miss Windjammer pageant, which anoints the loveliest, smartest, and most promising Capeside resident with a crown, a trip to New York, and $5,000. Joey could really use that cash because, although she's smart enough to earn a scholarship, the chances of a full ride are slim even for the brightest kids. Pacey could also use that money, since his dad has basically already disowned him for failing to live up to the macho-overdrive BS of his cop brother Doug.

Jen thinks Joey has a shot, even though Joey does that stereotypical thing where she pretends she has no idea that she's actually pretty. So Jen convinces her to sign up, where they run into Pacey - who's trying to "blow this gender gap wide open" (yeesh) - and Dawson, who has been tasked with filming the pageant. Dawson has made it pretty clear that he thinks Jen should enter the pageant, so he's capital-S Shocked when he sees that Joey is signing up instead, and he proceeds to laugh at the poor girl when she's already feeling embarrassed and insecure enough. Way to be a pal, Dawson.

Dawson tells Pacey that he thinks of Joey as a sister, to which Pacey drops a significant reality check (and a mic): "So what you're saying is you don't want her, but you don't want anybody else to have her, either?" Sounds like the Dawson Leery Story to me! Later, Joey's typical teen rom-com makeover yields the typical results, and Dawson gets all slack-jawed and googly-eyed over her while Jen feels bummed because - for whatever insane reason - she's still into Dawson.

These kids act like they're the only four people in the whole damn town. Actually, Dawson and Jen would make a great match, considering that she doesn't particularly want Dawson but she doesn't want anyone else to have him, and Dawson feels the same way about Jen AND Joey. Meanwhile, no one is paying any attention to how adorable and eligible Pacey is.

For the talent portion of the pageant, Joey sings "On My Own" from Les Miserables, because of course she does, and - sorry to say - she sounds like a baby prostitute, which I guess is sort of appropriate. Backstage, one of the snotty Capeside girls - inaccurately - gossips about Joey's personal life ("She lives in a trailer with her sister who just had an illegitimate baby with her BLACK boyfriend," emphasis grossly hers), but Dawson reassures her with a sweet pep talk, reminding Joey that she has integrity and strength of character, concepts she echoes in her graceful response during the Q&A portion of the pageant.

As for Pacey, he realizes that he doesn't really have a shot in hell at winning this stupid thing, so he shrugs off his magic show and decides to do this for the talent portion:

Pacey makes a pretty adorable (and scrawny) William Wallace.

He doesn't end up winning, and neither does Joey, though she does take First Runner-Up over that trash-talking whatever-her-name-is, which is enough to make the whole thing worth it - oh, and I guess she learned about confidence and self-esteem and integrity, so that's cool. Even cooler: when Dawson professes his misguided feelings for her, Joey SHUTS THAT SHIT DOWN. Suddenly, she emerges from the fidgety, eye-rolling, and slightly-annoying tomboy into a confident young woman who sees all too clearly what is happening here. It took a dumb dress and some (extra) makeup for Dawson see how wonderful she is, when he should've been able to see that all along. I wish more teen rom-coms involving dumb makeovers ended this way:

Unfortunately, it doesn't exactly end there. Pacey goes down to the dock and flirts with the snotty private school girl who trash-talked Joey, and Jen goes to see Dawson, where she asks him for another chance and I'm honestly surprised his brain doesn't explode. Even more shocking: that selfish little dork is like "UH I DUNNO." And then he sits and thinks about Joey while she smiles smugly to herself for shutting him down like a boss. I don't like where this is going.

How many times did I have to drink? 11

PREACH, SISTER JOSEPHINE:

Least Likely Dialogue: This is the silliest.

BFFs: Jen pageant-coaching Joey results in a sweet moment in the kitchen, where Jen admits that she never had many lady friends, and when Joey asks why she doesn't just go hang with the pep squad and earn some popularity points, Jen responds: "The same reason you don't, all right? They're a bunch of mentally arrested airheads." And then she helps Joey learn some self-esteem and it's real cute.

Truest thing anyone said this week: Gail, to Pacey: "Honey, fair and beauty pageants aren't exactly synonymous."

Nice Guy Dawson Leery: His pep talk to Joey is the one moment in the episode where I actually like him:

Joey I know we're not speaking right now, okay? But if we were, I would tell my best friend, who was always afraid to get up in front of class for show-and-tell, how incredibly proud I am of her. How I think she has got more guts and talent and strength of character than all the Hannah Von Winnings in the world put together.

--

That's it for this week! A question for Meredith: Does Dawson make you want to tear your hair out? I can barely stand him, and I have no idea what these girls see in him when A. they are so much cooler than he is, and B. Pacey is RIGHT THERE.

Be sure to check back next week as Meredith covers the Season 1 finale "Decisions" and kicks off Season 2 with "The Kiss"!


iZombie 2x12: Physician, Heal Thy Selfie

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iZombie 2x12: Physician, Heal Thy Selfie

Previously, on iZombie: Vaughn Du Clark turned Major into the Chaos Killer. Peyton slept with her star witness in the Boss case, Blaine, and Liv slept with hot zombie Drake.

If I livetweeted this episode, am I part of the problem?

Grey Matters

Liv worries she doesn’t know very much about Drake, and discovers she’s correct after some online sleuthing reveals his time in prison.

Peyton’s boss, District Attorney Baracus, goes missing, courtesy of a copycat Chaos Killer. Vaughn Du Clark calls Major in for an explanation about why the D.A. (who Major previously claimed was not a zombie) has been taken out by a copycat killer. After Vaughn makes threats against Liv again, and some internet randoms, Major is forced to talk D.A. Baracus into faking his death and going into zombie cold storage.

The mayor convinces Peyton not to resign (which she wanted to do over the whole Blaine incident), since they still have to take down Mr. Boss.

Brain Melt

Peyton and Liv confronting Blaine? YIKES. I actually felt bad for the guy. Why I can’t I quit you, Anders?

Does Liv know that Drake also works for Mr. Boss? It doesn’t look like it!

Max Rager kills their internet trolls! Whatever you do, I’d reconsider what kind of urine you compare your energy drinks to.

The Brain

Three decapitated victims wash up on the shore of Lake Washington, so Liv has to eat a social media addict from the morgue drawers just to keep her strength up enough to help Clive figure it out. IThe millenial brain has her selfie-posing and hashtagging the hell out of life.

The Real Monster

Liv and Clive interview Mr. Boss regarding his washed up decapitated goons. He pretends to not know the men, but clearly didn’t know they’d been decapitated. It turns out that his goons were sent to kill Baracus, and got beheaded by the zombie D.A. in self-defense. Liv and Clive find the missing heads in Baracus’ lake cabin fridge, and Liv tries help the missing man stay hidden.

Winners and Chewsers

Winner: Ravi. Yes, he spent every day hungover, but he also proved to be the very best friend an ex-girlfriend could have. ARGH, HE’S JUST SO GREAT.

Loser: Blaine. He gets dumped by Peyton, and runs into his scary former employer, Mr. Boss. Mr. Boss will be billing him for the $80k he owes (in missing product, plus some STEEP interest). That’s enough to take the swagger right out of even this guy.

Words With a Bite

“Before you moved in, I just assumed you were a fembot that plugged into a charging station at night.” - Ravi

“Looks like a no-brainer to me, Liv.” - Ravi

“Hello, Liv. You know my guest. He’s the man who made you what you are today.” - Peyton

“I’m sure that your Tindr photo is hair-centric and flattering. But how do you spin that bio? I’m a humble guy, always down for a hike. Or, we could just murder and chill?” - Liv

“153 people watched you unpack a box. How? Why?” - Ravi

Picking Your Brain

- Peyton drinking Ravi under the table at home, and she has quite the bar setup in her office. Should we be concerned about her?

- Drake with his mom? OMG. Who’s the cutest baby zombie?

- Who has time to make sushi rolls at work? But if you did, you would totally Instagram it, right?

Join me in the comments, where I may or may not be inventing more rules for the Zombie High drinking game!

Next episode: TBD

 

 

Shameless Self-Promotion!

Check out our iZombie themed t-shirts!

Twinkle, Twinkle, All You Stars

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Twinkle, Twinkle, All You Stars

BOOK REPORT for Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

Cover Story: Crowning Glory
The Best: “Something Old, Something New”
The Worst Saddest: “The Little Android,” “After Sunshine Passes By”
The Weird Meatiest: “The Princess and the Guard”
Bonus Factor: Old Friends
Break Glass In Case Of: Nostalgia, Case of the Mondays

Danger, Will Robinson! Stars Above is a collection of short stories set in the Lunar Chronicles universe. If you have not read the main series–Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Fairest and Winter—you might want to turn away now. There won’t be major spoilers in this review, but you probably won’t appreciate these stories if you aren’t familiar with the rest of the series.

Cover Story: Crowning Glory

I’m not entirely sure who’s crown this is supposed to be, but it’s pretty—and the cover certainly goes nicely with the rest of the series.

The Deal:

Stars Above is a collection of nine short stories expanding on the characters and the universe of the Lunar Chronicles series. Six of the stories are prequels that give readers a glimpse into the early lives of most of the series’ the main characters, one shows a first meeting through Kai’s eyes, one is series-adjacent, and one is an epilogue about a wedding.

The Best: “Something Old, Something New”

The only story in the book that takes place post-Winter, “Something Old, Something New” tells of the first time Cinder and the rest of the gang—Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, Thorne, Winter, Jacin and Iko—have gotten together in a couple of years. I honestly couldn’t stop smiling as I read it, and as the characters I love so much caught up with each other. And although the wedding in the story might not be the one a lot of us were expecting, it was absolutely adorable.

The Worst Saddest: “The Little Android,” “After Sunshine Passes By”

“The Little Android” is the only story in the bunch that doesn’t feature any of the series’ known characters. It’s, obviously, based on the tale of The Little Mermaid, but it doesn’t have a very happy ending (unlike the Disney version). It’s an interesting look at the world outside of the main series plotline, however.

“After Sunshine Passes By” tells the tale of how Cress came to be in the satellite the crew finds her in. It’s hard to read about such a sweet soul being manipulated and used, particularly when it happens at such a young age.

The Weird Meatiest: “The Princess and the Guard”

Most of the stories in Stars Above are quite brief, and only give small glimpses into the early lives of the characters they’re about. “The Princess and the Guard,” however, is quite a bit longer, and gives more insight into the relationships of the characters it’s about. (Which is good, considering it’s about Winter and Jacin, and they were the last two to be introduced, meaning there wasn’t much time to focus on them.)

Bonus Factor: Old Friends

While reading Winter, I dreaded the series coming to an end, mostly because I feared how much I’d miss reading about the characters and their adventures. True, Stars Above is 90% prequel and 10% epilogue, meaning that we get to know more about the characters’ pasts than their “presents,” but I couldn’t help but love spending bonus time with them.

Break Glass In Case Of: Nostalgia, Case of the Mondays

Reading most of the stories in Stars Above felt like revisiting memories. But I’m pretty sure I’ll be pulling out “Something Old, Something New” frequently when I’m in need of a smile.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a manuscript of this book from Feiwel & Friends, and then bought a copy with my own money (so that I could have a complete set of hardcovers). I got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Stars Above is available now.

Pretty Little Liars 6x15: Do Not Disturb

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Pretty Little Liars 6x15: Do Not Disturb

Alexis and Catie here! It's late, so let's make like a Marin and just dive right into the good stuff (wine, cereal, backtalk—take your pick!).

AWARDS

#5YEARSFORWARD: BIGGEST SHOCK/BEST SURPRISE

The scheme our favorite genius heart-eyed sleuth team came up with for the decoy drive Hanna dropped for alt-A was an aggressive slash-and-burn virus showing their hand, and not a subtle surveillance bug they could use to figure out what the actual hell. Caleb! That is NOT HOW PHISHING WORKS.

#5YEARSFORWARD: BIGGEST NO-DUH

The girls’ absolute first move in looking for the backup hard drive is to dig through the Marin pantry carbs.

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(TBH the fact that the writers can pay attention enough anymore to even make a callback to this beloved Season One detail deserves a Runner-Up Biggest Surprise award)

MOST UPVOTED NEW COMMENT ON TRIPADVISOR: ROSEWOOD

On our latest visit to Radley Hotel, we were thrilled to discover their new feature that allows you to learn about the mental patient who previously inhabited your room. It really brought us together as a family to read about the person who was locked in this room, day in and day out, while they recovered from a terrible psychologic trauma! Plus, when all of the banging and wailing started up at night, we knew we could just yell ‘Hey Karl, keep it down!’ and the ghost would actually listen! — Ruth H., October 2016

MOST LIT ALLUSION

Unintentionally, the Twilight Zone episode “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street,” in which an isolated small town neighborhood’s power is shut off and, stuck in the dark, everyone turns on one another.

“The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices – to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill – and suspicion can destroy – and a thoughtless frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of its own – for the children – and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is – that these things cannot be confined – to the Twilight Zone.”

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IT ROSEWOOD

Intentionally, Downton Abbey, Jeopardy!, The Devil Wears Prada…all pop culture phenoms coded as adult. We get it! These girls aren’t kids anymore! And also they are always in jeopardy!

THAT'S SO FREEFORM

Aria using the ultimate au courant snake person technology to infiltrate Sara’s hotel room: the selfie stick.

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Runner-up: every au courant snake person SIGNING THEIR GD TEXTS. We would totally buy this if Caleb had long ago armed each of them with a private app to scramble their phone numbers for any network searching to identify them, but look, we do not write this show. That is not what is going on here.

PREVIOUSLY ON PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

In the mildest of possible retributions for being A’s right-hand Red Coat all those many high school senior years, Emily punched Shower Harvey right in her smug face, at which point Sara fell back and electrocuted her own damn self on the livewire box she’d been planning to use to blow up the Liars and half of Rosewood. Now, #5YearsForward and one dead Charlotte later, Sara is lurching around the haunted street of Rosewood/halls of The Radley making a pitiable showcase of her begloved, burned hands, cattily blaming the Liars for her predicament. Meanwhile SOME OF US HAVE REAL PROBLEMS, SARA, like Emily being so poor from sadness that she has to donate her eggs to get herself some money and a fresh start. Or like the daughter of Veronica’s senate race opposition being a friendlier version of Spencer who is about to be engaged to Toby. Or like the fact that there was a hard-drive backup of the security footage of Aria leaving The Radley the night Charlotte was murdered that Hanna secretly erased, which Ashley had to go steal like she was some lowly bank vault keeper all over again. Or like alt-A blackmailing the girls with a photo of Charlotte’s supposed murder weapon, which supposedly incriminates one of their number (like possibly Byron!). Or like Hanna giving Spencer and Caleb the go ahead to Spaleb already, we’re all mature adults here. Oh wait! THAT isn’t a problem! That’s a gift!

THIS WEEK

Montgomery Family Summit

Okay, nevermind alt-A and Shower Harvey and Six Flags Mailman and whatever fairy changeling took over Alison DiLaurentis and made her a shell of her former self—what the Liars really need to be using their short time back in Rosewood to investigate is what the hell is wrong with the city’s electric grid, and why everyone left alone in a room without light will just patiently sit there, staring at a wall, until a Liar appears.

IT ROSEWOOD II: THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

Yep, after spending all of last week trying to track her dad down and demand a) why he’s sneaking around The Radley, b) why he left a cryptic answering machine message for Ezra back in 1993, and c) why his 9-iron is missing from the trunk of his car, it turns out that all Aria had to do was wait until it looked like the Montgomery house was empty for the night and walk through the front door. SURPRISE. DAD’S JUST HANGING OUT IN THE DARK.

“Did I scare you?” he asks Aria, bemused, as she stares at him in horror. “Why are you sitting in the dark??” she asks in response. He doesn’t answer her, just launches straight into the secret he’s been keeping that he has to tell her, that he’s certain she figured out already, that he just needs to confess… “I’ve been seeing someone.” Wut. “What?” Aria echoes us.

But before she can ask any more questions, ELLA walks in from around the corner, looking sheepish and sporting a shiny new engagement ring. MAN we do not know what is best about this whole scene—the fact that Byron waited silently on the couch in the dark while Aria stood at the door texting Spencer, or the fact that he refused to acknowledge to Aria the utter creepy weirdness of the way he was waiting for her, or the fact that that whole entire time, Ella was in the other room. LETTING him sit there, alone and silent in the dark.

MONTGOMERYS.

Anyway, Aria doesn’t notice the ring until after she asks her mom how long she’s known about her dad’s dating sitch and Ella responds, “since he asked me!” But we think Aria deserves a bit of a break, considering how ten seconds ago she was convinced she’d sat down to hear her dad confess to a murderous hate crime. In any case, despite her lingering reservations that her dad is again, still, all the time a terrorizer of young women, she tells them she is happy for them. Furthermore, she doesn’t spoil the mood by reminding them that Mike graduated from A-college and ran away to Beacon Hills to terrorize their local monsters, which is the REAL reason he’s never answering his dorm phone when Byron and Ella call. That Aria, she’s a real peach!

Coffee? Is that what we’re calling it now?

Apparently Spencer and Caleb spend about 90% of their time now in bed. Drinking coffee! Yes, we’re sure that’s why all the blankets are on the floor, coffee. Anyway, Caleb brought this particular cup of coffee because he wants to make sure Spencer is awake when he tells her that he thinks they should…go to the cops. 

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Caleb! Will you never learn! After ambigousRosewoodnumber years with these girls, you must know by now that just mentioning telling the cops anything activates the high-powered LiarLogic system, threat level: vermillion. And yep, the words have barely left his mouth when Spencer starts arguing, some train of thought that eventually boils down to: if they can just get the golf club murder weapon, everything will be fixed!

As far as alt-A is concerned, Caleb doesn’t think it’s Sara, bc she burnt. But Spencer is like, “Well, she can’t really type, so maybe emoji are easier?” WE’D argue that an alt-A worthy of the name/Mona's legacy would have developed a way to text with nothing but brainwaves or gtfo, but alas, this alt-A only recently even learned what uniforms are and definitely (spoiler) doesn’t have a healthy respect for the black box nature of modern technology, so, maybe they’re NOT worthy of the name. Emoji-A. Let’s switch to Emoji-A. They can *earn* the title of alt-A back when they really bring their alt-A game.

After they finally get up so that Caleb can feed Spencer before her busy campaign-kid day (Hanna trained him well), Spencer gets an alert on her wrist computer reminding her of a lunch with Veronica's campaign advisor that she doesn't even remember scheduling. "You have been pretty distracted lately," Caleb murmurs while kissing her all up and down her neck and NOT FEEDING HER FOOD. But Spencer doesn't mind, and neither do we.

 

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Sidebar: WHAT is Spencer wearing? It seems to be a bra in the back, apron in the front, like some sort of reverse lingerie mullet of anti-feminism. Somehow it still looks pretty hot, although that might just be because of all the Spaleb action it is getting.

Don’t go ::broken heart emoji::-ing my ::heart emoji::

At Lucas Loft, Hanna’s ambiguously-accented fiancé is stumbling around dropping (empty) wine bottles all over the place. They overslept and are late for their fancy car. Why are there suddenly so many luxury cars and drivers all over Rosewood? Oh god, we just remembered that time that Ezra hired a limo to drive him and his sixteen-year-old student to a museum on a date. Ah, memories. ::explosion emoji::

Anyway, as Jordan is bumbling around trying to gather their things, Hanna gets an emoji-A text saying, “Bring me the drive or I’ll make you ::broken heart emoji::”. Honestly this is a bit too ambiguous to be properly threatening. You’ll make her upset? You’ll break up her relationship? You’ll give her a heart attack??? But it seems to do the trick, because she makes up an excuse about how she has to be near a landline to make the seven thousand last-minute emergency phone calls her demon fashion boss requires of her, and sends Jordan on his way with promises to follow soon.

Emily x3 Hormonal Macchiatos

It’s a good thing Jordan’s on his way out, because Hanna’s true love Emily has just arrived at Lucas’ door, rolling hard on her last horse shot of egg donation hormones. She’s normally a pretty laid back person, but hormones are NO JOKE, and even just Hanna insisting on referring to Pam by her first name is enough to set her off (although tbh, we’re with Em here, that is a universally awkward social protocol to move on from as an adult).

So what else is really twisting Em’s knickers today? Well: lying to her mom about everything, still, always; the fact that Hanna hasn’t even asked them to be bridesmaids yet; IS she going to ask them to be bridesmaids???; the fact that she’s going to be out of comission for a few days because of the dumb egg procedure; how completely weird that TEXT was; no, not the one from Aria about her parents getting back together; no, not the crazy cynical possibility that Byron might have set it all up to rope Ella in as part of some spousal privilege long game; the fact that OMG did she miss some memo where everyone calls parents by their first names today, for real??

 

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Anyway, no, what really chaps Em’s tits is the text! from Ali! who is back in town!; ugh, the fact that OF COURSE Ali sent a text JUST TO EMILY and now OF COURSE she just expects Em to come running and GOD it’s hard enough to keep ONE secret from her mom and THESE HORMONES ARE JUST—

“Just tell her you’re busy,” Han interrupts.

LOL. We mean, lol at the whole scene, and at the stellar delivery of the most lines Emily has had at one time in forever, but also lol at the reminder that so much of everything the Liars have been through over the years could have been avoided if they’d just known as young teens/remembered as old teens that the best lie they could ever tell was to tell Ali, always, that they were to busy for any of her toxic nonsense.

Em’s like, “I dunno why I didn’t think of that. Oh right—hormones.” But also, Em, you’re the goddamn nicest human being in the whole world. Of course it would never occur to you to intentionally inconvenience anyone else. Good luck on your procedure! You are such a cinnamon roll (in the parlance of the modern internet you Freeformers are all about) that we are sure absolutely nothing terrible will happen and that you will have your most favorite people there with you.

Ella Gives Good Alibi

Back at the Montgomery house, Ella is taking advantage of the fact that it is daylight to speak with her daughter face to face in a not-pitch black room for what apparently is the first time since Aria has returned to Rosewood. “We sprang something pretty big on you last night,” she says, “if you have any concerns, I do want you to share them.”

Aria does have concerns, but since they are mainly of the “for real, is dad a murderer or nah” variety, she abstracts the truth and is just like, yo, sneaky sexy times in THIS family, in THIS town? Maybe not the best move!!

Ella is charmingly (infuriatingly) baffled by this line of reasoning. “What else could you have thought was going on, us sneaking around??” And then she seems to imply that aside from that one exchange Aria had with Byron about Ezra of all people before Charlotte’s release hearing, neither Montgomery parent has made much of an effort to even check in with Aria about how she’s feeling, you know, just about life. DEFINITELY no effort since the night of the hearing, when Charlotte was killed, because that night they were too busy taking advantage of Aria’s Radley sleepover to have an, ahem, sleepover of their own…

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We mean, you SAW what it led to already, Aria!

Man. What a charmingly (infuriatingly) Rosewood Parent thing to do: use the fact that their child is getting knockdown drunk to distract herself from the fact that her kidnapper and torturer was just let loose as an opportunity to get a little action.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have given you so much space before, during, and after the hearing after all??” Ella asks, to which Aria, to her credit, is like, nope, probably not! But the fact that Ella can charmingly (infuriatingly) provide a real alibi for Byron is enough to make up for that fact, and Aria smiles wide and gives her mom her real blessing.

World’s Most Incriminating Cereal Box Prize

After Jordan leaves and Emily calms down and all of Hanna’s Prada Demon bosses’ racist runway model needs are virtually taken care of, Hanna sets off on a mission to track down that hard drive. You know, so she can avoid that very dire ::broken heart emoji::.

She guesses that since the drive ~conveniently~ went missing right after she told her mom about deleting the file, Mama Marin has pulled one of her classic “totally illegal thing to save Hanna’s ass” moves, so she heads home to confront her. Ashley is stone-faced and evasive—“The only person in the minuscule whole of Rosewood who thinks I stole the drive is YOU, Hanna Banana, so maybe you should start thinking about why you’re so paranoid and stop grinding my gears, hm??”—but Hanna knows better, and tries to get her to hand over the drive so she can hide it. Oh sure, Han, since YOUR “hiding things” track record is so great. What are you going to do, bury it with a martini glass in the courtyard of Tri-Delt’s Manhattan HQ? Finally Ashley gives an inch and tells Hanna the drive has been destroyed—and Hanna should be glad her mistake has been erased. “Now,” says Ashley, “it’s time to think about wedding cakes and bridesmaid dresses and private jets and how another vicious cyber stalker seems to be targeting you and your friends, AGAIN… just like a normal 23 year old!”

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Hanna doesn’t believe the drive has been destroyed, though. She figures that since emoji-A (Shower Harvey?) is asking for it, it must be around somewhere. So she enlists Aria to come over and ransack the Marin home for it. And where do they go first? Why, every single box of pasta and cereal and rice and flour in the kitchen. This is not a joke. MONA BLESS YOU, writer-of-this-episode Bryan Holdman, for remembering where Ashley likes to keep her valuables.

 

 

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These two haven't sleuthed together enough. We're into it. TEAM HARIA.

Their search is ultimately fruitless (um, actual fruit aside), but Aria has a better idea: what if they just PRETEND to have the drive, to lure Sara out of Radley, so Aria can sneak in and steal the golf club? This plan has all the makings of a total disaster. We’re in!

Elliot, Please

As in, “Elliot, PLEASE go away.” As in, “Elliot, PLEASE do not act like Alison has ever needed a man to solve her problems or fight her battles ever before, or like she needs one to now.” As in, “Elliot, PLEASE go investigate the basement of the new mental hospital and see if there isn’t a portal to Faerie there after all that might explain where the changeling that is the new Alison came from.”

But also as in, “Dr. Rollins??” Emily says, opening the door of Lucas Loft, and “Elliot, please,” Wren+Ian’s dread doppelganger says in reply. He’s come to apologize on Alison’s behalf, to explain how yes, her behavior was “alienating” but that she really does need her friends now, but Emily’s hearing none of it.

Her reasons are legit, and beyond that, Elliot, Please should know well enough to know the No is a complete sentence, but Em’s Egg Donation discharge instructions catch Elliot, Please’s attention at just the wrong moment, and he ascribes all her hesitation and anger to that one female-specific situation instead. “This wasn’t the right time for me to ask you for anything,” he apologizes, then leaves.

“If I’d have known how upset it would make Emily, I wouldn’t have sought her out,” Elliot, Please tells Ali later that afternoon in the halls of the high school, where she is still working to exorcise her own personal demons. He tried to get in touch with the rest of Ali’s friends, but…::shrug emoji::, to quote emoji-A.

“I’ve done enough to push them away, I don’t want to make them accept my apology now, too,” Ali says, telling Elliot, Please to stand down. Unfortunately, what with Jason and Ken-Dad doing nothing these days to reach out and even talk to Ali at all (jeez), the Liars are the closest thing she has to real family (DOUBLE jeez), and Elliot, Please is not about to let Ali forget that. He’s also not about to let Ali wallow at home alone, if you know what we mean, wink wink—a fact he reminds her of as he strokes her hand in the middle of the school hall, so totally lost in her eyes that he is oblivious to Sara Harvey creeping on them in full black leather and beanie seven lockers away…

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Not Out of Character, Out of Practice

So that Campaign Calendar boop that surprised Spencer with the reminder that she had lunch plans with Gil, GWB Reporter? It’s a double surprise! Because when she gets to the Grille, 1) Gil is not there; 2) Gil has no idea he was supposed to be meeting with her; 3) Yvonne IS there; 4) Yvonne thinks they are supposed to be having lunch; and 5) Yvonne thinks it was all Spencer’s idea.

Spencer looks sort of shell-shocked, but plays along so masterfully at least one of your recappers thought she knew what was going on the whole time, and soon enough (after Spencer calls Caleb to update him on the latest possible move of possible emoji-A) the two of them are having a v delightful lunch, chatting about what it’s like having a parent running for office and how they’ve both developed an inherent distrust of others—Yvonne due to a lifetime of politics, and Spencer because of that whole being-kidnapped thing. Spencer declaims on how growing into herself in the crucible that was Rosewood #5YearsBack left her hardened. In response, Yvonne looks her right in the eyes and says warmly, “There’s nothing wrong with being an iron lady, Spencer. In fact, they’re my favorite kind.” Ooh, are they going to kiss now too??

At the end of the lunch, Yvonne pays then jets so fast she accidentally leaves her phone behind, and Spencer does something that she later describes (adorably) as being “not out of character, but definitely out of practice” and grabs the phone to bring back to Caleb like a dog with a hackable tennis ball.

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Back at the barn, Caleb is mocking up a fake hard-drive for Hanna to use to bait emoji-A-maybe-Sara. Spencer feels pretty guilty, but Caleb is thrilled to have a second phone that emoji-A has possibly tampered with, because blah blah hacking triangulation blah blah blah, and very quickly they go all moony at each other, which (whoops) makes Hanna super uncomfortable.

After Caleb clones Yvonne’s phone, Spencer takes it back to the Grill and pretends to have found it just outside. Unfortunately, Mona (Mona!) (the Phillips Campaign Coordinator) (MONA!) has beaten her to the scene of the crime. She promises not to tell Yvonne about Spencer’s role in the phone-napping, but Spencer’s sure that she’s been set up. “No, Spencer,” Mona says, too calmly. “We don’t do those kinds of things anymore, do we.” 

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We don’t know!! Do we??? Do we not??? MONA COME BACK TO US.

Meanwhile, Hanna takes the new fake drive to Rosewood’s only back alley, and leaves it wrapped in a brown paper bag in a trash can, as instructed by emoji-A. As she walks away, the camera flash-zooms! right on a fancy black car lurking like a shiny, high-end lurker, and SERIOUSLY. How many luxury hired cars are touring around Rosewood these days that NO ONE HAS NOTICED THIS YET.

Sara, Ya Burnt

Sara knocks on Ali's classroom door spinning some lies about being lost, but Ali just gives her terse directions and stares until Sara admits that no, okay, she came to see Ali. She meanders thorugh the classroom, weaving a story the whole time about how, after the “accident,” when her hands were still numb and wrapped in bandages, Sara had to be hand-fed by a nurse every day for six months. And every day for six months she resented it, and mistreated everyone who was trying to help her. And now what is she supposed to do herself, but go to some high school class and talk about living with disability as if her experiences might help someone else. UGH, right?

Anyway, Sara does want to help someone—Charlotte. Because she really did care for her, regardless of how hot she burned her at the trial. “I thought of her like a sister, you know?” Sara says, to Charlotte's ACTUAL SISTER, trying to convince Ali how the two of them have more in common than Ali thinks. Because Sara was there for Charlotte when no one else was! No one in the world knew Charlotte better than the two of them, Sara and Ali, best pals and basically-sisters! Ali's ears are practically spouting steam.

It is super gross. Everything about Sara’s storyline this season is super gross, disspiritingly ableist (in that the show has now featured two women with disabilities as maybe-villains and definitely-sinister), and just lazy. It’s one thing to parallel story beats from the beginning of the series to make for a more complex mystery now that the girls are older; that’s not what this is. This is just straight cribbing, with a character who can’t possibly be sympathetic because we know nothing of her motives or who she is outside of Charlotte’s dollhouse, suffering an injury in which the Liars’ non-guilt is completely evident. This is not Jenna 2.0. This is Jenna Beta, the trial edition that was never meant for public consumption.

Thankfully, there is just enough of the old Ali left inside that changeling shell that she knows how powerful silence is, and it is that with which she responds to Sara’s insane ramblings, maintaining eye contact as she gathers her things, stands, and leaves without saying a single word.

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And Sara? She apparently loves every minute of it.

Sorry, Em—There’s No Escaping #Emison

Straightaway, Alison heads over to Lucas Loft in the hopes she’ll work up the nerve to actually knock on the door and beg Emily to help her process. Fortunately, Emily opens the door before Alison can make up her mind not to knock after all. Unfortunately, it’s because she is on her way out.

“Just can I talk to you for two minutes,” Ali asks, storming in anyway. “Sara just came to see me, at the school, where I WORK, where I am supposed to be SAFE.” (She didn’t actually attend Rosewood High long enough to understand how laughable that expectation actually is, remember.) “I think she knew Charlotte better than we all suspected.”

“Why would you believe anything she says,” Em says exhaustedly, incredulous that *she* has to remind *Alison* that there are cruel, manipulative people running around the world. That’s all the time she’ll spare for Ali’s tales of woe, though—she’s got an appointment to get to.

“…” Ali says silently, just staring. “Oh GREAT, SURE. OF COURSE Elliot, Please told you everything already, awesome. Well they are my eggs, and I make my own choices!!!”

See: silence. It’s the key to everything.

Anyway, no, Elliot, Please didn’t tell Ali anything about Em’s medical plans. Hm! Maybe he really IS a doctor who cares about the welfare of humanity in general, and not just one girl’s care and comfort! He’s still a dread Wren-Ian amalgam, though.

So Ali insists on accompanying Emily to the hospital, since Hanna had to head back to NYC to wrangle the Devil’s fashion show and Emily, inexplicably (and inexplicably un-angstily) still hasn’t come clean to Aria and Spencer. She promises to be right by Emily’s side when she wakes up, and it is clear that Em is grateful to have someone there who knows and loves her, when everything is said and done, even if it is Ali.

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The procedure itself goes well, but because Emily Fields attracts tragedy like comets to the g-d sun, her story can’t possibly end on a happy note. First, Emily’s PTSD rears up when she’s coming out of the anaesthesia and she hallucinates Sara sneaking into her room dressed like a nurse, putting something in her IV and holding her arms down on the bed while Em thrashes helplessly. Or... was it a hallucination after all? 

Ali comes in and reassures Emily that everything is alright; she's been keeping guard. But THEN the nurse returns to break the news to Emily that the couple who had been waiting for Emily’s eggs just found out they’re pregnant naturally, and so are backing out. That’s a good thing, on the whole, but now Emily has a hard decision—store her eggs for a fee she can’t afford, or destroy them?

Smart and kind as she is, Emily picks option 3: donate to an egg bank. But not even THAT generous, good decision lets her off the hook for a happy ending, because now emoji-A has her number, and a very precious thing to hold ransom until Emily, somehow, magically, turns in Charlotte’s killer.

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Legit horror show, Emily’s life.

The Devil Wears Claudia

So, we’re a little concerned that several minutes of The Devil Wears Prada was accidentally spliced into the middle of the episode—did that happen for anyone else? Except it seems to have been recast, with some sour-faced redheaded lady standing in for the inimitable Meryl, and…oh! It’s Hanna! Hanna as Anne Hathaway! Nevermind, this is the right show after all.

So recall, when she wasn’t busy searching for electronics at the bottom of every noodle box in her kitchen, Hanna spent the entire day running herself (and her phone skills) ragged making sure her Hell Bitch Demon Boss had seventeen hundred packs of peppermint gum at her fingertips—not to mention finding six extra feet of runway the night before a trunk show and firing a whole suite of models and replacing them with “Asians. I’m very into Asians” (egads, we’re just quoting here). But alas, no amount of ninja assistant skills are enough for the Fashion Satan, who unceremoniously dumps Hanna and her panda mug for arriving back in New York five minutes late.

This of course sucks for Hanna, who earlier in the episode had outlined how this job fit into her five-year plan to ascend to the heights of pop icon stylist (although she was planning to make it happen in three, naturally). But HANNA, y’all, HANNA MOTHER F-ING MARIN: When she realizes she’s been canned, instead of groveling to get her position back, she remembers just how few fucks her own Rosewood crucible left for her to give, and she just whips out that Marin mouth and tells Runway Hades how it is: You’re a bitch, and GET YOUR OWN DAMN GUM.

 

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It’s not until she’s back in the fancy limo outside (seriously, is Jordan emoji-A?) that the regrets catch up to her. But Jordan is—as usual—all too ready with words of kindness and connections to help. He’ll call some people connected with the magazine he…owns?…and she’ll have interviews lined up in no time. And in the meantime, they can do whatever she wants. And what she wants is not to go back to Rosewood, nor to their New York apartment—she just wants to drive. Ok, Han, you know you’re going to run out of road or gas EVENTUALLY… but bon voyage until then.

C'mon, Team Sparia!

So Hanna made good on her end of the newest LiarLogic plan, dropping the fake hard-drive on the other end of town (lol) in order to lure Sara out of her hotel room long enough that Aria can break in and look for the golf club emoji-A has been taunting them with. That is, presuming the 9-iron really is the murder weapon, and presuming Sara really is emoji-A, and presuming emoji-A-Sara is trying to use the golf club to frame Aria’s dad, and presuming reality is even reality.

But those are all things the Liars DO presume! And so Aria books the room next to Sara’s, and moves in ready to surveil. There's an initial close call, when Aria hears the strains of Final Jeopardy wafting through Sara's door, and worries that Sara's still inside... and another close call, when Aria overhears Sara screaming at Ashley about how DARE the housekeepers clean her room when she doesn't even EAT BRUNCH (okay, that is a step too far, Sara) and then Sara creepily stares back at Aria staring at her through the peephole. But eventually Sara disappears (almost literally), and Spencer arrives, lock-picks in tow, and NOW Aria is ready to investigate. 

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Honestly, we suspect whatever window Hanna’s fake drop opened for them, it’s closed by now. But Team Sparia leaping The Radley’s newly installed cement balconies (no way they were in the original mental hospital plans…or wait…maybe, actually) and ribbing each other over snake people technology and freaking the eff out at the true body horror that is Sara’s many glove mannequin hands is just so charming, who are we to complain?

 

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Aria heads to the closet to investigate (“It’s bigger than my whole apartment!” said no one until now about a standard hotel room’s closet), and Spencer heads to the dresser. Spencer strikes gold almost immediately—creepy, crawly, gloved mannequin arm gold. Or rather, the set of rolled-up blueprints for Radley Sanitarium and The Radley Hotel, the former with a big red circle in the center labeled “CHARLOTTE” that, when overlaid with the latter, reveals the true reason Sara’s stayed in Rosewood all these weeks: she’s in Charlotte’s old Radley room.

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“Aria!” Spencer calls excitedly over her shoulder, repeating herself when Aria doesn’t respond. After the third failed try, Spencer gets worried and crosses to the closet to see if the armless mannequins presumably stashed within ate her. When she opens the door to reveal no Aria, but yes a giant hole broken through the back of the closet, revealing a ladder descending into many stories of darkness, we wish we hadn’t joked about those mannequins. Aria’s missing! In the guts of the old Radley! Which a purportedly disabled Sara Harvey has been digging her way through to with what are presumably two perfectly good hands!!

Can't spell "conspiracy" without "confidence," and Sara's got that in spades.

Hacky-Hack

Caleb sits in a darkened room, doing all of his Hacking Things. There are letters, and files, and drives. The text is green! Lines of code run up and down the screen! Yeah, we don’t know what is happening but through his mirror of Yvonne’s phone, he ends up on the Phillips Campaign HQ cloud drive. Mona’s got a computer on there… Yvonne does too… but he’s most intrigued by the red folder labeled HASTINGS OPPOSITION RESEARCH. Which, of course, is password protected—but this is Caleb we’re talking about. He just needs to find Yvonne’s childhood stuffed animal’s middle name, and he’s all set!

::computer emoji:: ::explosion emoji:: ::sad face emoji::
Not too far away, in another darkened lair, Emoji-A plugs in Hanna’s fake drive to its laptop, and boots it up… only for Hacker Caleb’s hacker face to fill the screen, laughing maniacally. Well, no, but he does loom imposingly and say “If you can change the rules? So can we.” Then a virus takes over emoji-A’s laptop and shuts everything the fuck down. BOOM.

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Emoji-A sadly closes the laptop, throws it in the trash, takes off their creepy old man mask and gloves, and leaves Rosewood forever and never bothers the girls again. Psych! That was good for the drama, Caleb, and we totally get the urge to slash and burn every hint of new cyberstalking before it grows real legs, but what a dumb move—now emoji-A knows where you are and what you’ve got.

NEXT WEEK

Is it possible that more than one person in Rosewood has a hard-on for crazy person revenge? Is it possible that Detective Roma Maffia is returning to emotionally assault the girls for being victims yet again? Is it possible that Mona and Ali will get back their teeth, and use them to rip Sara’s throat out? TUNE IN.

In the interim, keep your eye on murdercAbin! We will be rolling out a whole pack of 2016 PLL Galentines all week and weekend, because (#banmen) we love you.

KISSES,

A(lexis and Catie)

<-- Pretty Little Liars 6x14: New Guys, New Lies, New Cheese Fries 

Pretty Little Liars 6x16:  Where Somebody Waits For Me -->

Shadowhunters 1x5: Moo Shu to Go

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Shadowhunters 1x5: Moo Shu to Go

Previously: Simon takes his chances on his own, everyone learns that Alec <3s Jace, and Valentine can communicate with (and threaten) Clary through Jocelyn's necklace.

What Happened: 

Thanks to Jocelyn's necklace, the Shadowhunters now at least know that she's alive. But because the necklace is a portal shard that could allow Valentine to scope out the Institute, Alec locks it up -- along with Clary's only way to see her mother for the time being. (Valentine, of course, is still shacked up in UGH CHERNOBYL, where he apparently speaks Russian and experiments on mundanes with runes and (angel?) blood injections.)

Speaking of mothers, Mama Maryse Lightwood drops by the Institute from the Shadowhunter homeland, Idris Elba's Bedroom. She assigns Jace and Izzy to look into why the Seelies have stopped communicating with the Clave. A visit with Meliorn reveals that the Fair Folk are in mourning over their scouts that were killed in the search for Valentine, and their allegiance is to whichever side will emerge victorious. It also hints at the inequality and politics between the different species of the Shadow Realms, which I'm def. interested for the show to explore.

Meanwhile, Alec's been relegated to babysitting Clary at the Institute, which lasts for all of a phone call -- and what a phone call it is, because MAGNUS IS CALLING TO ASK ALEC OUT EEEEEEE. But before Alec can set up a time, he has to chase down Clary, who sneaks away to the loft to look for anything that might help track Valentine. And Simon tags along, as he does with all things Clary, exhibiting some vampire athleticism and abilities that doesn't strike neither Clary nor Alec as particularly odd, even knowing full well that he was JUST abducted by a bunch of vampires. Anyway, Alec ends up distracted and Clary and Simon arrested by Hot Luke's precinct friend, Alaric...

.... except PSYCH! They're all totally werewolves, disgruntled with the status quo and looking for the Mortal Cup themselves. And they hang out at the JADE WOLF RESTAURANT, omg this show sometimes. But their plans fall through when a werewolf successfully challenges the current alpha -- and that werewolf turns out to be Hot Luke! However, Hot Luke has suffered deep wounds that "only a warlock's magic will cure", YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ALEC GO WITH THEM. (Er -- I mean, BOOOOOO POOR HOT LUKE. Yeees.)

Shadowwinner of the Week:

Even though the quotes I saved mostly originate from another Lightwood, I'm giving this to Izzy for winning MY HEART. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but she did bond with Clary over Jocelyn, and she received some long overdue characterization with the introduction of Patty Chase Award hopeful, Maryse.

Shadowloser of the Week:

UGH, Simon is really getting on my nerves, y'all. He just keeps beating that same ol' drum of SHADOWHUNTERS CAN'T BE TRUSTED and I'LL PROTECT YOU, CLARY. Granted, his newly acquired abilities makes the protection idea more feasible than before, but I've started to yell "STUPID USELESS SIMON" whenever he appears.

Say What?:

"Shadowhunters aren't big huggers." - Izzy, about her mother... riiiight before the latter hugs Jace AND Alec, oh shit.

"Are you insane or just an idiot?" - Vamp Raphael to Simon. Y'all know my stance on this.

"Playing hard to get. I love a challenge." - Magnus, after Alec abruptly ends their phone call. I look forward to watching more of this challenge!

"What's the point of an invisibility rune if you don't silence your phone?" - Alec to Clary, with v. important Shadowhunter lessons.

"Alec, just say it. You'll feel better. You're in love with Jace." "Forget it. You know what? You're in love with Jace." - YOU BOTH ARE, Clary and Alec! 

"The world's been ending for a thousand years. You get used to it." - Alec, ever the pragmatist. 

"You were engaged? I'm almost certain I don't want to hear this story." - Alec, before Simon cuts him off with more backstory. ILY, ALEC. (THE EYE ROLL.)

"I'm getting seriously tired of saving your life." "I am not!" - Izzy and Simon, with a moment of cuteness that I wouldn't mind more of.

Swimfan Says...:

Here's Shadowhunter Chronicles expert, Meredith (@legallyblonde), with her take!

•  While I'm normally ambivalent toward all TV werewolves (the exception being the most ridiculous ones, for whatever reason), I liked seeing Luke become the werewolf alpha.  It was an interesting set up, and it brought him and Clary back on the same page.

•  Maryse was how I'd pictured her acting from the books, as well as the insight into why Isabelle dates Downworlders.

•  Alec stating "the law is hard, but it's the law" is actually the Covenant motto in the books.

•  I just really want Alec and Magnus to go out for drinks now. I also liked that Alec's response to Clary bringing up his Jace feelings was to bring up her own Jace feelings instead of threatening her like in the books.

•  The box of Jocelyn's with the "JC" initials becomes an important book detail, and I'm curious how that's going to play out.

Burning Questions:

•  What's the actual pronounciation of the name 'Alaric'? Emphasizing the middle syllable (The Vampire Diaries) or not (Shadowhunters)?

•  Did the show's special effects team discover the slo-mo feature this week? And were we supposed to be impressed by those scenes?

•  Is Jace really oblivious that Alec LOVES loves him? If so, then GEEZ, he's dense. And OH GOD, they're attractive together.

•  How much longer will we have to wait for Magnus and Alec's first date?!

Next episode: "Of Men and Angels"

He Tells Me In His Bedroom Voice

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He Tells Me In His Bedroom Voice

Last week, I caught a screening of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and honestly, I couldn't tell you if I liked it or not, because the minute Sam Riley (Darcy) opened his mouth, the only opinion I could form involved him moving out of Pemberley and into my pants.

He's an attractive man, no doubt, but it's that voice, that voice, that whispered its way into my subconscious and echoed for days on an intoxicating note. I couldn't help but think of another Mr. Darcy, Matthew Macfayden, whose spoken words left me in a similar state, and suddenly, I found myself on a quest to identify men with the most aphrodisiac of vocal chords.

Fortunately, I didn't have to pursue this inquiry alone, and together with Meredith and Mandy Curtis, we've compiled a list of dead sexy voices, complete with clips. So turn up the volume on your speakers and be very glad that your ear drums can't get pregnant.

Spoiler alert: THEY'RE ALL BRITISH.

Sam Riley

"Husky, the go-to adjective for writers describing a tone of want and longing, is the everyday pitch for Sam Riley, whose rasp can fill you with desire whether he's talking about his romantic interest or his latest trip to the grocery store." - Posh

Exhibit A-Z:

Idris Elba

"His is the kind of voice that fits in anywhere—from the most casual pub to the fanciest of black tie affairs. But it's when he speaks softly, low enough that only you can hear, that you realize it's a voice best suited for sharing secrets in the dark." - Mandy C.

Exhibit A-Z:

Alan Rickman

"His voice speaks the words of your heart, every syllable you've longed to say but couldn't. It will live long beyond him." - Meredith

Exhibit A-Z:

Matthew Macfadyen

"A voice this deep allows for an exquisitely rich emotional register, and like a skillful musician, Matthew Macfadyen uses his instrument to hit tones that reverberate throughout your entire being (including your lady parts)." - Posh

Exhibit A-Z:

Tom Hiddleston

"Soft, with hints of mischief, his is the kind of voice you'd follow without pause, even as it led you to places you'd otherwise dare not go." - Mandy C.

Exhibit A-Z:

Who else would you induct into the Bedroom Voice Hall of Fame? Make your nominations in the comments!

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