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  • Welcome Back, ‘FARGO’

    Welcome Back, ‘FARGO’

    Movies that get turned into TV shows tend to be a mixed bag. More often than not, they fail to live up to the glory of their cinematic counterparts and end up being forgotten in the bargain bin like The Exorcist and Minority Report series. Occasionally, you get shows like Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and From Dusk Till Dawn; shows that decently live up to their cinematic predecessors but somehow fall short from the impact their films made. Rare is when a TV show actually stands up on its own and lives up to the film it’s based on. Fargo is one of those rarities. 

    Released in 1996, the film the series is based on introduced the Coen brothers’ distinct eccentric style of storytelling to a mainstream audience and immortalized Frances McDormand as one of the greatest performers of her generation and her character Marge Gunderson as one of cinema’s best protagonists. Its absurdist yet deeply dark take on a kidnapping-gone-wrong set in the blinding winter of the Midwest was wildly original, turning genre conventions on its head at every step of the way. Almost 30 years later, the film is now widely regarded as one of the greatest crime films of all time. So when it announced that they were adapting the film for television, eyebrows were understandably raised. 

     

     

    Season one, which premiered in 2014, was about the woeful tale of the meek Lester Nygaard’s descent into corruption and the trail of bodies left behind by his Faustian deal with the devilish Lorne Malvo. At the heart of all the violence was the steadfast yet gentle pairing of Molly Solverson and Gus Grimly, two unlikely officers who take it upon themselves to make sense of all the chaos. The show was funny, dark, well-acted, and most important, really well-written. The series premiered to critical acclaim and ended up amassing more than 200 nominations from awarding bodies all over the world. With so many duds out there, no one ever expected one more TV adaptation of a beloved film to be any good. But Fargo surpassed all expectations and for a while, its success seemed like lightning in a bottle.

    The second season proved that its success wasn’t a fluke. It expanded the Fargo formula as it explored more themes, introduced a more varied ensemble of characters, and got bolder and weirder with its storytelling choices. Set in the twilight of the seventies, this time it was about the Gerhardt family and their crime empire at war with itself and a ragtag couple who, as fate would have it, would cross paths with the family in the most unfortunate way possible. Season 2 was hilarious as it was Shakespearean. It had a lot of killing, a lot of betrayals, a lot of laughs, and a lot of heart. It was a masterclass on how to ingeniously push the boundaries of something that was already close to perfection. When Stephen King describes one of the episodes of Season 2 as “the best thing on TV in the last three years,” you know Season 2 means business. And you betcha, it meant business. 

    A deadbeat parole officer’s plot to steal a childhood stamp from his more successful business-owning twin brother goes sideways, his swindling ex-con girlfriend gets entangled with a sinister international criminal empire and a technologically illiterate officer at the heels of it all. Fargo’s third season may seem like business as usual but it was anything but. The plot was more complex and philosophical. Themes and symbolism were more abstract. Its social commentary was darker than ever. There was a heightened degree of surrealism to the narrative which made the season’s tone more eccentric than usual; the season opens with a wholly unrelated interrogation scene in Berlin, animated vignettes about a lost robot make up half of an episode, and a mythic Jewish apparition played appears throughout. The season didn’t get as much love as its predecessors but in an era of countless cookie-cutter crime shows, Fargo Season 3 still stood out from the pack. 

     

     

    I love Fargo for a lot of reasons. The comic nerd in me loves the worldbuilding in the show; how each season builds on one another and how these decade-spanning midwestern crime stories all connect in some way. I love the cautionary nature it posits; Fargo. in many ways. reminds me of the fables I grew up hearing. Fantastical anecdotes on life, morality, and values with cute animals to represent each and every one of us.  With Fargo, it’s the same albeit with lots of violence and crime. I love the simple anthological nature of the show; the accessibility and digestibility it provides audiences with each new season. I love how the show is something me and my grandmother can bond over. Never in a million years did I imagine a show as bloody and hilarious as Fargo would be something to enjoy with a 78-year old woman. Ultimately, I love the show because it’s simply a great show. And like the film before it, what truly makes Fargo a fantastic piece of fiction are the creatives and talent behind it. Showrunner Noah Hawley and his band of like-minded writers have crafted a show that unapologetically carries the spirit of the film. The show proudly wears its namesake on its sleeve, compounding every quirky strand of the film’s DNA to tell Fargo’s story in a new way for a new generation of media.   

     

     

    The characters the actors bring to life feel like worthy extensions of those characters in the film: Marge Gunderson, Jerry Lundegaard, Carl Showalter, and Gaear Grimsrud. Cast members like Billy Bob Thorton, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead imbue so much life to the eccentric characters they inhabit and all perform at a level on par with McDormand’s Oscar-winning performance. And that’s not to mention the supporting characters that help realize this world. Nick Offerman’s role as the verbal-jousting drunk lawyer stole the show in Season 2. Season 1 had Bob Odenkirk playing a dim-witted police chief. And of course, Ray Wise as the Wandering Jew of Season 3 was a highlight for Season 3. 

    For this upcoming fourth season, I’m not quite sure what to expect. I haven’t seen any trailer save for the first one they put out in the pandemic nor have I fully been caught up with the who, what, and where of Season 4’s premise. It’s easy to set one’s self up with immensely high expectations especially with Fargo, a show that has been consistently good throughout the years so with Season 4, I’m keeping an open eye and mind. It’s always a pleasure to revisit the wild midwest the Coen brothers and Noah Hawley created. I cannot wait to see it return this Sunday. 

  • ‘WandaVision’ 24-Hour Traffic Surpasses ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Super Bowl Trailer

    ‘WandaVision’ 24-Hour Traffic Surpasses ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Super Bowl Trailer

    It has been a very dry year for Marvel fans. Suddenly, the Emmys gave us a glimpse of hope as it dropped the first trailer for WandaVision. It was the first new trailer we’ve seen from the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the last Black Widow trailer dropped back in April. We didn’t know if the Disney+ shows would even see a 2020 release. Originally, August was the starting point for this new venture with Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Somehow, the craziest of Marvel Studio projects were able to stick to its 2020 plans. Our first look at the trailer teased the unlikeliest of couples battle in an alternative dimension filled with sitcom tropes. It teases a completely new direction for the franchise and it looks like people are already all in.

    Even though the Emmys sank to a new low of 6.1 million viewers, the trailer has been the talk of the town. Within 24 hours the trailer has garnered around 53 million views. According to the social media monitor RelishMix, this is in the same league as any Avengers or Fast & Furious trailer. It has reached 302.6K mentions which are numbers that are tentpole even pre-COVID. To put this into perspective, it beat out any of the major draws from the Super Bowl. Black Widow at the time garnered 18.7 million followed by Mulan and No Time to Die. Hell, it even beat out Avengers: Infinity War‘s 30.9 million after its Super Bowl reveal.

    This is why Marvel Studios was quiet all this time. They knew that they needed to wait for the perfect moment. People were aching for some kind of life for the franchise. WandaVision not only filled that void but also changed our perception. We have learned to expect specific things from a Marvel Studios trailer. We get some comedy, action, and amazing effects. Yet, this trailer shows that the studio is venturing out into completely new territory that will break our understanding of the franchise’s future. It is an exciting time to be a Marvel fan and cannot wait until they finally reveal the official release date.

    Source: Deadline

  • Gugu Mbatha-Raw Confirms ‘LOKI’ Has Resumed Production

    Gugu Mbatha-Raw Confirms ‘LOKI’ Has Resumed Production

    A new interview with Gugu Mbatha-Raw with Forbes.com confirms filming on the Loki series has resumed after being put on pause last March.

    Life is starting to return to somewhere near normal for Mbatha-Raw, who is now back at work filming the upcoming Marvel TV series, Loki, for Disney+ in Atlanta, Georgia.

    “I was in the middle of filming when the pandemic happened, so I had a real break, I’ve been painting and reading. Like so many others, I was at home for a long time,” she said. “Not to make light of the suffering going on, but in some ways, it has been an opportunity for me to get a fresh perspective on things. It is downtime that perhaps I might not have had, and now I’m thankful to be back to work. It’s been a journey for everyone, but it’s all for a greater reason and the greater good.”

    Typical of MCU actors, Mbatha-Raw isn’t giving up any details on the production, however it’s more welcome news for Marvel fans eager to see what the God of Mischief gets up to next.

    “I’m obviously sworn to secrecy about everything to do with Loki, but it feels great to be back. Everyone is trying to do it as safely as possible under the circumstances, and it feels good. I’m excited. It’s a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see it.”

    Editing to add a quick additional quote from another new interview with Vulture where Mbatha-Raw is a bit more specific about when they resumed filming. Previous reports were they would begin on September 14.

    Where are you right now?

    I’m in Atlanta. I’m filming here, for work — Loki the Disney+ series. We just restarted a few weeks ago.

    Source: Forbes, Vulture

  • ‘SUPERGIRL’ To End With Season 6

    ‘SUPERGIRL’ To End With Season 6

    Following a cliffhanger ending to its fifth season, Supergirl is set to make one final flight in 2021. The show is set to end with the conclusion of its upcoming sixth season. It is set to begin production later this month and will consist of 20 episodes. As a result of the pandemic, the last season had to end production early, so this will be a direct continuation. It is unclear if Mellissa Benoist or David Harewood will have a future with the establishment of the Justice League but it seems likely. It’ll be interesting to see how they wrap up the series and what it means for the Arrowverse overall. Benoist recent tweet on the cancelation may be an indicator that Supergirl won’t be sticking around.

    https://twitter.com/MelissaBenoist/status/1308507326752514048?s=19

    The show first premiered on CBS but moved to CW for its second season. There it became a staple in the channels comic book line-up. It followed Kara Zor-El, the long lost cousin of Kal-El. She was lost in the Phantom Zone before she eventually landed on earth and taking up the mantle of Supergirl. Eventually, she would make up one-third of the universes trinity alongside Green Arrow and The Flash. The conclusion was confirmed by Berlanti Productions on Tuesday.

    This news doesn’t feel all that shocking due to the development of Superman and Lois. It is planned to follow the post-crisis life of Clark and Lois who now, as a result of Crisis, have two teenage sons. They’ve also moved back to Smallville where Clark will learn to balance the life of hero and a father. Superman and Lois will be joining The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman. The latter’s second season will introduce us to Javicia Leslie, who will take up the mantle of Batwoman following Ruby Rose’s exit.

    Supergirl stars Melissa Benois, David Harewood, Chyler Leigh, Katie Mcgrath, Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines, and Jon Cryer

    Sources: TVLine, Twitter

  • ‘Black Mirror’s Toby Haynes Taking Over Directing Duties for ‘Cassian Andor’ Series Among COVID Concerns

    ‘Black Mirror’s Toby Haynes Taking Over Directing Duties for ‘Cassian Andor’ Series Among COVID Concerns

    No reason to panic this isn’t a major shift for the Rogue One spin-off focusing on Cassian Andor. Yes, Toby Haynes will replace Tony Gilroy as director of the series. This doesn’t mean he won’t continue his work as a showrunner. The reason for this is related to the pandemic, as Gilroy won’t be able to travel to the filming location in the U.K. It seems that the Black Mirror director was already on a list to potentially direct some episodes. It is unsure if any other COVID-related influences may reshape the Disney+ series’ production. We do not know if they will adjust the production to accommodate the actors as well. The pandemic has made some of the productions a bit more

    Haynes has quite the filmography. He was behind the iconic U.S.S. Callister episode of Black Mirror. So, he has some experience filming a space-centric storyline. We still don’t know much about this show, so who knows how much space travel we can expect. We also do not know how many episodes he will direct. The Mandalorian has built up a core cast of directors that each lent their unique style to the series. There is also the chance he might take over directing duties for the entire show but we have no confirmation on that. Cassian Andor still has no official title but it could offer a unique perspective in the galaxy far far away.

    Source: Deadline

  • Ten Years Later ‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ Is Still Among the Best

    Ten Years Later ‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ Is Still Among the Best

    How has it already been ten years? In 2010, Disney XD released the series The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. At the time, I only had a passing knowledge of comics. It was 2008’s Iron Man that made me interested in catching up on almost 70 years of history at the time. I thought I managed to get a good look at the mythology this franchise has set up. Man, I was so wrong. EMH dives into every single facet that Marvel has to offer. The show interweaves so many different storylines based on unique properties and makes it feel cohesive. Every member of the team is given an arc throughout the show that also ties into the overarching plot. It is still tough to chew that this show was canceled after its second season. As today is its tenth anniversary, It seems like the perfect time to revisit this iconic Marvel series.

    And There Came a Day Unlike Any Other

    I binged the entire show on Disney+ to return to that feeling when I first saw it. It is amazing to think about how well this show holds up after ten years. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe built up its various Avengers members, this show just throws you straight in. The first two episodes are quite the rush now that I rewatched it. There isn’t any hand-holding here, they throw you into this show without any warning. If you have no idea who any of these characters are, you are going to have to do some research. We get introduced to the Absorbing Man, Blizzard, Mad Thinker, King Cobra, the Wrecking Crew and so many more. Just thinking back, I had no idea who most of these characters were. It’s an incredible balance this show does throughout its run by understanding what characters need an introduction. Do we really need an origin story for the Wrecking Crew? No, let’s focus more on Graviton who serves as the main threat.

    Speaking of, this show made me a huge fan of the character. He may be a minor villain but something about his powers was the perfect choice to bring the Avengers together. It was the reason I wanted Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to follow through with their tease of the character. His connection to S.H.I.E.L.D. added a great deal of intrigue that would perpetuate throughout the series. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes doesn’t try to shove every single upcoming plotline in this two-parter. Its focus is on introducing people to the diversity of villains, setting up the jailbreak, and the Avengers coming together. Small hints are set but they are only really built on throughout the seasons.

    When Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

    After a fantastic opening, it kind of goes a strange direction. We get the Avengers together and quickly rush through their characters. Instead of continuing from that point, it takes a step back. We return to the time before the events of ‘The Breakout’. This was my first time experiencing an out-of-order airing on television. Chronologically, ‘Iron Man is Born’ is the first episode of the show. At the time, this was one hell of whiplash because the events didn’t match up. Even Disney+ still has it in the wrong airing order. As you noticed though, the opening two-parter still works on its own. It’s such a strange aspect that Disney XD at the time aired it this way. It actually is even crazier that Disney+ still does not include it in chronological order. Somehow that just became an aspect of the show to this day.

    The actual continuation is the episode ‘A Little Assembly Required’ that shows that these Avengers don’t get along instantly. It seems a tradition at this point that heroes always get into fights when they start teams. this episodes kind of highlights the advantage and disadvantage of having so many characters. This version of the Hulk is my favorite interpretation. He isn’t just a rage monster but actually is quite intelligent but still loves fighting. As they introduce him as this walking time bomb he tends to disappear for some time during specific arcs. They do this with a lot of recurring characters. It’s even showcased in the intro as it only shows the members relevant to the episode. Of course, this is great to keep an overview of the arcs but it forces them into making up excuses for others to “disappear”. A revolving door of characters works for the show, just sometimes it feels like the confrontations are forced to make sure to even the odds.

    Found Themselves United Against a Common Threat

    Still, this is a show about Avengers. We get so many fantastic adaptations of classic storylines. They are all interwoven throughout episodes that have a completely different focus. It all feels natural and is the advantage of long-form storytelling. An experiment creates Wonder Man that also introduces us to M.O.D.O.K. He briefly mentions they are working on a weapon for HYDRA. Ant-Man gets attacked by Klaue, who is helping Man-Ape that took over Wakanda. We also have Enchantress manipulating iconic villains to do her bidding that ends up forming the Masters of Evil. We briefly get introduced to Carol Danvers and Mar-Vell before the second season builds up the Kree-Skrull War. In just two seasons, we probably explore every aspect the Marvel universe has to offer.

    Sadly, no matter how great the show was, it didn’t get renewed for a third season. It was replaced by a show called Avengers Assemble. The goal was that this show connected to Ultimate Spider-Man but it was nowhere near the same quality. Alongside Spectacular Spider-Man, this is one of Marvel’s best adaptations of their comics. It is a waste it was canceled in its prime but it did have a great ending. Every hero unites against a common threat like no other. Galactus has come to devour the world and it is up to all our favorite heroes to take them down. It is the perfect finale for this show even if there was so much more potential. Funny enough, Disney+ once again includes it out of order, as the 15th episode ‘Powerless’ is listed after the finale ‘Avengers Assemble!’ Even out of order, this show is an absolute gem. I believe it taught the Marvel Cinematic Universe a few lessons as it continued after the show aired its final episode.

  • First Look at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Wakanda Location Leaked

    First Look at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Wakanda Location Leaked

    Marvel’s Avengers had a rough start. Yet, I still believe the foundation is promising. Bugs have been an issue that the team has been actively working on. They were transparent about the issues they fixed with their last patch. Sadly, 1,000 bugs isn’t a great thing to hear but they could’ve just hidden it as well. Crystal Dynamics is working on the game’s current core issues. Yet, they are also developing the next DLC update.

    We know that we will be getting Kate Bishop in October followed by Hawkeye. The last War Table did reveal that originally Black Panther was going to be included but due to the tragic circumstances they decided to skip. So, we are waiting to get an idea of what else is heading our way. They promised a roadmap later down the line. It’s been a few weeks since launch and we’re still waiting. Well, that was until now. A Twitter user that goes by @mmmmmmmmmiller started sharing information from the game. The user started sharing an image that he proclaimed is part of the upcoming Wakanda update.

    https://twitter.com/mmmmmmmmiller/status/1307517400246616069

    The image doesn’t scream Wakanda at first sight which had me skeptical. It includes that the mining facility for Vibranium is in the background. It’s just a bit more industrial rather than the futuristic look we get in the MCU’s Black Panther. The theory is that there are two distinct areas known as Borderland and Jungle. A raid will take place in the mining facility. Players will get to fight Klaue. Sadly, no information if Wakanda would include its own Outpost.

    I tried to research if there was any other image that would match but couldn’t find anything. It’s not an in-game model so I wondered if the game used artwork assets in the game. The Chimera Outpost seems to use artwork from the Helicarrier which could give this some credibility. The game uses a mix of artwork and in-game stills which makes it a bit confusing.

     

     

    So, I wanted to see what else would be shared to see if anything else would match what we know so far. We got a good look at a Black Panther emblem. This seems to be similar to the 3D model we saw during the last War Table’s tease. The person shared the names of the various suits that leaked shortly after the Beta ended for Kate Bishop. They also point out the character will have two distinctive challenge cards. One will be free and another premium. It would make sense to give people access to some content and then adding a paid layer instead of locking all costumes behind a paywall. If this is true, it is great to see some new locations added to the game. I do hope that the city of Wakanda is also included in a future update and not just the forest. There is a chance that assets are changed later on but it’s a glimmer of what’s to come.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘MS. MARVEL’ Casting for Two More Supporting Characters Ahead of November Start

    ‘MS. MARVEL’ Casting for Two More Supporting Characters Ahead of November Start

    A new casting call has popped up and shows Marvel Studios searching for two new supporting characters for the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Ms. Marvel.

    Using codenames, the casting call describes a pair of characters who fans of the comics will immediately recognize as Kamala’s friend, Zoe Zimmer, and her eventual sister-in-law, Tyesha Hillman. The studio is searching for a young white actress, 16-20, for Zoe and Black actress, 27-33, for Tyesha.

    Production on Ms. Marvel is set to begin in November and continue on through May of next year.

  • Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Plans for ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 4

    Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Plans for ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 4

    Jon Favreau‘s The Mandalorian was a breath of fresh air for Star Wars. It managed to modernize the franchise while staying true to its roots. The first season introduces us to an interesting mystery that would keep the series going. Lovingly called Baby Yoda by fans, the Child’s origins and connection to the Force will be a driving force of the show’s direction. The first season was strongly inspired by Lone Wolf and Cub before opening up to a larger world. Pedro Pascal‘s Mandalorian and the Child were confronted by Giancarlo Esposito‘s Moff Gideon. He is in the possession of the Dark Saber, which some might’ve recognized from The Clone Wars. A lot of mysteries have been set-up and it seems that Esposito may have revealed that they will be solved once the fourth season arrives.

    The next season of The Mandalorian [season 2] is going to be very interesting because you’re going to start to find out the power of The Child, what The Child really means,” he said. “You will also start to uncover the origins of the Darksaber that Moff Gideon has and how that plays into previous Star Wars history connected to The Clone Wars and other shows. And you’ll start to get a real dramatic sense of the territory. We’re living in a universe that’s huge, and there’s so much to explore. So I think this show is going to start to lay the groundwork for the depth and breadth that’s going to come in season 3 and season 4, where you’re really gonna start to get answers.

    The third season was Hollywood’s worst kept secret so the big reveal is that a fourth is already planned. It looks like Favreau may have already mapped out well in advance. The biggest takeaway is also that Disney is avoiding the Netflix strategy. Netflix pretty much limits their series to two to three season runs. Anything beyond isn’t considered profitable. So, if they are already planning out the fourth season there is a good chance these shows have a chance of sticking around for longer. We might get a good mix of long-term shows like The Mandalorian with limited series. WandaVision seems likely to not get a continuation so they have a nice combination to draw in new subscribers. We are only a little over a month away from The Mandalorian‘s second season, so there is a lot more Star Wars to come.

    Source: Slash Film

  • New Evidence Points to a Thanksgiving Weekend Release for ‘WANDAVISION’

    New Evidence Points to a Thanksgiving Weekend Release for ‘WANDAVISION’

    Last night, fans got their first look at the upcoming Disney+ show, WandaVision, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. When the trailer and poster were released, any information regarding the date of its release remained a mystery, with a cryptic “coming soon.” Fans have speculated that the show would be releasing in December since the date in placeholders was December 2020. But it seems that fans won’t have to wait that long for the WandaVision premiere.

     

    Now, for the last few days, I’ve been looking at the source code of the page to verify any sort of hidden information that could be made public to our eyes, and low and behold, I hit a goldmine.

    WandaVision Source Code

     

    As you can see in this source code, we have found that the show’s page is currently set to debut on November 27th, 2020. Now this information was added on September 18th, 2020 as per the page’s source code informing us of the Bundle Update.

     

    For comparison, we also checked the upcoming Disney+ show, The Mandalorian’s release date for Season 2, to verify if this information could be credible and we found The Mandalorian’s release date in the same spot that we found WandaVision’s:

    The Mandalorian Season 2 Source Code

     

    So this leads me with no other conclusion but to believe that the show is coming on November 27th. And it makes perfect sense. Nothing on the Disney+ is slated for that date and it’s a Friday. We also verified The Falcon and The Winter Soldier & Loki Pages respectively to see if any new information amassed and this is what we found:

    The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Source Code

     

    Loki Source Code

    While Loki’s date remains on null for 2021, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier appears to have a December 31, 2021 date available. I don’t believe this to be the real release date and could likely be a placeholder date until an official date is confirmed.

    Nonetheless, we’ll just have to wait and see if Disney releases an official confirmation.