Thoughts, ramblings and other stuff

I enjoy Marvel shows much more than films and Agents of SHIELD most of all.


The Lincoln escape thing felt wrong. I kept thinking it must be a ruse. Lincoln can’t be that stupid. He can’t believe Daisy wouldn’t lie to him and give him to Hive. He wouldn’t give away his free will just to see her again. Or just to get out - he’d be changing one imprisonment for much more permanent one.

But of course he didn’t. It was all a ruse. May told him to man up and he did. And they set up a trap for Hive instead.

They send Lash. And he was able to destroy the parasites. He could’ve killed Hive. He had the power to destroy it. But he chose to protect Daisy instead. He freed her.

This was great but this is the second time we see Inhuman dying for Daisy. They did it last season with Raina and now Andrew Garner. If we add Tripp that’s three black people dead for Daisy’s sake. It’s becoming creepy even in-universe and really unnerving RL.

And now Mack has Elena’s cross. The one floating in space in Daisy’s vision of death. But they can’t kill Mack. They wouldn’t kill Andrew and Mack one after the other, right?

Hive is getting some Watch Dogs to experiment on. It just wants to save them. They just want to kill everyone like him. Still they don't deserve the result.

They don’t turn out very well but Hive only wants to grow and take over more bodies. It doesn’t care what they are as long as it can take them over. It doesn’t care about any of them as long as it can grow. Even Daisy is expendable.

So now Hive has the process that gives it new bodies. They are not perfect - they lose their humanity and never get the Inhuman uniqueness - but they are good enough for Hive to posses. That’s the only thing it cares about. Like when it got all it really needed from Daisy - it didn’t matter it was going to kill her. It’s a parasite. It only cares about growing. Never about people.

All Hive is made of is lies. It makes it’s followers believe in it just to chew them out and spit them out once their usefulness ends.

However, this is a better conflict than the one Avengers had. In Civil War I left thinking both Cap and Tony were wrong (and it was intended). Here I’ was thinking everyone was right.

One one hand Inhumans are perfectly reasonable being afraid of being catalogued. List have a way of leaking and Watchdogs (and random crazies or just scared) are just waiting for a target. This was bad enough when SHIELD was doing it last season. Didn’t get any less wrong.

On the other hand Talbot is justified feeling scared about Inhumans being used as weapons and with Hive trying to convert billions into his drones knowing about the threat is essential.

This is why Phil coming clean and telling him about everything. So many shows base the drama on lack of communication. It’s refreshing to have it otherwise.

The one good thing about CW shows killing many cool secondary characters is watching the actors go for better things.

I was very happy to learn Tracy Ifeachor is going to be on new ABC show Spark (since it's only been written about on Deadline and for some reason Livejournal hates that site and flags any link to it as spam you have to just believe me - or replace @ with a in this url http://de@dline.com/2016/02/tracy-ifeachor-cast-abc-pilot-spark-brianne-howey-the-exorcist-1201708583/). But there is finally a little more known about the show and io9 picked up the story so I can link to that. The lead will be played by Antonia Thomas (Misfits) and the show is to be set in alternate Steampunk universe.

Set in an alternate history where gas and coal fuel the world, the drama centers on the battle for power between two rival families and a rebellious young woman with a spark of invention that could level both their empires.
...the drama centers on the battle for power between two rival families and Pin (Thomas), a rebellious young woman with a spark of invention that could level both their empires. Thomas’ Pin is the smart, driven, fiercely independent young woman whose mission it is to bring back electricity to the masses no matter the cost.

Lincoln is still alive but Ricky Whittle has been announced to be the lead on Starz's adaptation of American Gods so his death can't be far off (it seems like the actor actually quit because he was fed up of being sidelined to 5 seconds in prison every 2 episodes and disagreements with the producer). Ian McShane has been cast as Mr. Wednesday. He was pretty popular fan choice and I can see his Kings character when I think about this.

In more news about British actors finding work - Finn Jones, the guy who plays Loras on Game of Thrones, has been cast as Danny Rand the title character in Iron Fist. This of course means a great disappointment to everyone who hoped they would change his race. Hard not to agree - it's not like MCU has a shortage of white guys from all over the English speaking world so one less wouldn't make a difference. On the other hand, while there are some Asian women in MCU the only male, non-evil one is also an alien. Marvel seems to want to placate fans by adding supporting characters some of whom are Asian. Also Mike Colter has announced the premier date for Luke Cage - it's coming to Netflix on September 30. Daredevil is of course dropping this Friday.

ABC had some renewal announcements and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is getting another season (and some other shows too). This is nice to know before the 3B starts. There are also some rumours about Agent Carter getting renewed too which would be awesome. I hope it will turn out to be true - I want to see where that cliffhanger leads. But right now I just can't wait for the second part of season 3 of AoS. Especially after they started dropping sneak peaks for the Tuesday episode:

Who will Coulson put in the machine (my bet - young Stryker as he was in a coma last we saw him so alive)


We meet Slingshot andsee who on the team tried the Inhuman pills.

Since I'm back here is a first trailerspam - both new trailers for second season of Daredevil

Punisher


Electra

I don't know what is it with the TV program planners. Do they have special meetings when all the channels head of programming meet and decide which day they will use for specific type of shows and then everyone piles up everything in that one day? When did they decide to move everything genre on Tuesdays? I thought it was bad in the fall with The Muppets, The Flash, iZombie, Agents of SHIELD and Limitless but that was still manageable. This month it got ridiculous.

This Tuesday saw the return of Limitless (YAY) but The Expanse (with the spaceships and battles and all the real SF) is already running in that time spot and I have to choose (The Expanse obviously but it's still hard). But now MTV has also switched to Tuesdays and put their new fantasy series - The Shannara Chronicles - out on Tuesday at 10 pm. They also moved Teen Wolf (my favourite guilty pleasure) to Tuesday at 9 and it was the only one yesterday but next week the new ABC Family show is coming - Shadowhunters (looks cheesy but may also become a guilty fun so I wanted to at least try). And iZombie is coming back (YAY). And then a week after that Agent Carter (AWESOME ♥) comes back and takes over this time slot completely (actually first week is double episode so both 9 and 10 pm will be taken). And The Flash is back too but at least there is nothing else to watch at 8 (well except for that first week when they'll show Captain America 75 Years Anniversary Special). I'm running out of DVR simultaneous recording capacity.

Luckily, I watched the next two episodes (after the 2 hour premiere yesterday) of The Shannara Chronicles today so I'm done with it for another 2 weeks and can figure the other stuff out. I wanted to hate it because that would be one less thing to watch but it was actually pretty fun. It's not like Game of Thrones (for some reason people wanted to compare the two even though they only have high fantasy genre in common) but that's not bad thing. It's a little cheesy and very clean and everyone is so pretty and the main male protagonist has this perpetual surprised, pouty look on his face but it was fun. I ended up disappointed when I run out of extra episodes as I became pretty engrossed in the story (even though it's the most standard fantasy quest you can imagine - which is why I never managed to get through the books it was so repetitively boring. But it's easier on film. New Zealand is very pretty, although it's a little funny how the show takes place in Northwest of North American continent where almost all the other shows are filmed but this one is filmed in New Zealand. Vancouver is everywhere but when you need post-apocalypse, fantasy Vancouver - you get New Zealand. At least that means some new background actors. John Rhys-Davies and Manu Bennett bring some real acting and some gravitas to the whole thing (and Allanon gets to b pretty awesome). And I loved Eretria (although I wish they didn't pronounce her name like the country). She is my favourite character (even with her ridiculously evil father) and the fact that she is played by Ophelia from Pan's Labirynth makes me love her even more. This is not high art but it is pretty entertaining. I missed fantasy that is not gritty but pure adventure. This is going to be fun.

Also I love new ♥ look.

OMG! I'm so glad this was not the last episode before spring because I couldn't take over 3 months of waiting to see someone harm Ward in the most horrible ways. Man I love hating him. He's such a perfect douchebag.


One of the things that makes Ward such a fun villain to hate is that he considers himself the hero of his story. He is the one wronged. His actions are justified by his bad childhood. By abuse. By Garrett. But most of all by his love - of his brother, Skye, Kara. He is going to be the hero for them whether they want it or not. Even when they ask him to stop. Like Skye did when he kept kidnapping her against her will. Or like when Thomas was so creeped out by his promises to save him that he hid and changed his name. Or like when he was saving Kara so hard he killed her. He doesn't want to loose them but he does every time because of his own actions.

He kills and tortures people but there is always justification for it. It was my parents fault, my brother's, Garrett's or simply you were mean to me so I will come and murder you and/or people you care about. And of course bad things that happen to him are never his fault. He takes no responsibility for Kara's death - it's May's fault and Coulson's - never his own. Burning his family alive - it's like he doesn't get why his brother doesn't appreciate the gesture. He can't seem to understand why noone gets it.

But the thing is they do. As Daisy said - she understands but she doesn't forgive. This is a thing about the bad past. It is a cause but it is not a justification. What he does is not OK. No amount of bad past makes it OK.

I wasn’t sure about Phil/Roz before but they were precious together tonight and then Ward came and destroyed it like only he could. I'm a little angry about this. She was basically fridged so that Coulson could go off deep end because of this. I also dislike that after all that teasing about whether ATCU is evil or not they just went and killed both Roz and Banks the moment after we finally learn they were good all along.

I wonder if the AoS showrunners get to watch other Marvel series before all of us (or read the scripts or something) because this episode had a lot of parallels with Jessica Jones. From the large thematic ones between Ward and Kilgrave (justifying his own shitiness with bad childhood and not excepting responsibility for his actions) and Ward and Simpson (failed attempt to be a hero that just kills and turns people around him against him) to small visuals like Banks death when he is forced to kill people against his will and just manages to say "it wasn't me" before he dies. All this in the first episode after JJ premiered.

But it did make them fall right into HYDRA plan. Phil is loosing it - he gets reckless and stupid. Thomas play was clever but his tunnel vision has put Fitz and Simmons in peril and left him unconscious on an alien planet with evil Inhuman and HYDRA running around. Good thing he made one sane decision before he left. He made Mack acting director (that's a nice career - mechanic, traitor, superhuman supervisor, director of SHIELD) and after few moments of adjustment he gets hold of this disaster in the making. The Secret Warriors are a go.

Poor Fitzsimmons - it looks like the Universe (the writers) really have something against them. Jemma is the only one who knows how bad the thing out there is so she doesn't break. She is even contemplating leaving Will there if it means that thing stays put too. But Fitz is right how can you leave another human stranded there? He can't leave Will to die there and he certainly cannot let Jemma suffer. I hope he has a plan to kill two birds with one stone by taking HYDRA there. He's got pretty badass when Jemma was gone. And he has Caulson as back-up now.

I know there are theories Will is that thing. That he was it all along. But then why would he sabotage the portal finding trip with Simmons - it would've taken him to Earth. Why would he try to stop her from leaving with sandstorm instead of going with her? But I like the theories it will take someone over - hopefully Ward.


There is only one more episode left before the break. I'm excited for Agent Carter coming back but it will be a long wait for this show to come back.

The creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000 has taken it to kickstarter to bring the show back for one more season. Now that the legal problems have been solved all they need is 5.5 million dollars to make it happen (not a lot for 12 episodes). If they don't get there they have shorter season in mind depending on how much they can get. The minimum is 2 million and they are already over 1.3 with 30 days to go so I think that it should at least reach funding.

There is only a little over a week left and here's Jessica facing her biggest nemesis



The Expanse premiere is only a month away and I'm getting more and more excited with every trailer. Look a real proper science fiction in space.

It's cold, dark and raining outside. The election results are even more depressing and I'm swamped by work. But at least there's TV.

Yesterday it was the time to meet Supergirl.

It was so much better than watching Gotham (which is now bordering on masochism). It was fun and it was enjoying being fun. But of course everyone already said that. It made me a little anxious about how cheesy it was going to be but it was mostly great. Some of the effects made Supergirl look like a ragdoll and some of the plot suffered from pilotitis (when they try to pack so much to pilot that the time only allows for tropes) but most of it was absolutely endearing.


From Kara's optimism and joy at her accomplishments and powers to her reaction to meeting James Olsen. Her joy at trying flying again was infectious. I wanted to scream at her sister who just put it out. She could've at least say thank you. Of course it turned out she just wanted her out of the cross-hairs of the super secret, anti-alien organisation she works for. But at least we know that there are those in US government who consider Superman and Supergirl illegal aliens who should be deported or at least observed at all times.

But I liked how Alex turned around to chose Kara's side. It might be a shock to Kara to not to be invulnerable but the possibility of loosing her sister clearly shown Alex where her loyalties really lie. And the she talks her to keep being superhero and helps her figure out how to defeat the bad guy and it was awesome.

Also her crush on James Olsen, complete with stammering and not knowing were to look, was adorable. So was her general tendency to explain things in very excited way. In fact it reminded me of Jemma Simmons (just little less coherent) and we all know she does ramble in most lovable way.

The WB rules on separation of big and small screen action make some iffy choices - like Clark apparently hasn't spoken to his cousin in years (no calls, texts, internet? he could've at least like her on facebook) so he sends her messages second hand by other people and she has to ask them what he is like.

And the co-worker with crush veered a little into creepy territory (even though the costume part were funny the first try was "ugh") so I hope they'll fix that. And I hope Calista Flockhart's boss character will become less of a caricature as now she seems kind of on Miss Piggy level and that only works for felt characters.



Today on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. we learn what really happened to doctor Jemma Simmons.


I waited for this the whole week. After all the search for her and then that sudden rescue. After seeing what that world did to her we were to see what happened there.

And look at her start - it's all about the science. It's a way to deal and stave panic and keep hope. There is always an explanation and a way to figure out a way out. So Simmons. Look at how much hope she still has.

But we all know it’s not going to last. First, there was just dehydration and hunger and loneliness (a monster from the deep). Basically like The Martian only with an atmosphere. There is even stranded astronaut.

So now with more resources she figures a way back. She figures how the portal works and where it will open next. She sacrifices the rest of her battery and with it the memories of the life she left on Earth but it is to go back to Earth. And they fail. They fail to even send the message.

So she seeks comfort in Will. This is what happens when you lose hope and the two of you are the only humans on the planet. When your one hope of going back is lost and there is some benevolent force with you there that will do anything to stop you from going back and will try to kill you whenever it can.

I never expected Fitzsimmons to be the will they/ won’t they couple of this show though. You know - the one when they keep throwing obstacles at so they never get together. Until the series finale, of course. Or everyone getting tired and abandoning ship.

But I did expect Jemma and Will to become a thing since they met (the only two people in the world) and it was obvious she wanted to back for someone important to her) so I’m not surprised . But the sound of all the Fitzsimmons shippers hearts breaking was deafening. Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be back together eventually.

But we know the Fitz never stopped looking for Jemma and that he would do anything to get her back. And when the flare comes she instantly knows who send it through.

And because Fitz is the best person (one she believed in for so long) - he is ready to do all he can to rescue Will. Will who just saw the sunshine for a brief moment first time in years before it disappeared. Just like Jemma Simmons and hope.


When I thing about it both of them are pretty similar. I'm sure they'd be great friends if not for living in Universes further apart than Earth and that dust planet (or Krypton).

And when all fails here's a cat burglar

Marvel has delayed Captain Marvel once again. This time it's to make space for the Ant-Man sequel. At least it will be Ant-Man and The Wasp this time. Also the Internet is buzzing with Kevin Feige comments about fan-casting, especially in the context of casting Carol Danvers. Many think it means he wants Ronda Rousey to play the role but I think he just means the they like to look at what fan propose for ideas but it daoesn't mean they will agree. They do sometimes (Chris Evans was a massive favourite for Cap) but in the end they will pick whoever they like (and even if that's not going to be your favourite it's going to be fine - most actors are going to be fine in those roles).

The Charity DubsmashWars between Team Carter and Team SHIELD has posted it's last round. It's all about group effort and I'm sorry to say that it looks like SHIELD is still being infiltrated by HYDRA. Team Carter on the other hand is backed by Disney. We all know who has the better chance at world domination (All Hail the Mouse).

Here is Jessica Jones' day from waking up till working till early. In teaser trailers.

I was supposed to write about Doctor Who but there is something more important happening tomorrow night - Lunar Eclipse. This is the last on of four happening in the two year period and this one will hit over the Atlantic so people living on both sides of the Atlantic will see it in full (Western Europe and Africa, The whole of South America and Eastern half of North America. The people in Eastern Europe and rest of Africa and most of North America should see the full length of total Eclipse of the Moon but will miss some part of the end or beginning of the eclipse. Unless like me you are in the third day of non-stop rain and there is no hope of a break in the cloud cover. I really wanted to see this one - it will be Supermoon Eclipse so the moon looks slightly larger then usual full moon and the total eclipse hit US East Coast at very reasonable hour - just before 11 PM - so no need to wake up in the middle of the night. It woud've been perfect. But with this weather I will have to watch it online - like west Pacific coast people (don't worry Japan, Australia - you'll get your own lunar eclipse in January 2018).


And if you don't care bout any of these here something else to wait for (my dad says Netflix should start services in Poland by December).

It's almost as if she sleeping off the night spent watching lunar eclipse.