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Less Homework, More Hijinks | Community Seasons 1-3 – TV Review

None Copyright Intended!

Well, I survived post-book depression (see my mistborn posts) now I’m back to review another obsession of mine. One with a little more humor. A different kind of humor.

Most sitcoms chronicle the odd adventures of a bunch of self-obsessed yahoos living in one or two apartments and can’t seem to keep a single girl/boy-friend, even if it’s someone from the apartment they’re living in. Then there’s others that break the mold and flip those tropes completely on their heads.

Community is a show that aired on network TV (no, not streaming, network, as in TV channels and channel-surfing) in, I believe, 2008 (plz correct me if I’m wrong). Unlike most fans of the show it seems, I didn’t actually start watching it until earlier this year, avidly anyways. About a year ago I think, I checked out the first few episodes and never proceeded further. I don’t know why but I’m not as big a TV addict as I once was. That may be because of how badly Flash, Arrow, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. soured my taste in TV. All of which got really bad after the first couple of seasons (except for S.H.I.E.L.D., that show lost traction immediately after the first season).

While I’m not as willing as I used to be to chance any dramatic TV shows, sitcoms have always held a special place in my heart as someone who loves to laugh. There were a few reasons I checked out Community beyond it being a sitcom, but I’m sure some of you are frothing at the mouth to know what I thought of the first 3 seasons, so let’s get into it.

WARNING: MILD SPOILERS AHEAD

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, IS GREENDALE

Yet again! No Copyright Intended!

The show follows an eclectic cast of characters with their own quirks that make them unique from each other. Each one is pretty much a stereotype that has been flipped on it’s head, making them feel more fresh and new. The jock with insecurities and his own passions outside football, the nerd whose developmental disorder not only makes him more nuanced and entertaining, but relatable and “cool”, the passionate and strong-willed blonde who’s actually hiding a lot of personal pain and self-loathing behind a curtain of passionate political anarchism. I think you get the idea.

While the series is told through the multiple perspectives of the core characters, it all starts with Joel McHale’s character Jeff Winger, who, after being exposed of having a fraudulent resume, is fired from his law firm and sent to Greendale community college to make up for the lack of education. Jeff is charismatic, self-indulgent, and narcissistic. Most of the time throughout the series he’s pulling strings to ensure he gets what he wants. Sometimes it works, sometimes he gets smacked on the head by a ceiling fan. However, upon meeting and befriending his oddball study group, he certainly improves from being the person he once was.

I love Community for a lot of reasons, the characters are certainly within those reasons as each one is truly unforgettable in their own way. Jeff is great but he is in a constant state of paradigm shift between selfish lawyer and good friend. His arc seems to be going somewhere in the first season, but right when you get into the second season it’s as if his growth arc was abandoned completely. Jeff has his moments, but more often than not he’s written as nothing more than “a k-niving son of a b&%ch”. That doesn’t make him the weakest character though, that credit goes to Annie in my opinion. Annie isn’t the worst character I’ve come across in any medium, she’s just one of the most unoriginal ones. Now, I realize that originality in fiction pretty much is non-existent at this point. When I say unoriginal, I mean to say the least subverted character in a show that’s all about trope subversion. Annie fits into the “happy go-lucky schoolgirl” stereotype almost perfectly. The only thing that makes her character entertaining is the fact that she’s a specific character trope in an environment far outside of a teenage rom-com. Her interactions with the characters and her roles in the eccentric storytelling makes her feel like something of a fish-out-of-water in a pleasing and satisfying way, not much is done to further subvert her archetype though. But that doesn’t mean she’s a bad character in any way. I like Annie, there’s just no investment. She can also be really annoying at times, I can’t stand it whenever she begins a sentence with “You Guys…!”

Now, my favorite, and probably the most beloved character in the whole cast, is of course Abed. As someone who struggles with his own form of autism, I can relate to Abed in so many ways. His fixation on pop-culture and social-awkwardness being the key traits that make me feel so equalized with him. But there’s also qualities about him I look up to. He has so much confidence in himself that he genuinely doesn’t care what other people think, he knows he’s weird and embraces that fact. While this leads him to think that he can do whatever he wants, he’s learning all the time how to be better. He learns from the others how to have empathy and how to be a good friend. No words can describe how refreshing it is to watch a character I can truly level with. As a matter of fact, Abed was the main reason I decided to get into the show anyway. Definitely a worthwhile decision. Along with that, I can’t get enough of his friendship with Troy. Those two are a match made in nerd heaven!

I enjoy Shirley and Pierce most of the time, but I don’t really think much of them. Shirley’s a fun personality for the others to bounce off of but she’s not very compelling to me, and Pierce is just a perfect storm of every type of ethnical, racial, sexual, and cultural discrimination you can think of (he has his moments though). Not bad characters, but the least interesting in my mind. Chang was all sorts of fun in the first season, but then you get the sense that the writers didn’t really know what to do with him. They do fun stuff with him, but I mostly enjoy the days when he was the groups psychotic Spanish teacher, at least then everyone knew his role and place in the show. Aaaaand, well, Dean Pelton is Dean Pelton.

You know what, to all my fellow Community fans…the heck happened to Duncan, the British professor! That’s something I genuinely wonder about.

COOL COOL COOL!

No Copyright! Do I have to say “Intended”, does it not count if I just say “No Copyright”?

I know, I know. I’m quite critical about the content I consume. But all things considered, this is a Good Show!

Dan Harmon (the show’s creator) really is a talented storyteller. In every episode, some cultural trope or stereotype is being flipped, spun, prodded, and more, in the most fun and entertaining ways. Whether these subversions are used for humor or character development seems to be inconsequential, you’re going to enjoy it either way. I love that so much about this show. Also, if you’re a fan of the show yourself, I highly recommend watching the blooper reals on YouTube. The cast seem to genuinely enjoy themselves and it’s super fun to watch their on-set shenanigans. However, I am aware of the problems that occurred behind the scenes, especially with Chevy Chase. I personally found those the problems they had with him to be disheartening.

All-in-all, this is a great show! And I probably watch a little too much of it.

Now…into the “Gas Leak Season”…

Heroes Reborn | Mistborn 3: The Hero of Ages – (Slightly Spoilerific) Book Review

No Copyright Intended.

I honestly feel like I just lost some very near and dear friends. I REALLY didn’t want it to end…but it did. In the most satisfyingly heartwrenching way I’ve ever read in a fantasy book so far.

Hero of Ages takes all of the plots and themes setup throughout books 1 and 2 and ties them in a neat little bow, albeit an imperfect one, but a nice one regardless.

We follow Vin, Elend, and the rest of the crew spread-out among Elend’s New Empire bringing other lands and duchies under his rule to amass an army big enough to stop the force Vin unleashed in the last book and potentially find a key to defeating said force by figuring out clues left by the Lord Ruler for this very occasion.

The book moves at a much more brisk pace as it alternates between slow and fast, much like book 1 did. And, if Final Empire was a crime fantasy heist story, and Well of Ascension a hard-boiled political thriller, Hero of Ages is just flat-out Epic. Everything that unfolds leads to an action-packed and heartbreaking finale that I’m still reeling from not 4 days after I finished the trilogy. However, part of that heartbreak comes from how flawed the story is. I believe it was around this time that Sanderson was knee deep in Stormlight Archive, his fantasy magnum opus, and because of that, I wonder if he stopped putting as much effort into Mistborn as he is with Stormlight. There are some glaring flaws with Hero of Ages, but there’s also so much beauty to this story with the characters and their plotlines being all wrapped up. But it’s somewhat undercut by unbalanced and needless perspectives and plotlines.

NOT ENTIRELY FLAWLESS

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo copyright intended. It’s not even an actual scene in the book! ARRRRRRRRGH!!

We pick up with Elend, a completely changed man. The time he’s spent as the new emperor trying to keep the world from collapsing has forced him to become something he’s not proud of, to the point where he’s comparing himself to the Lord Ruler. Who, while not an evil man, was certainly a ruthless one. This also weighs down on Vin as it’s, understandably, difficult to watch your husband struggling to stay upright when there is so much responsibility threatening to flatten you. While this has so much potential to make for an outstanding character arc, it’s never fully explored. In fact, Elend’s character development is never really shown, it’s told. Your told that he’s struggling with these things, and then he’s told by Vin that he doesn’t have to be the Lord Ruler to be a good emperor and a good man, and then much later we’re told that he’s gotten much better at being the best of both worlds based on how he commanded a single person. Now granted, it’s possible to get a sense of a characters development based on a single interaction they have with another character, but it’s done in a way that makes it look like we’re just expected to believe that he’s improved. In fact, that one scene was supposedly the culmination of Elend’s arc, which resulted in it having as much depth as hardwood flooring. Still, Elend is plenty fun a character and I did enjoy the time I had with him, but his story is never given as much density as in Well of Ascension.

Now you’d think that Vin would be the most compelling of the cast, she is the protagonist and easily one of the best fantasy characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. But, like Elend, her story is sidelined. In fact there’s not much to her story in this final book than some major reveals tying her to the grand scheme of things involving Ruin and Preservation (more on that later). Elend and Vin, for me, feel like the biggest tragedy of this book since they’re not given nearly as much growth as in Well of Ascension. I will say though, they’re still great characters. Even though my investment in them had shrunk a bit, it didn’t completely disappear. So when the story ended the way it did, I might as well have had a pencil rammed into my gut, because it left me a broken man with a broken heart. Their love story is more well done in this book than the last, don’t get me wrong their romance in book 2 was good but it felt a little shallow at times, and while I would have appreciated to be shown more individual growth, they did have a very enjoyable husband and wife dynamic. And I will say that I read their dance scene a couple times because of how wonderful it is. These two characters are very near and dear to my heart and it makes me pretty sad that they didn’t get as much attention as they should have. Regardless, it absolutely destroyed me how they’re shared story ended.

Surprisingly enough, most of the attention is on Sazed.

Upon learning that everything he thought he knew was a lie, along with losing the woman he loved to the siege of Luthadel, Sazed undergoes a crisis of faith throughout book 3. As interesting as his character development is, I never once felt that Sazed was deserving of this much attention. I love Sazed, don’t get me wrong, but I miss him as a mentor figure and friend to Vin. I appreciated him more as a side character than one of the main characters. That’s just me though, making Sazed a more central player in the overall plot does make sense to me, and while his arc in HoA is hard to read because of how much a downer he is, it’s no less compelling and insurmountably shocking. Still, I would’ve appreciated this book much more if Vin and Elend, the characters I’m most invested in, had more story.

Now, let’s talk about Spook.

Spook, or Lestibournes (his real name), gets an interesting subplot where he’s sent by Elend to Urteau, a washed out city on the verge of collapsing in on itself because of the totalitarian rule of a Skaa man that fanatically worships Kelsier, and therefore takes the things Kelsier “preached” to extremes that Spook is not happy with. He basically becomes Daredevil, Spooks subplot is a cool, but not really necessary, crime/vigilante story where he’s even sporting a blindfold because he’s burned Tin so much that his body has permanently become over-sensitive to his environment. I like Spooks character development but, overall, this subplot just felt like excess time that could’ve been spent on the main plot with Vin and Elend, rather than being spent on a character that, in my opinion, didn’t need so much story.

THE PRODIGAL KANDRA

No copyright infringement intended, although I think someone should tell TenSoon here to cheer up.

The Kandra are fascinating!

I realize I’ve been quite critical up to this point, but I was actually very entertained by TenSoon’s narrative. In fact, it would’ve been just fine if the POV’s were Vin, Elend, and TenSoon. Through his eyes we see the world of the Kandra, a strange race of shapeshifters that are related to the even stranger Mistwraiths.

When we pick up with TenSoon he’s being tried by his own people for murdering a fellow Kandra and breaking his Contract for Vin. There’s already so much worldbuilding in this book, even three books in and Sanderson hasn’t covered every aspect of it, which goes to show how phenomenally dense this world is, but the Kandra world I found to be immensely interesting. It’s eluded that they’re supposed to be subservient creatures, only sticking to the shadows and never inciting conflict. They’re supposed to treat each other with respect and uphold the traditions they created, they pride themselves on being an almost perfect society. But, as we see through TenSoon’s perspective, the Kandra are so caught up in these traditions and they’re way of life that they are oblivious to the world above. Some of them, even, have grown cocky and pretentious. Which I find to be so interesting, here’s this race of disturbing yet fascinating creatures with a somewhat foreign lifestyle that is so familiar because of how human their social structure is. A good enough amount of time is spent deconstructing the Kandra and what it’s like being a Kandra, and I found it all endlessly intriguing. It helps that most of it is through TenSoon’s entertainingly wry perspective, it’s not as fun as, say, Murderbots POV, but it’s still a treat to experience events through TenSoon’s perspective.

The biggest thing that irks me about it though is the fact that Vin and TenSoon never reunite!

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFLAPJACKS!

THE END OF AN ERA

No Conscious Copyright Predertmined

What a journey.

Again. I realize I’ve been pretty critical of Hero of Ages for this post. Alone, it’s definitely flawed but nonetheless masterful. It’s place in the trilogy? That’s a different story.

Mistborn is a flawed masterpiece. The characters are compelling and relatable but to a degree. The storytelling is immaculate but could use some polish. The themes of love, trust, and hope are executed in the most brilliant ways, and they’re all connected to the characters in satisfyingly intimate ways. For all my criticisms, I love this trilogy. I loved watching Vin learn to trust in others and love them enough to make sacrifices for them. It was hard for me to get behind her ideals about making such sacrifices for the greater good, as it often made her look cold and rigid, but I love her devotion to the people she cares about and that she was capable of feeling such strong emotions and maintain these connections after so many years of hiding and being beaten for no good reason. She’s strong and capable, but paranoid and slow to trust. She often assumes that people have more intended than they’re letting on, that it’s better to keep your heart to yourself so your not inevitably hurt in the future. And yes, she is hurt many times in this series, but she reaches a point where she would rather feel the pain of being betrayed than lose the people she deeply loves. She spends a lot of time trying to decide who and what she is; street rat, noblewoman, or mistborn warrior. In the end, she’s all of these things and much more. Even though I feel like we could have gone much deeper into her character, Vin is an amazingly fleshed out character that I wish so bad I could meet and hug. Same goes for Elend, someone who wants so badly to do the right thing but lives in a world that makes doing so harder than is necessary. That doesn’t keep him from doing what he can though, and it continues to impress me that Sanderson crafted such a great character when he easily could’ve been nothing more than something for Vin to kiss incessantly.

Gosh I miss these two.

I will definitely re-read this trilogy in the future, but I also plan to get into Wax & Wayne (the sequel series that’s set 300 years after Hero of Ages). However, it’s hard to say which I will do first, as I think it comes down to how I feel after Stormlight. Will I re-read Era 1 after already reading something as, if not likely more, epic than Stormlight? Will read Wax & Wayne instead as a breath of fresh air after all that epicness? It’s hard to say. But for the time being, Mistborn is something truly special. It’s a story that is going to be apart of me for the remainder of my years on Earth.

I can’t emphasize how much I need a Mistborn video game right now.

Artificial Sabotage (Sci-Fi Short Story)

Nooo copyright intended. I thought this image suited this post very well.

I wrote this story last month as part of a class in college I took centering on the study of Science-Fiction as a genre. It was a great class and I’m quite proud of how this story turned out. It’s set 100 years in the future where America has become a totalitarian nation whose economy is flourishing technologically but its government and society is bordering on fascism. It focuses on a single member of a revolutionary as he exposes the dark dealings of an influential bureaucrat in elitist high society as a small but worthwhile attempt of rooting out the things that have made America as corrupt as it has become. I realize that many may not agree with this story and will probably put a bunch of political labels on me, but bear in mind I don’t 100% think that this is our future. This is just a glimpse into what I think could be a possible future. Enjoy!

ARTIFICIAL SABOTAGE

I watch him drink with men and flirt with women for two hours. 90% of those men want him in their groups to gain leverage against their opponents in law, medicine, politics (especially politics), and 50% of the women want to sleep with him so they can flaunt the fact in other people’s faces, or because they’re current marriages suck, or, like the men, they’re hoping to gain leverage through sexual gratification. Maybe even all of the above.

I watched him on my screen for two hours, nearly dozing a couple of times, when AIDA fires a horn sound effect and I found myself jumping awake. I must’ve been dozing off again.

“Thanks AIDA” I say groggily, rubbing my face.

“You are welcome Allen. You did not miss very much. You stopped paying attention for 1.08 seconds before I woke you up.”

A smile creeps on to my face. No, I could not control it. I can never control my facial expressions.

AIDA is an artificial intelligence program the Architect provided me with when I got started with the Spectres. Apparently all agents have one. Some say they’re happy with the ones they got, some others say that they’re distractions and complete nuisances. I didn’t mind AIDA, she was good company, good help, and a good friend.

“What was he doing in that time?” I asked out of duty and curiosity. I wanted to know everything he was doing. I wasn’t sure why, I was just following my instincts. Which may or may not be driven by paranoia. 

“He has been talking to Lance Albert. Just as he was last time you asked thirty minutes ago and just as he was when you abruptly stopped paying attention for 1.08 seconds.”

Yes. She’s always like that.

Jonathan Hakoto was the target. I didn’t have much on him, all I had was a woman’s account of her “experience” with him and a couple records of human trafficking. Not a lot, but it was enough to get him in a good amount of trouble. Society may not be what it used to be but rules are rules, and black market deals and molestation are still never ethically sound.

I watch him on my right monitor. I have three, all giving me a complete view of the floor from multiple angles. When I see him drop his empty wine glass on the table next to him and bids Mr. Albert farewell, I straighten with anticipation. 

Is this finally it?

He walks up a raised platform and speaks with a technician. The whole event is in honor of a new program he’s launching involving a new satellite. As if there aren’t enough of those orbiting the Earth. There was once a time when I’d look up, see them, and not be bothered. But then I met Lacey, now all I want is to see more stars than needless satellites whose only purpose is to give their representative countries a leg up against competing countries. 

I see him take a microphone from the technician, and I know that this is it.

“He is getting ready for the announcement.” AIDA says.

“Yes, he is.” I reply, grinning. I’ve been waiting too long for this.

I could’ve leaked the information a long time ago, like when I first got them. But, at heart, I’m a showman. And I wanted to put on a heck of a show for Mr. Hakoto.

He steps up, getting everyone’s attention, and starts speaking. He talks about how happy he is that everyone’s there. That he feels so honored, and proud, and grateful and yadda yadda yadda. 

There’s a big mobile screen behind him that’s supposed to launch a trailer for the satellite and its purpose. While it’s playing, additional information will be sent to the audience via BrainNet. Except that’s not exactly what’s going to happen. What’s going to happen is the screen will play the woman’s account that I recorded and black market deals will be sent to the audience’s lenses. 

I’m so looking forward to this.

“I can sense your excitement Allen.” AIDA says, probably peeking into my BrainNet as usual.

“Of course I’m excited,” I say. “I can’t wait to see the look on his face.” If I was tired earlier, I didn’t remember being so. I was too giddy to be tired. There are too many Richies that are like this guy. Too many of them think they can get away with whatever they want. Sad truth is that most of them do. The government doesn’t really care what they do. These corporations serve it well, so as long as they keep their activities on the down low, they won’t do anything. Not unless the information somehow gets out. I have no doubt that Hakoto will likely worm his way out of prison with the best lawyers he can get, but, being as big a guy as he is, the landscape of this upper class culture will be different to say the least.

I do a quick check to see if everythings ready. I know it is, but I like being prepared.

Before I can do anything though, AIDA stops me. “Everything is set, Allen.”

I smile. “I know. I’m just nervous. I need this to go right.”

“It will, Allen. It will.”

Like I said, a good friend.

Out of nowhere, I get an alert on my monitors. A red flashing box proclaiming that I’m being hacked.

“Uh-oh.” AIDA says as I start panicking.

“AIDA what’s going on!?” I exclaim.

“Someone has breached the firewall and is taking everything we have!”

“The information?”

“Not just that. Everything!”

“Oh crap.”

Every bit of intel I have on me, my mission, the Architect (which is little), and the Spectres are on these hard-drives. If I don’t stop whoever’s doing this, we’re screwed. 

I barricade what little information I can hold on to and download it somewhere safe. The new player has the bulk of the information though, which is probably why there’s suddenly no trace of him on my computer. 

“AIDA,” I say. “Can you find the source of the hack?”

“Already have.” She says.

She pulls up schematics of the building the event is taking place in and spins it clockwise, zooming in to the fifth floor. An office complex.

A red circle indicates where on the floor they’re at. 

“There.” She says.

Because it’s the fifth floor and I’m relatively close to the building, it’s not too far away for me to establish a connection. 

Two can play at that game you jag. I think 

I start typing and I find my way into their network. A few minutes later I see my stuff being downloaded onto a portable hard-drive. It’s halfway through.

I instantly cut the download and replace all of my information with a virus that should slow them down, whoever they are.

“He is playing the ads Allen.” AIDA says. “And information about the satellite is being sent to the audiences Lenses.”

I’m downloading the information back into my files. I also reinforce the firewall, but, like the virus I sent, I think the best it’ll do is slow them down. Whoever this person is, they must be working with the feds. Which means they have some fancy tech on their hands. Which means that if they could break through my defenses once, they could probably do it again. 

This also means that the Govie’s are onto us, but I’ll have to worry about that later.

“He’s almost finished Allen.”

“I know, I know!”

Just when she says that, I find the evidence I’ve gathered in the videos folder. I’m mostly just sending the files to random places on my computer.

I send the black market deals to my lens and let them flow into BrainNet, for everyone to see.

It’s pretty easy to send stuff into BrainNet. One thought, and that information is sent to the minds of millions of people accessing the flow of information that is BrainNet.

Now It’s time to hack into the monitor playing the video. But before I could do that, the hacker returns. He’s breached my firewall again, just as I feared he would. 

But I was prepared this time. Before he, or she, could even touch anything. AIDA sends another virus their way. Into their BrainNet. If a virus on a computer is upsetting, a virus in your brain is downright agony. I should know.

“It is working,” AIDA says. “I heard a scream in the hallway on the fifth floor.”

“Good,” I say. “Let’s finish this and get out of here.”

I break through the firewalls protecting the buildings network, hack into their computers involved in the event, and upload the woman’s account. Not two seconds after I do, the monitor shows a woman recounting to me the details of her incident with Hakoto. Everyone gasps at her words, and I feel ecstasy surging through me at the sight of his face. 

The poor woman was clearly still reeling from that experience. She had a partially healed black eye and it seemed as if her lips were almost chewed off by a wild animal. Which were clearly visible in the recording.

Hakoto was in a panic. He didn’t seem to recognize the woman. For a moment anyway. I saw a hint of recognition on his face before he turned it into confusion and started begging for the partygoers to not listen.

“That wasn’t me!” “Those records are fake!” “I’ve never seen her before in my life!” Those were among the many things he said, trying to sway the audience into his favor. But, thankfully, all I could see in their faces was disgust. 

I took great satisfaction in watching him get escorted out of the room by security while the people loaded him with questions and insults.

“This might be the greatest night of my life.” I say as Hakoto disappears through the doors.

“What about me?” AIDA protests.

I sigh. “Okay. Second best.”

“Adequate.” She says in a satisfactory manner. “Also I think it is important for you to know that three SecBots are on their way to this location.”

“Oh crap.” I straighten and begin wiping every bit of information on my computers. There’s a lot of valuable stuff here, but I doubt I would have the time to download them all somewhere else. That would just take forever, and I need to get the heck out of here. Once that’s done, I also wipe down every surface I know and think I touched in the van.

Once that was done, I packed my things and ditched it just before three metallic beasts stomped their way down the alley.

I manage to hide in a well darkened alcove by a very tall office building, watching as the bots search every inch of the van and confiscate everything in it.

My bones shake with worry that I didn’t wipe everything. If they find one bit of useful information against The Spectres…well, my work, the others’, and the Architects’, would’ve been for nothing.

I watch them leave with my stuff, the van included. I can only hope that I didn’t screw up.

When it’s clear, I come out of hiding.

“That was close.” AIDA says.

“Yes. It was.” I reply, staring down the street, thinking about our unexpected obstacle tonight. I think it’s a safe bet that we’ll encounter that mystery hacker again.

“Probably.” AIDA says grimly.

“Were you in my BrainNet again?” I ask.

“I like to know what you are thinking. It makes it easier for me to help you.”

“Since when are you such a saint.” I ask, turning to walk down the alley.

“I’m not sure,” AIDA says. “I have learned a lot being your partner Allen. Such as how to make homemade pizza rolls.”

I mention that she doesn’t have hands to make pizza rolls, to which she acknowledges in a wry manner. A lot of personality in one computer.

I continue walking, and we continue talking, and I continue to get more hungry the more we talk.

What a night. 

The End

Marauders in The Dust (A Short Story)

Desert landscape. No copyright intended.

Lincoln Donovan is the best driver in the Badlands.

Twelve years of your life spent with criminals with nothing on their minds but money and some proverbial “fun” in the sun who would always take full advantage of a resourceful young man like Lincoln can do that.

But that’s all behind him now. He’s the happiest he’s been in a long time. He wishes he could say the same of his partner though.

They were driving down a roadway made years ago by some good samaritan marking the fastest way between Toronto and Hamilton. Well, where Toronto and Hamilton used to be. It was marked by multiple poles with pulsing red lights. The terrain was a little rocky, but it wasn’t anything Lincoln’s vehicle couldn’t handle.

Lincoln was so proud of Clooney. He had changed the wheels from fairly capable sand tires to wheels that would get him through the perimeter of the Dome in twenty-four hours tops. 

The front was similar to the head of a truck, taillights and everything, and the back was a seating area slash cargo hold with chests holding some guns, ammo, and a few bombs. Just in case.

Lincoln was joined in the front by Alder Connall, a stern looking man seeming to be in need of a hug. Alder had recruited Lincoln just yesterday. He didn’t have a lot to offer, but for Lincoln, the thrill of adventure was compensation enough. Besides he was making bank fixing vehicles with Bellamy. 

“So,” Lincoln said, turning to Alder. “You’re from the Dome.” 

It took a moment, but the stern-faced man eventually said: “Yes.”

His tone of voice suggested that he wasn’t interested in talking about the Dome. So Lincoln tried something else.

“Nice weather today, huh?” Lincoln said.

Alder did not respond.

“I noticed that the temperature’s dropped a bit lately. Think that’s a good sign?”

Alder was silent for a moment, but he spoke just when Lincoln thought he wouldn’t answer at all.

“Nothing’s changed.”

There used to be trees and water where they were, but now it’s a dry, flat wasteland.

Lincoln shrugged. “Some things have changed.”

Alder glanced at Lincoln in a way that told the young man that he should stop talking. So he did.

Wonder what his problem is? Lincoln thought.

Just then though, something blipped on the radar mounted to the dash.

“What’s that?” Asked Alder.

Lincoln frowned ruefully. “Trouble.”

He peered out at the distance and saw something coming their way. A faint black spot, but as it comes closer, he could make out that there were no wheels. An Iono-craft. Very few people can afford to have Ion technology. The most common ones are residents of the Dome.

And pirates.

As the object got closer, Lincoln could see movement on the hull. It was a large craft, hovering at least four feet off the ground. It was oval-shaped, with a tent-cover hanging over the occupants, who seemed to be getting ready for a fight.

“I’m not in the mood for this.” Lincoln said.

“No one ever is.” Says Alder. Who pulled out a handgun and started loading it. 

Guess there’s no avoiding it. Lincoln thought, getting his own weapon ready.

The pirates were getting closer. He could now see the vehicle in, almost, full view. He couldn’t be sure, but he saw that there were about eight bandits on the craft.

“Keep driving.” Alder said, rolling down the window.

“What’re you doing?”

“See if I can make this easier on us by taking out a few of them.” 

As Alder lowered himself out the window, propping himself against the door, Lincoln estimated that they would reach the pirates in no less than two minutes.

“Better make those shots count!” He called to Alder.

–

The pirates were getting closer. Alder lined up his shots. His handgun acted as both a long and short range weapon. Making it that way wasn’t easy, but so far it had served him well. And, as he expected, it served him well here too.

The moment he had a good shot in view, he pulled the trigger. Blood splattered off a goon manning a mounted chain-gun. He dropped like an anvil to concrete. 

Just as Alder begins picking his next target, Lincoln calls out: “Fifty-Seconds!”

The pirates were very close, and taking shots. Alder lined up a shot on a pirate at the very front of the vehicle, holding a rifle and getting ready, it seemed, to take a shot. But Alder shot first. The bullet sprang out of the pistol faster than he could comprehend, and in seconds the rifle-pirate dropped. 

A flurry of bullets were pinging against Lincoln’s car, so Alder took that as his cue to retreat back inside.

–

“Nice!” Lincoln exclaimed. He was pleasantly surprised by Alder’s skills. Normally it’d take weeks, months, to get that good. Alder must have been well practiced with guns long before he was exiled.

“I only took out two.” Alder said, his tone tinged with disappointment.

“Better than zero.” Lincoln replied. It wasn’t often when he felt his optimism would be detrimental to others, but when Alder glanced an unreadable look at Lincoln, and as Clonney suffered the pirates bullets while they jumped onto the roof of the car, Lincoln now felt more than ever that his lightness was the last thing anyone needs right now.

The hover-craft was floating right beside them now, the pirates themselves were lining up shots for, Lincoln assumed, his and Alder’s heads.

Luckily though, they made a mistake. Lincoln was right next to the battery charging the craft hidden behind a steel plate. He could hear the humming of energy breathing life into the pirates craft. Iono-crafts need an extreme amount of energy, without it the whole thing shuts down…or explodes, if tampered incorrectly with.

Lincoln rolled down the window. He could hear Pirates stomping around the top of Clooney and Alder’s gun shooting bullets outside his window. He even heard a scream, and now there was less stomping. 

Lincoln could feel the dry, arid temperatures hit him in the face the second his window was down.

“What’re you doing!?” Alder asked.

“Saving our skins!”

Lincoln aimed to the left. He didn’t know for sure where it was, he just had to guess.

He pulled the trigger. The feeling was smooth and subtle, then the bullet came out, and the gun jerked harshly in his hand. It was like driving down a level field, then suddenly being rocked back and forth on the most rocky, unstable terrain ever encountered.

The bullet hit it’s mark, but didn’t punch through. It only made a simple dent in the metal.

“Crap! It’s reinforced!” Lincoln shouted, settling back into his position and rolling up the window.

He turned to see Alder being manhandled by the pirate from up top. Lincoln pointed and shot the goon off of Clooney.

“Say hi to Akmed for me jackwagon!” Lincoln said, feeling proud. Though he didn’t exactly know what that meant, the phrase just came to him.

“They’re getting out the big guns, What should I do!” Alder asked.

Lincoln wanted to ask what the big guns were, but figured it’d be better to get this over with.

He thought for a moment.

What do I have? what do I have?

Then he remembered the chest.

The bombs!

“The bombs! The chest! In the back! Get a bomb and stick it on the battery!”

Alder didn’t wait for any more details, he pushed open the door separating the driver’s station from the cargo hold. 

“Careful!” Lincoln warned. “Bullets are coming down like crazy!”

–

Alder shut the door behind him. The cargo hold was a mess, ropes strewn about and some boxes fell over and had been emptied. A bullet sprained the metal behind Alder and he immediately took cover. The pirates knew he was out in the open, which meant that some of them were probably rushing to the back of their craft to put some holes in him. 

Alder scanned the back, searching for the chest. He couldn’t see it.

Where is it!? He thought, cursing under his breath.

He risked a glance to see the pirates were aiming at him. Tall iron fencing was placed around the back, a guardrail attached to it for people to hold on to. 

Alder dove to the floor and took cover under the fencing just as the robbers started shooting.

I miss Dana! He thought. Now wasn’t a great time to be reminiscing about his wife, but he couldn’t help it. He thought of her so often it became a habit.

Even though he wasn’t really looking, just then, he saw a large chest that had been emptied of its contents. A few of which were palm-sized metal discs.

There you are! He thought.

He crawled over to the chest, a bullet nicking him on the shoulder and bouncing off the metal floor. Alder grimaced, but he persisted. He crawled as fast as he could to the chest, reaching for a disc when he was close enough. He felt sharp, searing pain come out of nowhere on his lower back. He screamed, his hand flinching away, but only for a second. He reached, grabbed one, and pushed on the detonator button. Five red, glowing lines appeared beneath the button. Alder didn’t wait. He rushed to the side where the pirates were and threw the disc toward the fuel tank. To Alder’s relief, It stuck onto a large, bulky generator behind the metal plating guarding it.

He was able to catch a glimpse of the pirates’ rocket launcher before he sank beneath the safety of the fencing. 

–

That must be what he meant by ‘big guns’. Lincoln thought, his head peered out of the window, looking up at the pirates with their bazooka. It was on the shoulders of a large man cloaked in tan robes. He was lowering the weapon toward Clooney.

Lincoln ducked back inside. If he wasn’t scared before, he was terrified now!

Alder what’re you-! He was cut off by the sound of metal hitting metal. He checked his rearview mirror and saw Alder sink into the cargo hold.

He heard beeping mixed with the hums of the generator behind the steel plate. He didn’t know for sure, but it was better safe than sorry. Besides he planned on executing this idea the moment he glimpsed the bazooka.

He slammed on the brakes. 

Clooney halted abruptly, in just the nick of time as well. The rocket hit the ground and sprayed sand and dust all around the vehicle.

Lincoln put it in reverse and pushed on the gas. Clooney zoomed backward, and no more than a millisecond as Lincoln hit the gas, the hover-craft erupted into a giant cloud of fire and smoke. 

The force of the explosion impacted Clooney so hard Lincoln’s head nearly bounced off of the steering wheel. His arm saved him though, which he had thrown in front of him when the craft erupted. Clooney was still zipping away backwards, once it was a considerable distance from the wreckage. Lincoln let go of the gas.

Clooney halted.

And then nothing.

Lincoln relaxed into his seat. Adrenaline shot through his veins, he felt stiff and numb from the excitement. But then, eventually, he relaxed. He hadn’t been that scared in a long time, he nearly died…it was amazing!

All was still and quiet, save for Lincoln’s hearty laughter.

That was great! He thought.

He had thought he’d grown enough, had heard enough of Bellamy’s lectures, to take near-death-experiences seriously. Clearly Bellamy hadn’t done anything, and apparently he hadn’t grown at all.

These thoughts just made him laugh harder.

He collected himself though, eventually, and called for Alder.

“You okay back there?”

Nothing.

“Alder?…Alder!” 

Suddenly alert, Lincoln jumped out of his seat, threw open the door, and scanned the area. It was balming, how Alder managed to do what he did in this heat Lincoln couldn’t even guess.

“Alder!” Lincoln exclaimed, seeing the man on the floor and rushing to his side.

He saw that Alder was bleeding at his shoulder, which seemed to only be a graze, and his lower back, which most definitely was not simply grazed.

Lincoln got the med-kit and lifted Alder up onto his back, leaning him against the wall of the fencing.

“You okay, man?” Lincoln asked.

“Been better.” Alder replied. “You hurt?”

That took Lincoln by surprise. He scanned the man’s eyes, seeing a glint of genuine concern. 

“No. No, I’m fine…mostly. I’m more worried about you though.” Lincoln began removing Alder’s trench coat.

“I’ve had worse.” Alder said.

“Have you?” Lincoln said skeptically.

“…no.”

They both chuckled as Lincoln tended to the wound on Alder’s shoulder. Alder’s laugh sounded so alien to him. Not fifteen minutes earlier the man was as grumpy, but not nearly as grumpy, as Bellamy on a drunken night. 

Lincoln began to get the sense that beneath the rough edges, there was some heart to the man.

Maybe he’s not so bad, Lincoln thought as he wrapped a bandage around Alder’s shoulder. But something’s definitely bugging him. Maybe a lot of things actually. 

When he was finished, Lincoln took one more quick glance into Alder’s eyes. They were mostly tired, after what he just went through who wouldn’t, but there was also a lingering sadness that Lincoln noticed every time he looked at him.

“Gonna need to take off your shirt to get that rough spot on your back.” Lincoln said.

“I’d be glad to actually. Hot as hell out here.”

Lincoln glanced at the wasteland around him. He wasn’t around to see it, but he knew, everyone knew, that earth was once beautiful. Trees and water and animals. Now it’s a hellscape, a place, Lincoln realized, where it can be all too easy for someone to feel lingering sadness.

“Yeah, it is.” 

The End

Hope you enjoyed. I wrote this story a long time ago and am currently writing a movie script set in this same world that I, hopefully, will one day get to make into a movie.

Collapse & Ascension | Mistborn 2: The Well of Ascension-(Spoiler) Book Review

Not my image. No copyright intended. I appreciate how cool it is, however.

A few months ago I read the first book in the Misborn series by Brandon Sanderson. Which I had very positive feelings about. Now, recently, I finished The Well of Ascension, the second book in the series. And not only does it add so much depth to the world and characters set up in the first book, it is a thrilling adventure that, while having some weakpoints, is a worthy sequel to a great first novel.

BEWARE! I will make a brief, non-spoiler paragraph about my overall thoughts of the book, but after that I strongly recommend not continuing if you don’t want any spoilers, because I’m not sure how I can review this book without spoiling the heck out of it. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED, SPOILERS ABOUND.

NO SPOILER PARAGRAPH

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The character arcs, Vin and Elend’s in particular, are immacualte. Vin grows from being a lonely, insecure girl from the streets to a strong, lion hearted young woman with endless devotion to the people she cares about. Elend goes from starting out as a naive young boy that’s constantly unsure of himself to a confident and capable man that no longer needs others to speak for him. The others, Sazed, Breeze, and even Spook, get some well deserved character development as well, but Vin and Elend are where the story really shines. Even though this book is much slower than Final Empire, and very politically heavy, enough is happening to keep you on your toes and it’s very much worth it for the ending.

Now let’s get into some spoilers!

CITY ON THE EDGE

No copyright intended, it is a very cool image though.

Well of Ascension takes place a year after the events of the first book. Kelsier’s gone and has left Vin and the crew to look after Luthadel. The Lord Ruler is dead himself, killed by Vin. Ever since then, the Final Empire has been in chaos. Elend Venture, Vin’s lover, is now the king of Luthadel. He has a chance to fulfill everything he’s dreamed of doing, which is to make the world a better place. But when multiple armed forces come knocking to take the throne from him, Elend finds himself having to learn to be his best self, the best leader he can be, to save his city. As for Vin, despite the pressures they face as a result of several armies seeking to dethrone Elend, she’s content with the man she loves and the family Kelsier gave her. But, as events progress and tensions rise, Vin must confront the demons of her past in order to be what Elend, and the people of Luthadel, needs.

Let’s start with the thing that really determines whether or not you’ll love or hate this book: the pacing. If Final Empire was a fast-paced fantasy heist adventure, Well of Ascension is a slow but tantalizing political thriller. Vin, Elend, and the remainder of Kelsier’s crew deal with constant scheming both outside and inside Luthadel. The intrigue not only gives the plot an edge of suspense, but it plays a vital role in Elend and Vin’s character development, Elend especially, as he’s the one trying to create a more unified empire without compromising his core values. Of course, this means the plot moves at a shockingly slow pace. There were indeed times when the story moved so agonizingly slow I wondered when something would just happen. So much happens though that I had to stop at certain points and process it all. Like when Vin blows a guys freaking head off!

The general consensus among fans of the series is that the Well of Ascension is the weakest of the series because of how jarringly slow it is. Still, it’s also many peoples favorite because of how much story is in this book.

Vin’s character arc, while not the best part of the book (imo), revolves around her getting over the trauma she suffered her whole life as a street urchin. Which I really appreciate since this book pretty much confirms that she struggles with severe PTSD and, possibly, depression. Of course, it’s not explicitly said that those are her struggles, but you definitely get the idea that all those years of abuse and neglect have left her mentally and emotionally damaged, which is something that, I feel, was left out of the first book. Thanks to Kelsier though, and the life and friends his actions allowed her to have, she’s managed to heal some. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t flawed. Even with how much her life has changed since Kelsier took her under his wing, She’s still paranoid and slow to trust. She’s devoted to her friends and is determined to keep Elend safe at all costs, to the point where she risks her own health and well being. When Elend starts to grow into his own man and no longer requires her constant protection, it sends her into a tailspin. She finds herself questioning her relationship with him and her place in the crew. Which is compounded by the pressures of facing several armies, being deitized as the “lady heir” by the religion Kelsier’s sacrifice spawned, and befriending an enigmatic Mistborn such as herself who intentionally fuels her doubts about Elend and herself. Vin’s arc was such a treat, I loved seeing the growth all that internal turmoil forced her to go through. By the end of the book her and Elend’s love for each other is stronger than ever and she’s much more open and warm. However, there are some draw backs.

Vin is constantly in her head, and while by no means is it bad to go through what a character is thinking and feeling, a chapter in Vin’s perspective was often an exhausting experience as she was frequently playing a mental game of does he love me or does he love me not? there was also Do I love him or no? and what does this thing mean? She was just constantly going through the motions in a near endless circle of thought and it made me quite confused at times. Despite that though, I often found myself dreading a chapter in someone else’s POV. It felt like there was a massive imbalance between perspectives in this book, even though it was third person, and even now I feel like there could’ve been more Vin. As exhausting her perspective could be, I valued her character development more than anyone and I was desperate to know what she was feeling at these critical times. That could, however, be due to the lack of chemistry between some of the characters. It feels like much of the charm from the first book died with Kelsier, and in it’s place are some interactions that feel a bit static. Vin and Elend’s relationship in particular feels like it could use some more Oomf (that’s coming across as very sexual, now that I think about it). I loved Elend and Vin’s romance arc but it feels like there’s a barrier, a lack of romantic chemistry, that kept there love for each other from feeling as real and tangible as the characters themselves do.

There’s also some inconsistency to there relationship. For instance, when Elend joins the Church of The Survivor, the religion/cult dedicated to Kelsier, to gain the favor of the Skaa so he can regain the throne after being deposed, it clearly makes Vin uncomfortable. Which is understandable, since Kelsier was like a father to her and that’s all she ever viewed him as. It’s especially uncomfortable for her since Elend never told her what he did, he didn’t even find the time to ask her permission. Then, after Vin headbutts a guys face off (literally) during an assassination attempt, they never talk about it. The very next chapter Vin is thinking; I LOVE him so much! WHY did I let him see me like that!? What is WRONG with me!? While she’s recuperating from the fight. I’m exaggerating of course, well, sort of, but Vin and Elend never talk about what he did. they never talk about her, self-admittedly, feeling betrayed by Elend’s actions.

This is not to say that Vin, Elend, and their love story are bad, like I said earlier I loved them all-together. But there’s SO much inconsistency and static chemistry that their romance doesn’t reach the heights that it could have.

Let’s switch over to Elend Venture himself now, easily one of the most genuine and interesting characters in the story.

HEAVY IS THE HEAD…

This is not an actual thing from Mistborn, though it kind of looks like it could be an art still for World of Warcraft. No copyright intended though. On all accounts.

Ah, Elend. It could have been so easy. It could have been so easy for you to be a spoiled brat with good looks and attachment issues. Instead though, you became an endearing character with an equally compelling story arc.

There wasn’t very much to Elend in Final Empire. He’s Vin’s love interest, that much was obvious, and he’s a nobleman’s son, cuz why the heck not they’re usually fancy pansies aren’t they? But there’s more to him than that. While he’s most certainly the Prince Charming to Vin’s Snow White, Final Empire did a good job of setting him up as a very nuanced version of a character trope we’re all too familiar with and it established him as someone with much potential. That potential is explored in great detail here.

Noblemen in Luthadel are mostly self-obssessed and haughty aristocrats that were nothing more than pawns to the Lord Ruler. But Elend’s an interesting case. He’s obsessed with political philosophy and has his own ideas on how Luthadel should be run. Now that he’s king, he has that chance. But the crown is a heavy burden to bear.

The crew often pokes fun at Elend for being the idealist he is, which I think is so fun because it’s so true. His character arc in the book revolves around duty and responsibility, themes that fit him so well as he starts out being the laid-back, self-critical young noble we’re familiar with in the first book. Then Tindwyl comes around, and hours of entertainment ensue. I enjoyed Elend and Tindwyl’s relationship. In a ways, she’s the confident and lordly kind of person that Elend aspires to be and the kind of woman Vin thinks Elend deserves. I loved the scene where Tindwyl commands for Elend’s hair to be cut but he’s not having it. Then he gets a look at himself in his fancy new outfit.

“Alright. Cut it.” He says.

That’s another great thing about this book, it’s packed with amazing moments.

Tindwyl’s guidance allows Elend to become the man he always wanted to be and quite possibly was always meant to become. The struggles he endures throughout his journey, and the growth he experiences as a result of those trials and errors, is like chocolate and marshmallows. Here’s someone trying his very best to make his world a better place but no one will let him. He’s also stuck between holding on to his power and maintaining his relationship with Vin, as I said before though there’s a lot of inconsistent and confusing things about the romance plot in this book so it doesn’t help much, in fact that struggle isn’t really explored in full detail I think.

Coupled with the intrigue, adventure, and romance this book brings to the table, Elend’s story becomes oh so compelling and is a character I did not expect to have so much respect for.

Of course though, there’s a few more things I need to talk about.

By far the most interesting character in the book and a perfect foil for Vin was Zane. Like her, he was dealt a very crappy card in life. Suffering abuse and neglect that would drive anyone insane. I kinda like to think of him as a measuring stick for how bad Vin could have been. At least she’s trying to get over the trauma that left her the insecure and reserved orphan she was, Zane is convinced that Mistborn are meant to be so much more than just “knives” for others and their games. He tries to lead Vin away from Elend and everything she cares about, poking at her insecurities and using them to question her life as it is. It all comes to a head in a final scuffle that I couldn’t pry my attention away from.

And that twist with OreSeur! Or TenSoon I should say. Sanderson might as well have dropped a mic at that very moment because I was shocked beyond belief.

I did also really like OreSeur/TenSoon, him and Vin had such an enjoyable friendship.

LEGACY

No copyright intended, I am indeed just grabbing images off the internet. Also, whoever drew this and stirred up emotions I don’t want stirred…screw you.😭

Vin has some pretty big shoes to fill. But, thankfully, she comes to a point where she realizes that it’s better to be yourself than trying to be what you think the people around you deserve. Just like how her Elend’s growth is comparable to eating chocolate and marshmallows, Vin’s growth is like rocky road ice-cream with chocolate and caramel sauce. Decadent.

Well of Ascension added so much depth to characters I’ve come to deeply love and appreciate. I don’t have as much to say about Allomancy though. It is given more density but for the most part it’s still Allomancy. It’s still burning super metals that give you super powers and it’s still a joy to read and imagine.

If you loved Final Empire, then you might love this. However, because of the abrupt shift from fast-paced heist adventure to slower-paced political thriller, I can’t say that it’s for everyone. I can only say that it’s worth checking out for the intoxicating amount of story and brilliantly shocking character moments. The ending, too, is very much worth the agony.

Thank you for your time. That was a lot of ground to cover.

Get Ready To Crumble! | Godzilla Vs. Kong – Movie Review

No Copyright Intended, I Just Love Me Some Monsters.

As time goes by we’re straying away from the original kaiju filmmaking method of just sticking a guy in a monster costume and recording him, and other costumed wonders (three heads or otherwise), duke it out on a landscape model. These days, CGI and Motion-Capture are the reigning champions of general modern action-filmmaking. Even if they’re tremendously overused. These modern methods have, of course, been used to produce a shared Godzilla/King Kong universe. So far they’ve been surprisingly enjoyable, starting with Godzilla in 2014, followed by Kong: Skull Island in 2017, which was a cool departure from what’s typically seen in a Kong movie, and then Godzilla: King of The Monsters, which was a step up from Godzilla-2014 in my opinion. Now, in a day and age where going to the movies is considered a health risk, Hollywood has taken a crack at having two iconic movie monsters hash it out on the big screen (or little screen if that’s your preference). I’ll say this much about the attempt, it’s better than Alien Vs. Predator.

A DISHARMONY OF TITANS

It’s going to be difficult but I’ll keep this as spoiler-free as possible.

Obviously Godzilla Vs. Kong is about…Godzilla Vs. Kong! The movie is mostly a Kong movie though, he’s pretty much the central character. We follow him and his humans embark on a literal journey to the center of the Earth in the hope that they can find him a new home. Meanwhile, Godzilla is attacking with seemingly no reason in his mind. But, as Maddison (Millie Bobby Brown’s character from KOTM), her friend Josh, and a conspiracy theorist suspect, he’s actually attacking areas with “Apex Technologies” written all over it. Eventually, as events unfold, it all leads to a violent clash between the king of the monsters and the king without a home. And a lot of insurance claims on Hong Kong’s part (first robots and monsters and now lizards and apes, how about we give Hong Kong a break guys).

A still from the film that I claim no ownership of. I like that they make him look older in this movie than he did in Skull Island.

We follow two separate plotlines. The first and main plotline being with Kong and his human friends. Skull Island has been swallowed up by the storm surrounding it. Killing many, if not all, of the creatures that lived on it. The only home Kong has is a giant testing facility that’s more like a cage than a house to him. When a washed up author comes to Skull Island looking for help getting to the mysterious “Hollow Earth”, a concept that scientists and conspirators seem to have tossed around frequently in this universe but never able to confirm it’s existence, Kong’s friends take this as an opportunity to get him a proper home. This is definitely the plotline with the most story in it. Since more effort has been put into giving Kong more depth-of-character you end up caring more about his side of the films narrative than that of Godzilla’s. The humans in his story aren’t all that exciting, the characters I liked the most were the washed up author played by Alexander Skarsgard and the little girl who’s Kong’s friend (fun fact: the girl who played her was actually a mute, a mute actress…so cool!). Other than that, I was mostly interested in how they would get to the Hollow Earth and what Kong will find there. And of course when he and Godzilla would fight again.

Not a still from the movie, but a good image regardless that I have no intention of Copyrighting.

As I said before, Godzilla is attacking random places for reasons that elude even the best experts. But, making a return from King of The Monsters, Maddison suspects that there’s more to his behavior than everyone thinks. So she drags a friend along with her to find an inquisitive conspiracy theorist that himself suspects that there’s a definitive reason for Godzilla’s attacks. This side of the movie is unquestionably the most boring part of the film. The only thing it does is build up to the big final battle at the end of the movie rather than add some depth to Godzilla as a character, an action I continue to long for. In fact, Godzilla’s not really in it. He’s not in this movie much at all. We just follow Maddison, who’s kind of given the Michael Bay hot girl treatment in my opinion, and her buddies figure out what’s wrong with Godzilla. It’s not the most compelling mystery, and the characters not being that interesting doesn’t help much.

These narratives aren’t as separate as I’m making it seem. There is an external force that weaves these plots together and leads to several epic events in the climax. However, before you get there you have to go through an hour-and-a-half of exposition and, albeit, some neat worldbuilding. Plus a cool ocean battle between Kong and Godzilla.

I’m more curious about how a giant ape could exist than a giant, radiation spewing lizard. Oh yeah, no copyright intended.

Godzilla Vs. Kong isn’t anything super special. If your craving a good monster battle, definitely give this movie a go. It’s certainly not for everyone, personally I enjoyed it for the action, the worldbuilding, and the cool imagery. I still look forward to what they have next in store for Godzilla. what’s going to happen as a continuation of KOTM and GVK?

It’s not one of the best films I’ve seen, but it’s great action and cool monsters make it as satisfying as a box of vibrantly flavored chocolates. Just like this blog post…I hope.

Thanks for reading and do let me know what you though of the movie itself!

What Happened With WandaVision?

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how emotionally heavy this image is? Kudos to the crew behind the camera. BTW, No Copyright Intended.

WandaVision was a much needed return to form for TV in terms of recurring, once-a-week adventures in a world full of captivating characters embarking on their own journey’s, like in “Once Upon A Time” or “Supernatural”. Considering that streaming services are dominating the entertainment industry, primarily television, and most of those streaming services dump every episode in a single season into one release date for us to binge the heck out of, regardless if the show is good or not, WandaVision (and, of course, The Mandalorian) has been a great and soothing palette cleanser since it’s clearly a very well though-out show that the creators poured their heart and souls into so we, the audience, would come to love and appreciate it. This show (and Mandalorian) stand out in stark contrast with the plain and stale market that has become television, with Netflix and other services just throwing a bunch of stuff at a wall and seeing what sticks.

I’m not a fan of Netflix these days.

However, WandaVision wasn’t without it’s flaws, particularly in the last episode. And some people seem to be taking these flaws harder than is necessary. Between theories falling flat on their faces and Wanda, apparently, getting off scot-free with villainy, I’m going to examine why some people (myself included) were so disappointed by aspects of the last episode and give my overall thoughts of the show, and how it could potentially change the TV industry as we know it.

Spoiler Alert: There Will Be Spoilers.

BIZARRE PREDICTIONS AND NOVICE TROLLING

You gotta admit, that was actually a pretty funny joke he pulled. Also, no copyright intended and yada yada yada.

Long before WandaVision came out, I believe, fan’s were speculating that Mephisto would be the main villain in the show. As interesting as that would have been, I’m much more happy that it ended up being Agatha Harkness. Because if it was otherwise, than not only would we have not gotten Kathryn Hahn as Harkness, but we wouldn’t have gotten “A-gatha All A-long!” which became the most listened to song on iTunes.

When the show actually started airing people went nuts with their own predictions. Wanda shattering the universe, Fake Pietro/Fietro/Ralph being Mephisto, Wanda bringing the X-Men into the MCU, everyone in Westview being mutants or superheroes, Billy and Tommy revealed to be demon children feeding off of Wanda’s powers/soul (that last one was actually my own theory I kept to myself, for obvious reasons). All these theories and questions made the experience of WandaVision so special because it was something we hadn’t experienced in a long time. With Netflix’s interesting but stale formula for TV shows making the TV experience more of a method for getting laid, it’s refreshing and fun to see people get into a show, become avid fans, and become a community of speculators and theorists. The scale of WandaVision’s outreach was massive, pulling in viewers from all over America and beyond. It has been way too long since a television show successfully brought this many people together. In my mind at least.

But now that the show is over, we should be feeling satisfied right?

Well…

As good as WandaVision is, the finale, unfortunately, was a bit disappointing. What started out as a reality-warping science-fiction series with a tantalizing mystery at it’s core kind of devolved into a token Marvel project. But more on that later. One of the things that seems to be letting people down are the things I mentioned that were bringing people together. The last episode shot down every theory every avid Marvel fan had, even just casual Marvel fans probably had theories that ended suffering the same fate as Wards brother (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). All these predictions were practically the lifeline of the show, the mystery going on at WandaVision’s center was what was pulling people in and making them want more because the episodes were too stinking short. But now that it’s over, and on top of the fact that it wasn’t the best ending to a series, and the big reveal for the mystery being somewhat disappointing (for me anyways) some people seemed to cling so hard to their theories, they had wanted so badly for Mephisto or Magneto or the Multiverse itself to make an appearance, that when none of that happened, they might’ve been let down a bit…a lot…a bunch.

Am I saying that speculation is a bad thing? Abso-freaking-lutely not! I do think we should be a bit more careful how closely we cling to the things our brilliant minds come up with while watching a TV show. I’m also not saying that this is the end-all-be-all reason why WandaVision’s finale was disappointing. In fact, unfulfilled predictions are barely even the surface of the reason why.

THE LAYERS OF WANDAVISION

This is actually a really good still. And the fact that I meant no copyright infringement makes it better.

At it’s surface, WandaVision is a superhero show with some nuance thanks to the Sci-Fi and Mystery elements sprinkled into it. At it’s core though is…well…Wanda.

Wanda’s arc from a lonely, grief-stricken woman to The Scarlet Witch is an engaging, albeit ill-paced, exploration of how dangerous it can be to deny the reality around you (just look at DiCaprio in Shutter Island). The story in WandaVision and it’s immacualate attention to detail add a lot of that nuance. The only other project in the MCU I can think of that is, or maybe almost, as unique as WandaVision is Black Panther with it’s compelling story and detailed world-building (God bless Chadwick Boseman’s soul).

This show not only raises the bar on what Marvel can do, but what TV in general can do. If Marvel plays their cards right, and I think it’s safe to say they most certainly will, the whole landscape of TV will change. WandaVision ties in to a whole cinematic universe of stories. With Marvel’s continued success, we could be seeing a whole new way of storytelling through TV and film that hasn’t been done before. We’ll probably get a lot of soulless cashgrabs from studios playing catch-up with Marvel, but, if BumbleBee is any indication in terms of cinematic universes, it won’t be all bad.

Then there’s the disappointing aspects. I didn’t mind the fact that it went back to being a token Marvel project at the end all that much, what bugs me the most is the resolution to the Mystery aspect of the show. I was kind of disappointed to learn that Wanda’s little paradise was a creation all her own. I had hoped that something, some “shark”, had come along and made Wanda an offer. I was excited to learn how Wanda and this mystery figure had crafted the Hex and what Wanda would do at the end. When it turned out that she basically willed the Hex into existence and Agatha was just a lucky little bug that caught wind of what Wanda did and thought “Huh, interesting, I’m gonna absorb her powers!” I was overall just disappointed that there wasn’t more to it than that.

Regardless, Wandavision is a show that, while it feels like it forgot what exactly it was at the end, successfully raised the bar for Marvel. At it’s surface it’s a neat Sci-Fi/Superhero show with a cool mystery and great fight scenes. It’s core revolves around a young woman wanting nothing more than to have the life she always wanted. Which, I have to say, I don’t see Wanda as a villain. She saw that she was making a mistake and wanted to make it right. She let the residents of Westview go, and Vision and her family in that regard.

The girl was suffering. Cut her some slack.

I also don’t feel a lot of sympathy for Agatha, she killed Sparky for crying out loud!

Despite it’s flaws, this show is more than worth watching a dozen times over. Come for the Marvelness, come for the story, come for Evan Peters (I am in the camp that is severely wounded by “Ralph Bohner”), come for all of the above. WandaVision was a great show and it makes me really happy to see that we’re finally coming out of our collective funk. Especially with times being what they are.

Welcome To Bludhaven | Nightwing by Chuck Dixon Vol. 1&2 – Review

NoCopyrightIntended. NightwingMovieAnyone?

Nightwing (Dick Grayson) is one of my all time favorite superheroes. Once a Robin, a Titan, and now a hero in his own right, Dick Grayson is fully committed to his career and is determined to fight crime in his own way, and escape Batman’s hard-to-breathe shadow. He has an unwavering devotion to his friends and family and would gladly lay down his life for them, even Batman himself, an imperfect father, but a father to Dick nonetheless.

Before these first two volumes Grayson already had a pretty hefty reputation on his belt. The first Robin, leader of not one, but two Teen Titan teams, and, overall, just one of the most likable guys in the superhero community. In this series, Dick goes out of his way to prove that he is his own man, and what better way to do that than to move into a city that is said to be WORSE than Gotham.

Don’t know who’s this is but I mean no Copyright infringement whatsoever.

THE CITY OF BAD PEOPLE AND WORSE PEOPLE

When you begin volume one it doesn’t actually start with Dick jumping ship to Bludhaven, that isn’t until the fifth issue (or the fifth chapter, I guess, for non-comic-aficionado’s). It actually begins with a story written by a different writer than Chuck Dixon, who writes the ensuing ongoing series. The first four issues are just, kind of, meh. It isn’t the most exciting story to ever happen, but it does provide some background on Dick’s career up to that point. It also shows the origin of Dick’s awesome blue and black suit. So while it’s not the best Nightwing story, it does serve as a good introduction to the character, though I wouldn’t blame you for skipping it and getting straight to Dixon’s run (If you do stick around, though not required reading, I would recommend reading the annual in the second volume right after reading those first four issues for A) additional character building and B) ponytail continuity).

Once I got past those first four issues it was mostly uphill from there.

The stories depicted in these collections show Grayson working to be his own thing, to fight crime the way Nightwing would rather than the Batman would. When Batman himself has Dick investigate a crime to, though not said is very clearly the motive behind his choice, prove that Nightwing can handle things on his own. He goes to Bludhaven and from the first issue onward, Nightwing does what he can to make this city a better place, despite knowing that it’s practically hopeless.

Believe it or not, Bludhaven is said to be far worse than Gotham, and I think I believe it. Corruption and crime are pretty much the norm in this city, and while the same could be said about Gotham, at least Batman’s turf has him and Commisioner Gordon, along with the GCPD in general, to strike a balance. Bludhaven? It’s all bad. Sure there are no Joker’s or Two-Faces, but, as Nightwing has stated himself, the corruption gripping Bludhaven runs from the mayors office right down to the streets themselves, which basically means that no one is safe in Bludhaven. And yet, Dick makes his home there anyway.

What’s most interesting about these volumes, I’d say, is how Dick works so hard to make it his own and get it through to Batman that he is his own man. Unlike most heroes in the DC universe, Nightwing is so relatable in his struggles for independence and happiness. He stumbles just as we all do through life, whether it’s as Dick Grayson or Nightwing, and he always works so hard to do things right, between catching criminals and staying close to those closest to him, even though his efforts to maintain independence can make him come off as a bit of a jerk. In that sense, he’s very human in how he approaches life as himself and as a hero, and it can make for some entertaining and heart-felt reading. He’s also just…awesome. You know how Batman is just awesome because he’s Batman, Dick is kind of the same way. He’s just awesome.

SAVIOR OF BLUDHAVEN

No lawsuit necessary, I didn’t mean any Copyright stuff.

While this isn’t the strongest comic I’ve read, it’s one of the most entertaining. The first volume is a good introduction but it’s in the second volume where great moments pop up left and right. Dick’s character is given so much depth, we see him contend with bad guys of various shapes and sizes, and his interactions with his (bat) family is a treat to experience.

It’s held back a bit by typical 90s storytelling, and don’t even get me started on the thought bubbles (they’re not the most annoying thing but I can’t tell how tired I am of seeing them so ingrained in a scene and making the reading experience clunky), but, if you’re a Nightwing fan, or are wanting to get into Nightwing and the Bat-Family in general, this is a great place to get started. I really enjoyed these volumes and I do look forward to seeing what happens next. Two down, six to go.

WandaVision Episode Structure: Pure Speculation

Please, Marvel and Disney, don’t send your assassin lawyers after me! I didn’t intend any Copyright by using this image! Have Mercy!!

Phase 4 of Marvel is off to a great start!

Ever since WandaVision premiered I’ve felt much more like myself, like the nerdy kid who eagerly awaited each new installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Covid made a fiasco of the whole goshdarn world.

I, of course, like everyone else, have some questions. Those questions may not be answered until the next few episodes. Speaking of which, one night, before I shut my eyes and waded into blissful non-existence for nine-or-so hours, I got to thinking about WandaVision and came up with a very possible plot-structure divided by the episodes in the series.

Bear in mind that, while I am partly convinced that it may unfold in this way, we’re still very early in the series so I’m as oblivious as the rest of you are on what will actually happen in the show. But based on what we’ve seen so far, I am 80% sure that this is how it will look for the structure of the show.

I don’t have a super important reason for writing this post, I’m mostly doing it for the heck of it. If that’s not good enough for you, I’d understand you not sticking around.

But otherwise, Here we go!

WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR

Episode 1: Exposition, Wanda and Vision are married and living a happy life…but something isn’t right.

Episode 2: Mostly just pure comedic fun, but definite foreshadowing that strange things are happening.

Episode 3: Again, a lot of comical hijinks, but the “something is not right” undertones are kicked up a notch.

Episode 4: We get some background on the world outside of WandaVision and some answers to questions that just sir up more questions in an interlude episode.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN

Episode 5: We pick back up with the comically wonderful world of WandaVison, in the 80’s, on Halloween! But, this is the episode where Vision learns the truth, and everything starts to fall apart.

Episode 6: Maybe Wanda wiped his mind, maybe he’s not in the episode at all. Whatever the reason, this is the 90’s episode, and, even though there could certainly be some humor, this is where Wanda’s world, figuratively (mostly), shatters.

Episode 7: Another interlude episode. We pick up where we left off with S.W.O.R.D. as the crew tries to get to the bottom of what’s going on and it ends where they are and what they’re doing by the end of the last episode.

Episodes 8&9: I can’t say what’s going to happen in the last two episodes because I just don’t know enough, but this it, this is where everything ties together. The last two episodes could be tied together for the climax and resolution, and in both, Wanda faces the devastating consequences of her actions.

In the next episode this Friday, Vision will somehow get out of Wanda’s spell and we’ll see that scene where Vision seems to “wake up” Agnes in it’s entirety. After that, Vision will either disappear (possiblly get outside the ‘Hub’ and team up with S.W.O.R.D? Though that may be unlikely since Wanda’s spell is very likely the reason he’s still standing), or Wanda could wipe his mind.

After That…well it’s open to speculation. I’ve honestly nothing beyond what I’ve just written above this paragraph. Then again though, speculation of fiction is quite fun, and I’d love to know what you guys think. As long as their nice thoughts.

WHAT A HAPPY COUPLE!

No! No Copyright Intended! No! No! No, Please, No! NOOOOOO!

*Ahem* (Yelled way too loud)

There’s no telling how things are going to go in WandaVision. As I’m sure you’re all aware, Marvel is VERY hush, hush about their projects. But I think it goes without saying that things are just going to get better and better.

How’re you liking WandaVision so far? Let me knows, what you think will happen, and, just, have a merry ol’ time. Life can suck I know, especially nowadays, but with shows like WandaVision around, and a hearty dose of creativity on your part, and the sheer fact that good people are still exist, things could certainly be worse!

Have a go0d da@&*%yyyeeeeeeyyyyy@#&%$%ERRORPAGEUNRESPONSIVE

( ;D )

What I Hope To See In Godzilla Vs. Kong/What I Liked and Didn’t Like About The Trailer

I’m getting a little tired of saying this, but for the sake of not getting sued and losing a gajillion dollars for copyright infringement…No copyright intended. I don’t own this image.

I realize I’m not popular enough to give my thoughts and opinions about something like, say, a movie trailer, but heck I have a lot going on in my head after that GVK trailer so I’m doing it!

Here it is in case you haven’t seen it: https://youtu.be/odM92ap8_c0

WHY DO THEY NEED TO FIGHT?

It’s pretty obvious why their fighting…because the big movie corporations think that we want to see these two fight, so they’re making it so. Well, their right of course, but one thing that I think we can all agree on is that, more than we want to see them fight, we want them to have a good reason for fighting.

I liked the trailer, some things about it more than others, and ever since it came out I’ve gotten to thinking about the massive potential of Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse. All the possibilities that I haven’t really thought of since the last time I watched ‘King Of The Monsters’. Obviously their not going to explore all of that potential in this one movie that isn’t even about fulfilling said potential. But there are ways they could subtly build up the world they’re creating and a possible Infinity War/Endgame-esque giant monster epic. Because let’s be honest, that is what they’re going for, the MonsterVerse with Godzilla and Kong is just another cinematic universe that’s taking cues from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

WHAT I LIKED AND DIDN’T LIKE (IF YOU CARE)

  1. LIKE: So far the imagery in these Monster movies have been extravagant. Between Skull Island and King Of The Monsters, there’s a lot to admire. Not as much of it in Godzilla 2014, so that’s why it’s mostly being backburned. But so far, there’s no indication that they’re going to stop giving these movies some visual style.
  2. DISLIKE: The first half of the trailer hints at some interesting exposition with some appropriate music to convey the tone they’re going for…and then halfway through it when Godzilla shows up I’m completely thrown off by the hardcore action rap playing while Kong and G throw down in the 2/3 of the trailer. Epic? Sure. Unnecessary? 100%
  3. LIKE: As unnecessary as the music was, it, coupled with the epic monster versus monster images blurring across my screen, did spark my imagination quite a bit. Which I’m very appreciative of.
  4. LIKE: They seem to be teasing the possibility of telepathic connections between certain humans and monsters with that little girl who’s friends with Kong. It wouldn’t be the first time they went that route with giant monsters, and since it opens so many doors for exciting narratives…Heck Yes!
  5. DISLIKE: Why do some trailers seem to just…end these days? The trailer doesn’t end subtly, it just does in an abrupt and almost amateurish way. Could that say something about the movie itself (probably not, but we’ll see)?

Overall I did like the trailer. I think it’s a stretch to say that it’s one of the best movie trailers of the past decade, but it’s enjoyable regardless, and they do a good job of teasing what’s ahead of us in this movie.

WHAT I HOPE TO SEE IN THE MOVIE ITSELF (IF YOU CARE)

Worldbuilding: KOTM’s concepts about a hidden world of monsters, that being the Hollow Earth of course, opened so many doors for a crazy interesting world of monsters living just beneath our feet. It has been hinted that they’re going to explore this Hollow Earth in GVK. It looks as though their going to explore it in detail too, as a lot of the trailer seems to be Kong roaming around this hidden world and discovering some things about his heritage.

Bad Godzilla: Something that is really nagging at me is why Godzilla seems to be the bad guy here. In his first two movies he was a malevolent force keeping earth and humanity safe from the MUTO’s and Ghidorah ( I may have butchered the spelling for Ghidarah but okay). It’s entirely possible it’s not him not of course, but he does appear to be a heavy source conflict. He could be under the influence of another telepath like the little girl. Or…maybe…possibly…

Mechagodzilla: This is only a theory that’s been in the works since the movie was announced, but it’s entirely possible that Mechagodzilla could be prancing around as Godzilla causing all sorts of trouble. It would explain why he’s killing people left and right and wrecking Kong’s fancy personal escort of battleships, if they pose any sort of threat, well it wouldn’t be the first time Mechagodzilla tried to get them out of the way. I think it would be super cool to have Mechagodzilla in the movie, I feel it would be a little too early to throw aliens in the mix since Mechagodzilla was built and used by aliens. I know that technically Ghidorah was an alien, but even so Ghidorah still feels like one of many giant monsters in the monster rouster of this world. To have actual aliens piloting a robot-Godzilla, unless done in a way that makes sense, would feel a little too soon.

Telepaths/Kong’s Friend: I really hope they don’t waste the little girl in this movie. An important plot-point one minute, and then just a weirdo shouting things at the giant brawling monsters the next. It’s too early to say what exactly her role in the film will be, but hopefully it’s something that pertains to the story and she’s not just ‘Kong’s best friend’.

Continuing What Was Set-Up: As cool as this movie looks, I honestly want a continuation of KOTM. So much was done in that movie, and rather than making another Godzilla movie that continues the plotline set up in it, we’re getting a “civil war” that’s dangerously close to being nothing more than a pointless cash-grab. If they can give it a point by building the Hollow Earth and continuing what was set-up in KOTM, that would be awesome. But again, it’s too early to tell.

GET READY TO RUMBLE

No…Copyright…Intended.

I really liked the trailer. Would I have preferred a sequel to King Of The Monsters? Yeah, but, you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit (unless your my little sister). I’m excited to see these two fight. One thing that this movie has going for it is that Kong feels like a very fleshed out character. In Skull Island, they treated him like an actual character in a story rather than just having him fight other monsters for two hours. Which is, disappointingly enough, what they’ve done with Godzilla the past seven years. I hope Godzilla is given some characterization in this movie, but since it’s a crossover event, he may not get much of it between the Kong plotline, the Hollow Earth plotline, the telepaths plotline, and, well y’know, the Godzilla vs. Kong plotline. I realize that I should’ve put that in the ‘What I Hope To See’ segment of this post, but honestly, I’ve been writing for a while and I’m too tired to care right now.

What did you think of the trailer? Any theories on what will happen in the movie? Do you agree or disagree with me on some things? It certainly seems like some interesting things are going to happen in this movie and I do look forward to seeing in theaters. Yes, theaters, this is an in-theater movie. Covid be darned, I’m seeing this in a movie theater!

Have a good day!