deerstalker

http://nerdist.com/how-american-horror-story-roanoke-connects-with-coven-and-freak-show/

Editor’s note: This post contains spoilers for American Horror Story. Proceed with caution if you aren’t caught up. 

Since the start of American Horror Story‘s mysterious sixth season, AHS’ creators and cast members have teased several times that there’s more to the docudrama-style Roanoke than meets the eye. According a recent remark from Ryan Murphy (via Entertainment Weekly), tonight’s episode will feature “the biggest plot twist” they’ve ever done on the show. Based on previous remarks from both Murphy and Brad Falchuk, we know that the twist will throw fans for a loop and make them question everything they know about the series. With the episode a few hours away, the showrunners revealed some pretty big spoilers about how this season connects with Coven, as well as their Freak Show-related plans for season seven.

“The season was sort of written as if the season was two different shows” explained Murphy. “Something happens where half the cast is revealed to be playing and doing something absolutely different than you’ve seen in the first five. There’s a startling announcement at the end of act 3 that resets the rest of the season up until episode 10.”

According to US Weekly, the season will pivot into an entirely different narrative during the last twenty minutes of episode six. With the change, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Kathy Bates will be playing entirely different characters. Whether they’ll be ones we’ve seen in the past or brand new to the series remains to be seen. The other big reveal the showrunner shared is that Lady Gaga’s witch of the woods character is the first Supreme–which is a direct tie to Coven. This makes me wonder whether Gaga’s witch took on the name Robichaux after escaping her cell and opened the Witches academy in season three, or whether the story she told Matt was even true. Based on what Murphy said, several characters have been lying this season, so anything is possible.

Speaking of Coven, Murphy confirmed that American Horror Story will touch on those characters again. “At some point, we’re going to do a return to the Coven season.” While he didn’t reveal which season that would be, he doled out another juicy detail about season seven: “Next year, we will be going back to some Freak Show characters, deeper histories and mythologies. So we’re sort of still exploring season 4 in season 7.” Does that mean we’ll finally see the return of Jessica Lange? One can dream.

While we already knew Finn Wittrock was set to return, Murphy revealed that his psychotic character will make Dandy Mott look like a teddy bear by comparison. “Finn Wittrock is coming back soon, playing his most f–ked-up character of all time. To the point where he was like, ‘This is so crazy that I don’t know that I can do it, but I’ll do it,'” Murphy confirmed. Dear Finn, thank you for committing to whoever the character ends up being. I seriously can’t wait to see what the writers have in store.

Taissa Farmiga was also confirmed for season six, though it is unclear when she will make her debut. She was a major character in the Coven season, so I’m hoping the connection to the season goes even further and she is playing a previous character.

All that said, if you weren’t a fan of the secrecy this year, I have great news for you. According to Murphy there will be no more secret seasons! Things will go back to normal once they start promoting season seven. The premise for that season will be unveiled in Spring 2017.

What do you think the big twist is going to be? How do you think Taissa Farmiga and Finn Wittrock will be incorporated? Are you excited for a return to Coven and Freak Show? Let us know in the comments below, join the conversation on Facebook, or start one with me on Twitter: @Samantha_Sofka.

We’ve got plenty more American Horror Story theories on Nerdist News!

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Images: FX

http://www.geek.com/television/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-finally-gets-the-gang-back-together-1675655/?source

We all knew it would have to happen at some point. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was always about this strange team that Agent Coulson assembled working together. Even back during the unfocused, kind of […]

http://blacknerdproblems.com/raven-2-review/

Writer: Marv Wolfman / Artist: Alison Borges / DC Comics

After Raven #1 got us started on this 6-part series we were introduced to a new side of our girl, newly arrived in San Francisco and learning how to teen like a regular teen. It was hilarious, as Raven isn’t exactly well known for her charm, and it set the stage for a great miniseries of personal exploration, a microcosm Raven’s own coming of age in certain respects. She’s learning to trust that other people truly love and care for her, for no selfish reasons of their own, and she’s beginning to increasingly feel that way for these new cast members in her life. Issue #1 also introduced the mystery of the series in the form of an unknown empath, one more powerful than Raven herself, and someone she knows nothing about except the overwhelming pain that can come from them being in others’ heads. Much was established in issue #1, which was well planned, as issue #2 doesn’t wait in making this a high-stake conflict for Raven and the very lives of those she’s met. Raven #2 steps on the accelerator.

The series balances seriousness with dry comedy – obviously fitting for a character like Raven – and can often pull them off simultaneously in the same scene. Raven finds herself speaking with other teenagers in the school cafeteria and, in response to the concern of a missing person, separates her soul from her body to go investigate; yet the other teenagers were so obnoxious that it also seemed as if Raven just had enough listening to them and her spirit just left her body – an ability we all wish we had in a situation to which each of us can relate. But while there are several scenes lightened with misanthropic humor, Raven #2 better introduces the immense danger that is no longer content to loom around the story plot. Those dark scenes are made darker when there aren’t any jokes to be made, no internal quips from Raven’s maladjustment, just doubt and terror. It makes Raven an engaging, super dynamic comic.

Yet the anchor of the series has to be attributed to Alisson Borges’ artwork. With gorgeous layouts and beautifully dark scenes, Borges not only captures the spirit of Raven but does it with some of the most well crafted sequences I’ve read this year. This comic is visually stunning, and downright beautiful.

Raven is a ridiculously pleasant surprise with amazing artwork, heart, mystery, and comedy. We’re a third into the series and, if the ceiling can get higher from here, this will be one of my favorite short series in recent memory. Read this book and see where it goes from here.

9.5 out of 10

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Warning: This post contains spoilers for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! Proceed with caution, agents. If you haven’t yet watched this week’s episode, “Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire”, we highly suggest you do so before proceeding. Okay? We good? Then let’s go.

This week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. furthers the fourth season’s ongoing plots concerning AIDA and the Watchdogs, and it gives Daisy an opportunity to rejoin Coulson and co. for the first time since last year. But make no mistake — most of this is just preamble to the sight of two guys with a lot of attitude and similar pyrokinetic powers unleashing holy hell on one another in a building chock full of explosives. I am more than okay with this.

The politics and strategizing of the last few weeks’ episodes are left aside this time around — as is S.H.I.E.L.D.’s new Inhuman Director and Mack’s on-again, off-again relationship with Yo-Yo. That’s probably for the best. S.H.I.E.L.D. sometimes falters when it dwells too long on any one subplot instead of being the zippy action show it was always meant to be, and its commentary on real-world events is best offered in small doses lest it grow stale and tiresome. We do wind up getting a little romance this week with FitzSimmons and their happy househunting, as well as a little bit of G-rated romantic farce when Simmons finally meets AIDA, whom Fitz has been crushing on, and Fitz believes she’s discovered his feelings towards the AI — only to sigh with relief when it turns out his girlfriend is too preoccupied with admiring AIDA as a feat of engineering to notice her boyfriend’s reaction.

Her feelings are understandable. Mallory Jansen is pretty terrific in the role, which is about as far as possible from her last gig in an ABC show (that of the scheming Queen Madalena in the musical comedy Galavant). Here, her performance recalls Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Data and Star Trek: Voyager‘s Seven of Nine, with a healthy dollop of Ex Machina‘s Ava. Though she’s a bit more naive than her predecessors, she’s a fast learner. So it won’t be long before she grows tired of being cooped up in Radcliffe’s lab, and the rest of the team discover his and Fitz’s ruse. Will AIDA eventually join S.H.I.E.L.D.? If she proves half as good at kicking ass as she is at treating patients, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.

In the bromance department… Coulson and Mack again steal the show, even if they’re operating without Fitz this week. I’ve said it before, but Clark Gregg just seems so much more relaxed and energized with his character once more out in the field. He’s more like the character we first fell in love with back in Iron Man than at any point in this show’s run. We even get to see Coulson in his suit and tie again when he visits Robbie’s uncle in prison, and his demeanor recalls old times to the point where I was half expecting him to call on Tony Stark next. I’d really have no problem if Jason O’Mara’s Mace was made S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director for life. If it means more quips and high-speed chases with Lola, count me in.

Another favorite relationship is renewed this week with Daisy and Jemma. It’s a delight to watch the former’s surprise when she learns her old pal is now the big boss of her division, and as capable as she herself is of tossing out the rule book and going with her gut. (Her marksmanship has also improved.)

Daisy’s relationship with Robbie is also working right now, and that’s something I never said about any of her past love interests. Her relationships with Ward and Lincoln felt much more plot driven than the connection she’s forged with the man inside the Rider. Both of them, it turns out, are shaped by feelings of guilt, revenge, and more than a hint of masochism. Which means the sex, if in fact it eventually happens, should be off the charts.

Yet, again, it’s really the chance to see Robbie light up in a fireworks warehouse than makes “Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire” work so well — and do so as transparently as it does, with Mack pointing out the absurd chances of seeing “two fire dudes dropped into a warehouse full of fireworks.” The treacherous Inhuman James goes down pretty quickly, but Robbie leaves him alive, igniting my hope for a rematch. The Ghost Rider, however, will soon face far bigger threats in the form of the Darkhold’s devotees. We’ve already seen how the book can influence people. Now in all likelihood we’ll get witness the power behind that influence.

Declassified Deliberations

— “You were always a sucker for a breakfast nook.” In all fairness, who isn’t?!

— “We had to very gently…kill you.” Radcliffe is just way too cocky to be on the same team as May for very long.

— Remember when we thought Lola would be a much bigger thing than she turned out to be? But if sacrificing her flight capability is the price we pay for seeing her more often, then keep that lady grounded. Between Robbie’s Charger and Coulson’s candy-apple red convertible, “Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire” is positively indecent in its car porn.

— There’s a nifty little Easter egg this week in the “Red Skull” rocket that’s advertised on the outside of James’ fireworks store.

— “I get to keep his car, right? Isn’t that how this works?”

What did you think of this week’s episode? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter (@JMaCabre).

Featured Image: Marvel/Disney/ABC

Images: Marvel/Disney/ABC