deerstalker
https://www.themarysue.com/j-k-rowling-has-something-to-say-about-the-neil-gaiman-allegations/
You know things are dire when we have to say that notorious TERF and transphobe J.K Rowling (sometimes known as the author of the Harry Potter series) makes a good point.
On Monday, Vulture published a tell-all detailing the many allegations against author Neil Gaiman. Though some of the allegations have been known since last summer, they pale in comparison to the full scope of what he has done, according to the multiple women who have come forward. To say the least, it’s sickening. It is detail we won’t get into here, but we cannot stress trigger warnings enough for the piece.
You know things are dire when we have to say that notorious TERF and transphobe J.K Rowling (sometimes known as the author of the Harry Potter series) makes a good point.
On Monday, Vulture published a tell-all detailing the many allegations against author Neil Gaiman. Though some of the allegations have been known since last summer, they pale in comparison to the full scope of what he has done, according to the multiple women who have come forward. To say the least, it’s sickening. It is detail we won’t get into here, but we cannot stress trigger warnings enough for the piece.
Dean Lorey just might be one of the hardest-working executive producers in the industry. In the past year, he served as showrunner for James Gunn’s Creature Commandos and “Harleyverse” spin-off Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, both while gearing up for his return to Harley Quinn, which he co-created with Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker (Abbott Elementary).
While all three were still executive producers on the show, they handed the showrunner reins over to series writer Sarah Peters (Ghosted) for Season 4, which was admired by critics (including this one) but proved to be polarizing among the fandom. Lorey told TV Line that he “wanted to get the old gang back together and get a little back to basics” with a fifth season that’s “a bit more focused.”
Major spoilers ahead for Harley Quinn seasons 1-4, and minor spoilers for the first season of Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
In season 4, we followed Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) and Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) as they navigated their new jobs. While the couple had many cute moments together, the two spent much of the season dealing with their issues separately. Harley was determined to fit into the Bat Fam but eventually realized being a hardcore hero wasn’t her thing. Suppressing her natural villainy led to sleep-killing Nightwing/Dick Grayson (Harvey Guillen).
Ivy was temporarily the CEO of the Legion of Doom, made a powerful frenemy in Talia al Ghul (Aline Elasmar), and had her own realization that she’s not cut out for corporate life.
The crew took a back seat for the season; King Shark (Ron Funches) and his bride Tabitha had a litter of baby sharks, one of which Tabitha took home with her, leaving the rest with their father. Clayface (Alan Tudyk) was largely absent, except for an episode that showed him at his Vegas residency being oddly antagonistic towards Ivy.
Bane (James Adomian) went on a bizarre pasta adventure in Italy and did little else. Joker (Alan Tudyk) seemingly got bored with his governmental duties as mayor and reverted back to villainy. He missed his days as the Clown Prince of Crime and shot Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (Briana Cuoco), paralyzing her from the waist down (à la The Killing Joke).
Bruce Wayne (Diedrich Bader) spent the season behind bars at Blackgate, serving time for tax evasion (and DJ-ing). But in the finale, he simply decided to leave, just as Alfred Pennyworth (Tom Hollander) was finally transferred to be with him.
Kite Man (Matt Oberg) was absent from season 4 because he was too busy with his own show. Kite-Man, Hell Yeah! premiered in July 2024 and centered on him and his new girlfriend Golden Glider (Stephanie Hsu) and their joint business venture with Noonan’s. The main threats looming over Gotham were Lex Luthor (Lance Reddick), Helen Villigan (Judith Light), and Darkseid (Keith David), all of whom sought after the Anti-Life Equation. The finale teased Brainiac’s signature Skull Ship, which takes us into the long-awaited season 5.
Harley Quinn season 5 reunites us with Harlivy, the “bestest, most titillating-est, most exciting-est couple ever,” rocking velour tracksuits and enjoying their lack of responsibilities. With the Bat Family disbanded Gotham is in disarray with giant rats scaling buildings.
The first episode ties up some loose ends from season 4 like Joker being impeached for, you know, shooting Barbara. We also get a flashback to the short-lived Gotham City Sirens. However, it takes a few episodes before we get a definitive status on Nightwing post-Lazarus Pit.
Harley convinces Ivy to visit Metropolis, which looks like a clean utopia (kinda like Oasis Landing in Sims 3). With Lex Luthor in jail, we’re introduced to his younger sister Lena (the always fabulous Aisha Tyler), who also happens to be Bruce Wayne’s current girlfriend. She loves the chaos Harlivy brings to the perfect city of tomorrow and offers Ivy the chance to add some greenery among the shiny buildings, giving the couple a solid reason to postpone going back to Gotham.
This new setting means Lois Lane (Natalie Morales) and Superman (James Wolk) play a bigger part in the series than before. Unfortunately for Lois, the Daily Planet goes through some changes when Bane and a disguised Clayface join the newsroom. King Shark drops his rambunctious offspring off at their godmothers’ new Metropolis penthouse, with Shaun (Kimberly Brooks) being the biggest menace who becomes attached to Harley and Ivy.
That’s right. King Shark, Clayface, and Bane all live in Metropolis. And while they have their own subplots, the crew (sans Dr. Psycho and Sy) spend a lot more time together. In Kite-Man, Bane reconnected with Betty (Casey Wilson), his dominatrix valentine from A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special. They adopted Goldilocks (Carla Delaney), a former resident of Queen of Fables’ storybook, who bonded with Bane when he was forced to babysit her.
Some characters didn’t make a return, including Dr. Psycho (Tony Hale), Nora Freeze (Rachel Dratch), Talia al Ghul, and Two-Face (Andy Daly). I was disappointed that Batgirl and Jim Gordon (Christopher Meloni) only had brief appearances. However, we get plenty of newcomers to the Harleyverse, including Ivy’s former professor Jason Woodrue (John Slattery), a key figure in her and Frank the Plant’s (JB Smoove) origin story. But this season’s big bad is Brainiac (Stephen Fry), a green humanoid obsessed with perfection, along with his white alien monkey Koko (Phil Lamarr).
While Harley Quinn’s fourth season was a blast, co-creator and showrunner Dean Lorey remedied its shortcomings with a return to form in season 5. Harley and Ivy, along with their crew, still have a healthy balance of familiarity and growth, along with all the absurdity and wild antics. The show remains one of DC’s best animated projects, especially with Lorey at the helm.
Harley Quinn Season 5 premieres January 16 on Max, followed by one new episode weekly through March 20.
The post Review: ‘Harley Quinn’ Season 5 Returns to Form with the OG Crew Taking over a New City appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
TikTok swept into the social media landscape with an enviable force. It seemed to totally capture the hearts and minds of the youngest generations among us with its addictive platform that offers you short-form video after short-form video. Even millennials are not immune to TikTok’s wiles. For some, influences and artists alike, TikTok has also been a lucrative place to grow a business and make a living. But now, the TikTok ban threatens to outlaw TikTok from the US. If the ban becomes an active law as planned, TikTok will be banned from the United States beginning on January 20. Currently, only the Supreme Court stands between the federal law being enacted and not. But what’s the state of the TikTok ban? Well, here’s the current State of the TikTok ban Union.
Quick Links:
- Latest Updates on the Supreme Court’s TikTok Ban Deliberations
- The Current Overall State of Affairs Regarding a TikTok Shut Down
Latest Updates on the Supreme Court’s TikTok Ban Deliberations
After its first day of deliberations, the Supreme Court appears to lean toward upholding the TikTok ban, but did not conclude discussions. TikTok’s lawyer Noel Francisco seemed optimistic, however, noting “This country has never taken a step of shutting down a speech platform, much less such an important speech platform. You don’t shut down a speech platform because you’re worried about speech that’s dangerous.”
The Chinese embassy meanwhile criticized the ban, noting in a statement, “The U.S. has never found evidence that TikTok threatens U.S. national security, but it has used state power and abused national security reasons to unreasonably suppress it, which is not fair or just at all. The U.S. should truly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, stop unreasonably suppressing companies from other countries, and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for companies from all countries to invest and operate in the U.S.”
The Current Overall State of Affairs Regarding a TikTok Shut Down
On January 10th, the Supreme Court will hear opening arguments in the case of the TikTok ban. There’s a lot of legalese involved, but in short, TikTok and ByteDance are arguing that the TikTok ban/shutdown is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment rights of its 170 million users. While some Supreme Court justices acknowledge the truth of this, the opposition argument is that TikTok does not have to shut down, it simply needs to divest of its owner ByteDance. ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok is a concern to the United States government, which believes the company is using TikTok to spy on Americans for the Chinese government, as well as to spread Chinese-centric propaganda. At this point in time, the court seemingly leans toward upholding the law and allowing the TikTok ban to take effect.
The Supreme Court has not yet arrived at a final decision, but it feels expected that they will move quickly to achieve one. We’ll be sure to update this piece as new information becomes accessible. You can listen to the arguments on YouTube via PBS NewsHour.
On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed the TikTok divest-or-ban bill into law, which also passed in Congress. If the Supreme Court does not strike down the TikTok ban, the law will go into effect on January 20. That means the use of TikTok will be illegal in the United States, and TikTok will no longer be available at the time.
The post TikTok Ban Updates: Supreme Court Leans Toward Upholding Ban and Shutting US TikTok Down in January appeared first on Nerdist.
We’re living in a golden age of true-to-source-material video game adaptations for film and TV. From The Last of Us redefining emotional storytelling to Arcane flexing its animation muscles and storytelling, we’ve come a long way from the days of Resident Evil movies that completely ignore almost all source material. How is it that Secret Level dropped on Amazon Prime, and the streets are this quiet about it? I have to search for it on my socials because it’s not coming up on my timelines, and ionlikedat.
Released on December 10th, this anthology series—created by Tim Miller (Deadpool, Love, Death & Robots)—is a love letter to the storytelling of video games. Each episode serves as a fitting homage to the games that shaped us, from beloved classics to forgotten gems, all brought to life with stunning visuals, sharp writing, and a voice cast that’s straight-up iconic. I’m talking Keanu Reeves bringing the intensity, Temuera Morrison delivering that boss energy, Kevin Hart adding his signature flair that we know him for, and Arnold Schwarzenegger reminding us why he’s still the king of action with a dash of comedic relief for good measure.
The animation? Fire. The voice acting? Pure gold. I was hooked from the jump and knew this anthology was going to be special. I need nominations for this show, STAT
Secret Level: Hooked From Episode 1
Episode 1, titled “The Queen’s Cradle,” transported me straight back to my D&D roots, like I was rolling a d20 for initiative all over again. This episode perfectly exemplified how organically your group in D&D forms—everyone falling into their roles, often stumbling into just the class or character you needed to make the party complete.
I loved the Dungeons & Dragons movie, but Secret Level felt like something entirely different. Where the movie leaned into comedy and blockbuster tropes (and did it well!), this felt like watching someone’s actual campaign unfold, more in the vein of The Legend of Vox Machina. It wasn’t trying to crack jokes every five minutes—it was about the adventure, the plot twists, and the unique chaos that only a D&D campaign can deliver. It gave us characters that we see in all of our own campaigns—like Tally, the gnome wizard, who was just so gnome-coded that it hurt but only in the best way. She embodied everything you’d expect from a gnome: clever, chaotic, and undeniably charming.
I’ve been hungry for more video game-related content to consume, and Secret Level came in clutch, like that one homie who mains the healer. Episode 2 takes us back with Sifu, delivering a poignant lesson about the cost of vengeance. Episode 3, meanwhile, is a hilarious meta dive into New World: Aeternum, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in a comedic, MMORPG-flavored fever dream with Groundhog Day-style storytelling. And don’t even get me started on Episode 8, where Keanu Reeves takes the cockpit in the Armored Core universe and annihilates—not just with his mech, but with his flawless voice acting. It’s gritty, brutal, and one of the standouts of the series and I’m so sad that it was such a short episode!
But one of my absolute favorites? “Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear”. Listen, this episode had me ready to hop on my PC and load up Space Marine 2. This episode follows Captain Demetrian Titus post-Space Marine 2, and when I tell you this episode is brutal, brilliant, and so quintessentially 40K/Space Marine, I mean it. By the end, I was yelling, “What’s in the box?!” like I was David Mills in Se7en, only to nod solemnly and say, “Yep, that tracks for 40K.”
This episode has made me even more hyped for Henry Cavill’s upcoming live-action Warhammer 40K series and movies, also coming to Amazon Prime. While I know the two projects are unrelated, the sheer quality of this episode sets a high bar. I can’t help but hope Amazon maintains this level of excellence when it’s time for Cavill’s series to roll out.
Pac-Man’s Dark Side and Easter Egg Mania
Episode 6, though? Oh, y’all ain’t ready for Episode 6. If you know me, you know I live for hyper fixating on video game lore, and Pac-Man is one of my favorite rabbit holes. This episode wasn’t just a trip—it was a journey. Taking cues from Bandai Namco’s extensive library, it blended elements from Xevious, United Galaxy Space Force, and the upcoming platformer, Shadow Labyrinth.
And let me tell you, this episode was DARK. Like, “Why am I whispering ‘What the fuck?’ at my screen?” dark. I spent hours afterward diving into Reddit threads for easter egg confirmations because the lore runs deep. If you’re into theory-crafting, this episode is for you.
Hidden Gems and Forgotten Classics
What makes Secret Level so special is its range. Alongside heavy hitters like Mega Man and Unreal Tournament, it shines a spotlight on lesser-known titles like Concord, a game that had its plug pulled a month after launch and now only lives on in this series. There’s even an episode featuring Spelunky, Honor of Kings, and Crossfire.
And then there’s Exodus, based on an upcoming game from Archetype Entertainment set to release in late 2025. While the game hasn’t launched yet, its episode left me intrigued and eager to dive into it when it arrives.
Tim Miller didn’t just create an anthology—he built a shrine to gaming’s past, present, and future.
Why Aren’t Y’all Watching?
Even if you’re not a hardcore gamer, Secret Level is worth your time. The series doesn’t expect you to know every ounce of lore from these games, it gives you just enough to get invested while leaving room for curiosity. You might even find yourself wanting to pick up a controller or dive into PC gaming after watching.So, if you’ve got some time off this holiday season, do yourself a favor and check out Secret Level. All episodes for season one streaming now on Amazon Prime, and I promise, it’s the gift gamers didn’t know they needed.
Naliaah Castro is a NY-born blerd, gamer, and grad student juggling parenthood, work, and co-paneling on New Blerd Order. With a love for horror, RPGs, sci-fi, and fantasy, she’s probably either deep into a video game or rewatching Lord of the Rings for the hundredth time.
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The post Not Enough of Y’all Are Talking About ‘Secret Level,’ and It Don’t Sit Right with My Spirit appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.