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https://blacknerdproblems.com/locke-key-season-2-return-to-key-house/

After a year and a half wait, Netflix’s Locke & Key has returned to the streaming screen with its sophomore season. The live-action adaptation of the beloved comic series from Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez was a highlight of programing back in February 2020. The story itself was not a panel-by-panel recreation, but instead, its own entity. It took the broad narrative beats from the series and changed up some elements. Whereas the original comic leaned a little more toward the horror side, the television series veered a little more fantastical (although there were plenty of moments of genuine fear that punctuated the first season). Crucially, the first season felt like it was still working off the scaffolding of the comics. While there were deviations, the essence of the comic remained intact and the episode titles punctuated which of the volumes was making its way to screen.

This second season of Locke & Key deviates more from the canon of the comic. While the tone and magic of the series remain, it becomes very clear very quickly that Netflix’s Locke & Key has plans to become its own story with its own unique identity.

Keys to the Kingdom

Season 2 opens with the Locke kids in a place of confidence. Tyler (Connor Jessup) is enjoying life and spending time with his girlfriend Jackie (Genevieve Kang). Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) getting ready for a new school year and enjoying the magic of the keys. Kinsey is (Emilia Jones) happily getting ready for the premiere of The Splattering, while also enjoying spending with her boyfriend Gabe (Griffin Gluck). Although Kinsey and the rest of her family are blissfully unaware that Gabe is actually their moral antagonist Dodge. Also, that the Dodge of last season was actually Ellie Whedon (Sherrir Saum) and that Gabe/Dodge managed to open the Black Door and enlist a recruit in the form of the demonized Eden (Hallea Jones). So, things are not as copacetic as they seem.

The Locke kids are using the keys without inhibition. They have fully embraced magic, they are making the most of their time with said magic and they are genuinely happy. Former key user Duncan (Aaron Ashmore) has moved back in with the family while his husband is away for business and he seems to be in a solid place. Even Nina Locke (Darby Stanchfield) seems to be recovering from the most difficult year with a new job refurbishing the school’s theater.

Fascinatingly enough (given that Nina Locke in the series is a very different character from Nina Locke in the comics), Nina acts as the bridge to one of the newer elements of the series. In season two she begins to interact with canon foreigner, Josh Bennett (Brendan Hines), the new history teacher on campus. However, Josh’s presence in the story does afford Locke & Key the ability to look deeper into the lore of the keys as his relationship with Matheson and Key House is revealed over time. These new additions add depth to the narrative and offer some interesting insight into the current predicament that the Locke family finds themselves in.

Clockworks

The entirety of season two is a case study in power dynamics. With all of this magic at their disposal, the Locke kids feel like they have embraced their title as ‘Keeper of the Keys’. But, they are still young and the power they wield is immense. Gabe makes for a fascinating antagonist, indirectly socially engineering a lot of the conflict in the background. Griffin Gluck (who plays Gabe) is clearly in a state of glee playing such a delightfully evil character in tandem with the similarly hedonistic and possessed Eden with Hallea Jones taking her time to chew the scenery.

It is a true spectacle to watch this season play out. The cinematography and special effects are elevated from the already high caliber of the first season and the show itself is really a joy to watch. The set pieces are gorgeous and the magic of the keys feels palpable in every scene. Actors on the show sell the awe (read: old school biblical fear) and the awe (read: modern-day amazement) of the world and it’s hard not to be similarly enthralled by the experience.

Out of the primary trio of this ensemble cast, I think I loved watching Tyler grapple with growing up with the looming deadline of “adulthood” as the ‘exit ramp’ from magic. Honestly, everyone had meaningful moments that lingered and sold the gravitas of the story.

Alpha & Omega

The conundrum I find myself in is that I enjoyed the experience of watching Locke & Key season 2. There were lots of interesting elements that made for good storytelling. Even the magical aspect, the thing that made me fall in love with the comics, was cultivated properly. However, as I was watching (and reminded of the fact that there was a season 3 in the works), the story diverged more and more from the source material and where we end was so drastically different then where I was expecting that I couldn’t help but experience a slight cognitive dissonance.

Now with all of that said, if you liked the first season, I think you’re going to like the second. The creative talent behind and in front of the camera do an incredible job at forging a new chapter of the Locke & Key universe that is entertaining. And while my uncertainty about what comes next remains, I am still certain I’ll be tuning into the next chapters whenever they premiere.

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The post ‘Locke & Key’ Season 2 Review: Returning to Key House appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://nerdist.com/article/smallville-animated-project-michael-rosenbaum-dc-fandome-2021/

One highlight of the recent DC FanDome was the twentieth-anniversary reunion of Smallville’s Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum. Clark and Lex got together again to chit-chat about the old times. Reminiscing about the days when they were the only DC Comics-based TV series on the CW. (a wild notion these days).

But one thing they didn’t talk about was the news that they are working on continuing the story of Smallville. Only this time, in animated form. The folks at IGN recently caught up with Rosenbaum, who confirmed that indeed, an animated continuation is in the works. Despite no official announcement at DC FanDome. Here’s what he had to say about the proposed series:

Warner Bros. 

“It’s something that we’re passionate about. Something we love. Hopefully, we’re going to obviously share with Warner Brothers when the time is right. And hopefully, we’ll be able to work with them. And that’s about all we can say right now.” Rosenbaum admitted that the news of the project leaked early. He also added “Here we are, 20 years later since it started. And one of the most frequent questions is, where do you see your characters now? So that’s literally what we’ll be addressing.”

Warner Bros. Television

Of course, the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event from 2019 and early 2020 actually showed what became of Clark and Lois in the present day. It revealed that Clark gave up his powers, and he and his wife lived a quiet life on the Kent farm. And DC has published several comics taking place past the end of the TV series, pushing the story forward. Will they ignore all that for the new series? Actually, they easily could. The end of Crisis saw a new Multiverse form. So all of those new continuity bits may go down the drain. We just hope we see Smallville Clark as Superman at last. Fans have waited long enough.

The post Michael Rosenbaum Confirms SMALLVILLE Animated Project appeared first on Nerdist.

https://nerdist.com/article/mit-reactive-robotic-fibers-monitor-alter-breathing-smart-clothes/

Along with tattoos that’ll be able to know a lot about your physiology, MIT engineers have also been cranking out clothing that does the same thing. For example, in March of this year, engineers from the research university developed “smart clothes” that can sense and record wearers’ movements. Now, MIT researchers have prototyped “soft robotic fibers” that can monitor a person’s breathing. And change it, if necessary.

DesignTAXI reported on MIT’s new soft robotic fibers, which can sense their own physical alteration and mechanically respond to it. The researchers worked with colleagues from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University. The team aimed to develop robotic textiles for what will become a tool that athletes and singers can use to better control their breathing. In other words, they can be made into super helpful smart clothes.

MIT

In the video above, the researchers describe how the soft robotic fibers work. As the video notes, the robotic fibers can bend, stretch, curl, and pulse on command. The fibers can also provide immediate feedback to wearers. They can squeeze around one’s midsection, for example. Or the smart fabrics can stiffen up and down a wearer’s spine.

The robotic fibers work using a miniaturized wearable electronic control platform—Flow IO—that pumps compressed air through them. The fibers themselves consist of a silicone-based ultra-stretchable material and a tubular braided polymer. These materials are wrapped in a way that creates an empty channel at their center. The channel, in turn, allows for the compressed air to charge through the fibers, straightening or constricting them. Or, conversely, loosening them up.

MIT

The initial use case for the fibers was as a smart robotic fabric for an opera singer. As an MIT press release notes, the team made an undergarment the singer wore to monitor and play back the movement of her respiratory muscles. The garment (above) was even able to provide kinesthetic feedback. Thus it encouraged “optimal posture and breathing patterns” for the singer’s desired vocal performance.

On top of applications for singers and athletes, the researchers say the same fibers could help patients with respiratory issues regain normal breathing patterns. Or perhaps even function as a tool for combating sleep apnea. One thing seems certain, however… Every breath you take, every move you make, smart clothes will be watching you.

The post Robotic Fibers From MIT Can Monitor and Alter Your Breathing appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/another-banger-for-the-ps5-deathloop-review/

Sony has been doing a great job with their Playstation 5 exclusives. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Returnal were both fun and engaging games that really took advantage of the PS5’s hardware in its early stages. Next up to bat is Bethesda’s Deathproof. Let me be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this game before it came out. There was a whole lot of emphasis on ‘player freedom’, but usually that turns out to be more lip service than anything else. I can happily say that while it isn’t perfect, Deathloop blew me away with its stellar gameplay, fascinating story, and spectacular voice acting. Developer Arkane Studios created a unique game that sinks its teeth into you from the jump and never lets go.

Groundhog’s Day with an Edge

You play as Colt (Jason E. Kelley) who wakes up on a beach with no memory. Very quickly you discover that you are stuck in a single, looping day. The only way to exit this loop? Kill the eight ‘visionaries’ scattered across the island before the day is done. It’s a pretty straightforward idea, implemented fantastically. Even though you only have a single day, there isn’t a ticking clock or anything to constantly remind you of that. Instead, there are four timeslots; morning, noon, afternoon, and evening. Time only passes when you move between the maps, giving you time to plan, learn, and discover what options you may have at any given time and location. Each of the four unique locations also has different activities and enemies depending on the time of day.

It’s important to experiment and look for clues. In the beginning, it’s impossible to kill everyone in a single loop. Through repeating the day over and over again you learn more about your targets and how to get them together in the same locations to be a more effective killer. It’s something that could get old very quickly, but Deathloop keeps everything feeling fresh through ’til the very end. You could find a note in the afternoon that leads you to a separate place in the evening that can help you get two visionaries in the same spot on a completely different map at noon. It’s dizzying fun to discover these clues, they give you a real sense of accomplishment.

She Really Don’t Like You

Part of what makes this game stand out is the stellar voice work. Before getting too deep, I have to give a HUGE shoutout to Jason E. Kelley and Ozioma Akagha who play Colt and his rival Julianna respectively. The banter between the two is some of the best I’ve heard in years. Colt gives off big, “F**k I’ll do it live” energy. He’s brash and swears so much he could make a sailor blush and yet it never comes off as annoying or douche-y. Think Duke Nukem but well written and very likable. Opposite Colt is Julianna, the only other person who can remember everything that happens from loop to loop. Her singular mission: kill Colt any and every chance she gets. The banter between them is truly top-notch and Ozioma gives the character real depth while still being the hard-ass, “Killing you is fun” antagonist. I really hope to see more of these two in any medium because damn, they were fire.

While Colt and Julianna are the standouts, all of the visionaries and even the random cannon fodder are great. Everyone has their own unique personality and is deeply flawed. Deathloop definitely encourages listening to every single character and discovering for yourself how messed up everyone is. Each visionary will drop powers that Colt can take and use for himself and his special weapons. This is where you can really personalize your play style. Certain powers push the run-and-gun style, allowing you to mow down enemies and stay alive longer. Other powers let you play sneakily and allow for better traversing. It’s a ton of fun to experiment with different powers and find what works best for you and for the specific situation.

Know Thy Enemy

While you hunt for the visionaries, you still have to watch out for Julianna, who is hunting you. Either the AI or another player can have her invade your map and hunt you relentlessly. Defeating her will give you the powers of other visionaries, but true to the game’s title, she can always come back within the same loop later in the day. To truly defeat her is part of the mystery. You can choose to invade another game and discover how powerful Julianna can be. It’s different and its own challenge but just as fun as the main game. Deathloop convinces you to play as Julianna through its delightful rewards and ranks. It’s great if you don’t have a whole lot of time to devote to playing. While not essential to play, it’s still a great addition to the core experience.

The Wrap Up

Arkane Studios and Bethesda struck gold here with a concept that could have easily become stale after a few hours. Deathloop is one of those games that grabs you from the moment you boot it up. It has well-designed and unique gameplay, fun characters with fantastic voice acting, and an engaging mystery that will keep you coming back. Even after all of that, it’s the little touches the game provides that really make the world feel lived in. This is a must-have for anyone with a PS5. A full-price game if I’ve ever played one.

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The post Deathloop Review: Another Banger for the PS5 appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.