Oscar winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables) and Rebel Wilson (the Pitch Perfect films) team up for the comedy film, The Hustle, which just released a new one-minute trailer. In the 2019 comedy, Hathaway and Wilson join forces to exact revenge on men.
The cast also includes Tim Blake Nelson and Alex Sharp.
Chris Addison (Veep, Playing House) directed from a screenplay by Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning, Dale Launer, and Jac Schaeffer. Rebel Wilson and Roger Birnbaum served as producers. Addison’s behind the scenes team includes director of photography Michael Coulter, editor Anthony Boys, costume designer Emma Fryer, and casting director Theo Park, with music by Anne Dudley.
Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures will release The Hustle in theaters on May 10, 2019. The MPAA’s rated it PG-13 for crude sexual content and language.
The Plot:
“Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson star as female scam artists, one low rent and the other high class, who team up to take down the dirty rotten men who have wronged them.”
Oscar winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan) will provide the narration for Disneynature’s upcoming film, Dolphin Reef. Disneynature made the announcement on Earth Day and confirmed Dolphin Reef will be released on Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+, which debuts on November 12, 2019.
“For more than a decade, Disneynature has amazed and inspired the world through its acclaimed True Life Adventure films,’” said Agnes Chu, senior vice president of Content for Disney+. “We’re thrilled to give Disneynature’s unique stories a new home in our growing collection of original content.”
“Disneynature takes audiences to spectacular and remote places to share remarkable wildlife stories captured by our award-winning film crews,” said Paul Baribault, vice president of Disneynature. “For Penguins, which is in theaters now, moviegoers get to explore the vast and unforgiving Antarctic environment through the eyes of an Adélie penguin. Dolphin Reef takes us to a thriving coral reef—one of the most fascinating and dynamic habitats on Earth—to see the incredible creatures who consider reefs their home.”
In addition to Dolphin Reef, projects announced for the upcoming Disney+ service include Be Our Chef, Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies, Earthkeepers, Encore!, Ink & Paint, and Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2. Marvel’s 616, Marvel’s Hero Project, Magic of Animal Kingdom, (Re)Connect, Rogue Trip, Shop Class, and The World According to Jeff Goldblum will also be available to subscribers.
Natalie Portman was most recently seen in Vox Lux, Annihilation, and Jackie. Portman just finished work on Lucy in the Sky directed by Noah Hawley and co-starring Jon Hamm, Dan Stevens, and Zazie Beetz.
The Dolphin Reef Plot Description:
“Created with Disneynature’s signature storytelling style, the film introduces Echo, a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who can’t quite decide if it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities. Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But Echo has a tough time resisting the many adventures the ocean has to offer. Keith Scholey, who directed Disneynature’s Bears, helms the film.”
Was there ever any doubt NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles would be sticking around for another season? Not really. Today CBS confirmed both shows have earned renewal orders and will be part of the network’s 2019-2020 primetime season.
CBS announced earlier this month that NCIS, the show that spawned the spin-offs, would be returning for a 17th season.
“Both shows have been key pillars to the CBS schedule for several years,” stated Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “They offer heroic stories, big stars and have attracted a passionate, loyal fan base. We’re excited to have Chris, LL, Scott and these terrific casts back to bring more terrific NCIS stories to viewers in the U.S. and around the world.”
NCIS: New Orleans season five has been averaging 11 million viewers each week. It’s also been taking the #1 spot against its time slot competition. NCIS: Los Angeles is enjoying its 10th season and ranks among the “most-watched dramas on broadcast television,” according to CBS. NCIS: LA is drawing in an average of 10.1 million viewers, enough to make it the top scripted series among the four major networks on Sunday nights.
CBS previously confirmed Young Sheldon, Mom, Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods, FBI, God Friended Me, The Neighborhood, and Magnum P.I. were renewed for the upcoming primetime season.
Scott Bakula leads the cast of NCIS: New Orleans season five which currently airs Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT. The cast also includes Lucas Black, Vanessa Ferlito, Necar Zadegan, Rob Kerkovich, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, and CCH Pounder.
NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sundays at 10pm ET/PT and stars Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J. Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Barrett Foa, and Renée Felice Smith also star in season 10.
The NCIS: Los Angeles Plot:
NCIS: Los Angeles is a drama about the high-stakes world of a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals, who pose a threat to the nation’s security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets.
Armed with the latest in high-tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests.
The NCIS: New Orleans Plot:
NCIS: New Orleans is a drama about the local field office that investigates criminal cases involving military personnel in The Big Easy, a city known for its music, entertainment and decadence. Leading the team is Special Agent Dwayne Pride, a.k.a. “King,” a native of New Orleans who is driven by his need to do what is right. Working with Pride is his longtime friend and colleague Special Agent Christopher Lasalle, who plays hard but works harder; tough and acerbic Special Agent Tammy Gregorio, a former FBI Agent who was sent to New Orleans to investigate NCIS and upon completion joined Pride’s team; and Forensic Agent Sebastian Lund, a brilliant scientist who left the lab and, after much training, became an agent.
Supporting them is coroner Dr. Loretta Wade, who is as eccentric as she is smart, and Investigative Computer Specialist Patton Plame, an animated and talented hacker. Joining the team this season is Special Agent Hannah Khoury, a seasoned agent who specializes in international counter-intelligence and has spent most of her career on overseas assignments. This colorful city that harbors a dark side is a magnet for service personnel on leave, and when overindulgence is followed by trouble, Pride’s team is at its best.
Wiz Khalifa’s performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival included the announcement of the Grammy nominee’s upcoming 2019 summer tour. Wiz Khalifa’s “The Decent Exposure Tour” will begin on July 9th at the Cellairis Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Stops will include Boston, Charlotte, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Diego, and Dallas. The tour will wrap up on August 15th in Boise, Idaho at the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater.
French Montana, Playboi Carti, Moneybagg Yo, Chevy Woods, and DJ Drama are set to join Wiz Khalifa during the tour as special guests.
Tickets for the 29 city tour will go on sale beginning Friday, April 26th at 10am local time via LiveNation.com. Citi cardmembers can participate in a special presale on April 23rd at 10am local time through Thursday, April 25th at 10pm local time.
Wiz Khalifa “The Decent Exposure Tour” Dates:
07/09/2019 – Atlanta, GA at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
07/10/2019 – Charlotte, NC at PNC Music Pavilion
07/12/2019 – Holmdel, NJ at PNC Banks Art Center
07/13/2019 – Hartford, CT at XFINITY Theatre*
07/14/2019 – Boston, MA at Xfinity Center
07/16/2019 – Wantagh, NY at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.
07/18/2019 – Camden, NJ at BB&T Pavilion
07/19/2019 – Bristow, VA at Jiffy Lube Live
07/20/2019 – Pittsburgh, PA at KeyBank Pavilion
07/21/2019 – Darien Center, NY at Darien Lake Amphitheater
07/23/2019 – Toronto, ON at Budweiser Stage
07/25/2019 – Cincinnati, OH at Riverbend Music Center
07/26/2019 – Indianapolis, IN at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
07/27/2019 – Chicago, IL at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
07/28/2019 – Columbus, OH at Express Live!*+^
07/30/2019 – Cleveland, OH at Blossom Music Center
07/31/2019 – Detroit, MI at DTE Energy Music Center
08/01/2019 – St. Louis, MO at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
08/02/2019 – Camdenton, MO at Ozarks Amphitheater+^
08/03/2019 – Dallas, TX at Dos Equis Pavilion
08/04/2019 – San Antonio, TX at Majestic Theatre*+^
08/06/2019 – Denver, CO at Fillmore Auditorium*+^
08/07/2019 – Salt Lake City, UT at USANA Amphitheatre
08/09/2019 – Irvine, CA at FivePoint Amphitheatre+
08/10/2019 – San Diego, CA at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/11/2019 – Concord, CA at Concord Pavilion*
08/13/2019 – Auburn, WA at White River Amphitheatre
08/14/2019 – Ridgefield, WA at Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
08/15/2019 – Boise, ID at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater*.^
* Playboi Carti not on this date
+ French Montana not on this date
. Moneybagg not on this date
^ not a Live Nation date
Photos, plot details and guest cast details arrive for CBS’s S.W.A.T. season two episode 20. The episode titled “Rocket Fuel” was directed by Laura Belsey and written by Craig Gore and Ryan Keleher. Debbie Allen returns to guest star as Charice Harrelson, Hondo’s mother. Grimm‘s Claire Coffee also returns as Kira in the April 25, 2019 episode.
Season two episode 20’s guest cast also includes Daniel Lissing as Ty, Erwin Stone as Chef J, John Gloria as Sergeant Davis, Dalon J. Holland as Kyree, Greg Eagles as Roland, Tia Valentine as Monica, Nicholas “Slick” Stewart as Jarius, and Chris Lee as Peter “PC-Pak” Watkins, Ethan Drake Davis, Roshawn Briscoe, Casper Nelson, Tom Ayers, Larissa Alonso, Amanda Lowe-Oadell, Dominic Hoffman, Phylicia A. Wissa, Arcadio Cadena, and Anahi Bustillos also guest star in “Rocket Fuel.”
The cast of season two includes Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Stephanie Sigman as Jessica Cortez, Alex Russell as Jim Street, and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay. Lina Esco stars as Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson is Dominique Luca, Peter Onorati is Jeff Mumford, David Lim is Victor Tan, and Patrick St. Esprit plays Commander Robert Hicks.
The “Rocket Fuel” Plot – The SWAT team discovers a new version of PCP with ties to an escaped drug dealer who created a version that ravaged the city decades earlier. Tan’s personal ties to the case emerge when he brings in his mentor, Ben Mosley (Dominic Hoffman), the former lead detective on the original drug case, to help. Also, Chris weighs a major decision regarding her romantic relationship with Kira and Ty, and Hondo’s patience is tested by his new familial responsibilities.
CBS’s SEAL Team season two episode 19 is set to air on April 24, 2019. Titled “Medicate and Isolate,” episode 19 was directed by Ruben Garcia and written by Spencer Hudnut, Kenny Ryan, and Jacob Roman. The second season airs on Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT.
Episode 19’s guest cast includes Peter Murnik as Dr. Wilson, Tony Curran as Brett Swan, Liz Jenkins as June, Tamala Jones as Miller, Joanna Bacalso as Christine, and Kristy Swanson as Julia Logan. Jean Glaudé, Randy Ryan, and Julian Silver also guest star.
The SEAL Team cast is led by David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes. Max Thieriot is Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr is Ray Perry, and AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn. Toni Trucks plays Lisa Davis, Jessica Paré is Mandy Ellis, and Judd Lormand is Lieutenant Commander Eric Blackburn. Tyler Grey plays Trent in a recurring guest star role.
The “Medicate and Isolate” Plot – While Bravo Team is on a recovery mission in Mali, their friend, former Navy SEAL Brett Swan (Tony Curran), continues to struggle with his mental health.
The SEAL Team Plot:
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the team’s success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn, who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield; CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists; and Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 8 episode 2 (Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO)
Welcome back! Last Sunday night (April 14, 2019) was the eighth and final season premiere of Game of Thrones. We finally got some answers to questions like “Will Jon Snow ever ride a dragon?” “Will he find out the truth about his parentage?” Yes, and yes. But there are so many more questions to which we still demand answers.
1. What will Jon (Kit Harington) do now that he knows he’s Aegon? Will he keep it to himself and swear Sam (John Bradley) to secrecy? It won’t do any good since Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) also knows. (And I’d put money on Melisandre finding out.) Will he tell Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and how will she react? (He should hide the crockery if they have any.) Not only does Jon/Aegon’s true identity throw a monkey-wrench into her grand plans, but she’s been having sex with her nephew. (But seriously, Jon’s interaction with the dragons should have tipped her off.)
2. Will Bran rat out Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) for attempted murder which left him a cripple? Although if he hadn’t, would Bran have become the Three-eyed Raven? All things considered, it is possible that Bran forgives Jaime for what he’s done. Forgiveness might be the wrong word since that would ascribe to Bran more human feeling than I believe he still possesses at this stage.
We know from the episode two trailer that this situation will be dealt with tout de suite. There are Reddit threads devoted to the possibility that Arya (Maisie Williams) kills him a la Littlefinger and takes his face, then rides south to try to kill Cersei (Lena Headey). The prophecy that she’s been haunted by her entire life says that her “little brother” will kill her. All along she’s believed it was Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). Jaime is also younger than she is, even if only by a few seconds. Personally, I like this theory.
3. Will Dany become pregnant with Jon/Aegon’s baby? In season seven, which many believe felt rushed and crammed too full of stuff intended to get us to the end game, screen-time and dialogue was given in two separate scenes to Daenerys’ belief that she could not have children. I, and a whole dragon pit-load of other fans, believe this means that a child will be conceived even if it is never born.
4. What are Tyrion’s true feelings toward Daenerys? Have they changed? Is he worried that she’ll burn down the world or is he, too, in love with her? Will he decide to tell her once she knows the truth about Jon?
5. How about those two remaining dragons who are “barely eating” and “don’t like the North?” Will they be strong enough when they’re needed? None of them are female. Aren’t they destined to go the way of their ancestors anyway?
6. Too many questions revolve around Cersei. Here’s one: How does creepy Qyburn (Anton Lesser) play into all of this? He’s famously reanimated the dead already (The Mountain.) Will his skills somehow be useful in the war to come?
There are so very many more questions! Who is the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) and what is his plan? If he kills everyone, won’t his “people” eventually die out? Speaking of dying, who, among our favorites, will live and who will die? Who will eventually sit on the Iron Throne? Perhaps no one. Perhaps the world will be destroyed and it will be up to the Children of the Forest to start over.
I could go on and on (and undoubtedly will in the coming weeks), but I can only hope we’ll have answers as the final credits roll on the final episode. We only have five more to wait. Roll on season eight episode two, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”!
Again, that newly redesigned opening is just spectacular. One thing I didn’t notice last week, but did the Iron Throne at the end of it have fewer swords than it used to? There was no Valyrian steel in it, was there? Why would anyone need to remove some of them? More questions!
We open with Jaime Lannister apparently standing trial, listening to Daenerys’ litany of his crimes, up to and including Cersei’s latest betrayal. Jaime insists she betrayed him as well and he tells everyone about the army of The Golden Company protecting King’s Landing.
Tyrion rushes to his brother’s defense but no one wants to hear it. No one trusts the Lannisters. Then Bran uses Jaime’s words against him: “The things we do for love.”
It takes Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) to vouch for Jaime to Sansa before anyone will listen. And Brienne is far more than Jaime deserves. Sansa tells B, “I trust you with my life…if you trust him with yours, we should let him stay.” Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) gives him a dirty look but gives him back his sword.
Daenerys is angry with Tyrion. He either lied about Cersei sending her army north or he didn’t know. Either way, she’s pissed and losing faith in her “Hand.”
Down in the forge, Gendry (Joe Dempsie) is looking all hot and sweaty and there’s Arya, giving him the once over. She pretends to be there asking for her weapon and then quizzes him about White Walkers. But we know she just wants to A) show off and 2) spend time with Gendry.
At the Weirwood tree, Jaime seeks out Bran to apologize for trying to kill him. He tells him he’s not the same person that pushed him out the window. Bran, as I predicted (woot!) tells Jaime that he would still be the old Jaime and Bran would not have become the Three-Eyed Raven but would still be Brandon Stark if Jaime hadn’t pushed him. He reveals that he never told anyone because if he had, Jaime would not be able to help “in this fight if I let them murder you.”
Tyrion finds his brother in the courtyard (under the watchful eye of the Winterfell guards). He tries to convince him that Dany is different from other Targaryens. After discussing Cersei and her baby, they discuss their deaths. Tyrion repeats his wish (from season one) to die in his own bed yadda yadda. Jaime says it with him then wanders off as Tyrion muses about marching to King’s Landing to “rip {Cersei} apart.”
What’s got Jaime’s attention? Brienne, below, watching Pod (Daniel Portman), who is starting to look like an actual soldier, and other men drill. He goes to her and they chit-chat before Brienne stops him and they start to sound like teenagers who don’t want to admit that they like each other. Jaime admits to her that he’s not the “fighter I used to be” but would be “honored to serve under your command.” Brienne has no words other than “I better get back.”
Dany is in her chambers when Jorah (Iain Glen) enters. He begins by defending Tyrion, referencing their journey together, how it took him a while to warm to him and how much he trusts him, asking Dany to forgive his mistakes. “We all make mistakes. He owns his.” She asks if he is asking her to forgive the man who “stole your position?” He says he is – with one other request.
Daenerys goes to see Sansa (Sophie Turner) who is still being treated as the Lady of Winterfell and being large and in charge. Dany asks to speak with her alone. She’s seeking to find common ground with Sansa and sees an opening re: Sansa’s opinion of Jaime Lannister, until Brienne stepped in to sway her. Sansa not only reiterates her trust in Brienne, but says she knows Tyrion is not like the other Lannisters and she trusts him too. Daenerys lists the reasons she’s losing faith.
They decide they’ve got things in common, particularly what it’s like to lead people “who aren’t inclined to accept a woman’s rule.” Dany compliments Sansa but wants to know why they’re still at odds. Dany lays out her heart about loving Jon, trusting him to be true to his word. Sansa says she should have thanked her when she first arrived.
Sansa also wants to know what happens after the war with the dead. Dany says, “I take the Iron Throne” (as in ‘duh’.) Sansa wants to know what about the North?! Daenerys looks about to tell Sansa that the North will have to bend the knee and be subject to her crown when they are interrupted.
Theon (Alfie Allen) has arrived in Winterfell. Dany doesn’t seem pleased that Yara is not with him but really wants to know what he’s doing there without her. When he proclaims that he wants “to fight for Winterfell, if you’ll have me.” It’s clear Sansa will. They embrace warmly. Despite everything else he’s done, it’s clear that Sansa now sees him as a true friend and ally.
Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) is helping to feed the refugees and helping to instill confidence in the men who’ve suddenly found themselves drafted into the army to fight the dead. A child with a disfigured face wants to know what her place should be. She wants to be a soldier. Gilly (Hannah Murray) tells her that while she’s in the crypt with her son, she’d appreciate a brave warrior like her to protect them. It is clear that Ser Davos sees the late Princess Shireen in the face of this little girl.
Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and Edd (Ben Crompton) reunite with Jon! Huzzah! Plus Beric (Richard Dormer), of course. They tell Jon about what they found at Last Hearth and that they had to travel around the Army of the Undead. “Whoever’s not here now, is with them.”
Kit Harington and Maisie Williams in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 8 episode 2 (Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO)
Jon wants to know how long before they get to Winterfell. The answer? “Before the sun comes up tomorrow.” What the what?! Holy schnikey! Less than 24 hours! Jon looks worried AF; Sam looks like he may throw up. So of course, what’s Tormund’s next question? “The big woman still here?” I stan this pairing. Hard.
Jon is giving a pep talk, listing their weapons etc. But he says their enemy is too many, they don’t tire, they don’t fall etc. He tells them that taking out the Night King, who made all the rest, is their only hope.
Bran says, “He’ll come for me. He’s tried many times with other Three-Eyed Ravens.”
Sam asks the big question: “What does he want?” Bran tells him that he wants to “erase this world.” Sam gets deep. “That’s what death is. Forgetting and being forgotten. If we forget where we’ve been and what we’ve done, we’re not men anymore. Just animals. Your memories don’t come from books…If I wanted to erase the world of men, I’d start with you.”
Bran tells everyone the Night King always knows where he is because his mark is on him. He needs to lure him into the open before he “destroys us all.” No one wants to let Bran use himself as bait. Theon, of all people, volunteers to wait with Bran.
Battle plans are being made and Tyrion volunteers to man the wall with Ser Davos to wait for a signal. Dany tells him to wait in the crypt, essentially with the women and children. It may seem like she’s come to her senses when she tells him that he’s there “because of your mind. If I win this war, I’ll need it.” It comes across as a dressing down and it seems like Jorah thinks so, too.
Jon is convinced the dragons will protect Bran. When Arya asks if dragon fire will stop the Night King, Bran says he doesn’t know since no one has ever tried. (I think so, but is that too easy? Maybe they have to cross the streams – live dragon fire with undead blue dragon fire?)
Tormund is still trying to get a leg over Brienne. Don’t quit, big man!
So, everyone thinks they’re going to die tomorrow. Jon says, “Let’s get some rest,” and runs out on a plainly surprised Dany. Tyrion asks Bran to tell him his long story. Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) finds Grey Worm who tells her that when the war is over and Dany has won, he wants to take her and go to the beach.
Jon and Sam are on a wall (a different wall but it feels familiar.) Sam wants to know if he’s told Dany yet. When Jon demurs, he presses. “But you will. You’re just biding your time, right?”
Edd interrupts with, “And now our watch begins.” Here’s where we get the lines from the first trailer. It’s Sam who says, “Think back to where we started” and talks about the brothers they lost. Jon adds, “Now it’s just us three.” Dolorous Edd ends with, “Last man left, burn the rest of us.”
Tyrion and Jaime muse about how they would have liked to have seen their father’s face knowing his sons are {probably} going to die defending Winterfell. Tyrion says his whoremongering days are over. Is he hinting at his love for Daenerys? Pod and Brienne and then Ser Davos and Tormund join them, in search of warmth. Soon everyone’s sitting around the fire having a drink. Tormund is taunting Jaime who he perhaps sees as a rival for Brienne’s affections. As foreplay, it leaves much to be desired.
Arya finds The Hound (Rory McCann) on the wall and they have a much better chat than last week’s. When she demands to know why he’s in Winterfell, especially since he’s never fought for anyone other than himself, he answers, “I fought for you.” Beric Dondarrion, who Arya is not fond of, joins them and Arya leaves.
Inside, Arya is practicing her archery. Gendry finds her to give her the new weapon he’s forged. They discuss the Red Woman and he reveals he’s Robert Baratheon’s bastard.
Arya’s more interested in whether or not he’s a virgin. Little Arya wants to have sex before she dies. Gendry and Arya! I knew it! (Well, more like I hoped. There had to be a reason he was kept alive, after all.) The heat of the forge was enough to melt that “cold little bitch” (as The Hound observed) for a little while. Holy Schnikey! At least someone’s doing something other than staring at the fire and musing on their deaths.
Actually, Tyrion is feeling optimistic. He thinks they’ve all survived so much already, that there’s always a chance. Jaime and Tormund are still one-upping each other for Brienne’s affections. Though Brienne has always insisted that she never wanted to be a knight, Jaime remembers that a knight can make anyone a knight. He does so for Brienne and she is (and I am) quite moved. They share a lingering look and the assembled company all stand and applaud Ser Brienne of Tarth, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Very cool.
Lady Lyanna Mormont is having a moment with her cousin Jorah and then Jorah has one with Sam who finally convinces Jorah to take back the Mormont family Valyrian steel sword. Yay! We want Jorah to have whatever edge he can get.
Back around the fire, Tyrion, who clearly doesn’t want the night to end, asks for a song. Everyone declines until Pod begins to sing a song about a woman who “never wanted to leave” her loved ones. As he does, we’re taken around to see what everyone else is doing. Sansa and Theon are giving each other longing looks (I’m sorry, what?), Sam is in bed with Gilly and baby Sam (shouldn’t that kid be about six by now? It’s the reverse of “the kid trick” where they usually age-up kids), Arya and Gendry are in bed, though not looking especially couple-y. Missandei and Grey Worm are sharing a passionate kiss before she sends her lover off to battle. The army of the dead are nearly at the Winterfell gates as Ser Jorah rides off to meet them.
Dany finds Jon in the crypt staring at the statue of Lyanna Stark. He tells Dany the truth about his identity. She takes it about as well as we all thought she would. She’s skeptical of a “secret no one in the world knew except your brother and your best friend.” She practically bites out the words, “That would make you the last male heir of House Targaryen and you’d have a claim to the Iron Throne.” Before Jon can respond, the horns sound. They rush out to the battlements. The war has begun.
We end with the arrival of the Night King and his army.
Okay, that was a lot! They’re packed tightly with no wasted space and I’m already wrung out! Gah! Tune in next week as we go to war with the Army of the Undead. After reading about the six months of night shoots to film this battle, I have no doubt it’s going to be epic!
Memorable lines from Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2:
Jaime: “What about afterwards?”
Bran/Raven: “How do you know there is an afterwards.”
Jaime: “She fooled me, too.”
Tyrion: “She never fooled you. You always knew exactly what she was. You loved her anyway.”
Sansa: “Men do stupid things for women. They’re easily manipulated.”
Theon: “I took this castle from you. Let me defend you now.”
Not something a character in tonight’s episode said, but I read someone, somewhere this week refer to Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek) as “Goth Pacey” (as in Joshua Jackson on Dawson’s Creek) and now I can’t see him any other way.
Pablo Schreiber in ‘American Gods’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s American Gods season two episode seven, the season’s penultimate episode, fills in the backstory of fan favorite Mad Sweeney (played by Pablo Schreiber). Sweeney’s the focus of episode seven which ends with one of the series’ most shocking moments.
“Treasure of the Sun” beings with Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) walking down the middle of the road on the outskirts of Cairo. He’s been sent to find Mad Sweeney, and he locates the unlucky leprechaun by the side of the road. He assumes he’s dead, but Sweeney’s just sleeping one off. A comparison to trolls hanging out under bridges leads to a confession from Mad Sweeney that he’s actually not sure whether he is a troll or a leprechaun.
Talking to himself in sort of a drunken daze, Sweeney confirms the further he gets from Laura Moon (or “dead wife” as he not so lovingly calls her), the unluckier he becomes. He’s a mixed bag of emotions (alternately giddy and in tears) and seems to have nearly given up on life.
Shadow tries to draw Laura’s location out of Mad Sweeney, but he won’t reveal it until Shadow hands over $20 to pay for booze at the nearest bar. Sweeney says the last time he saw Laura was in New Orleans and he assumed she was traveling to Cairo to reunite with Shadow.
Sweeney whispers in Shadow’s ear, “This is gallows ground you’re walking, and there’s a rope around your neck and a raven-bird on each shoulder waiting for your eyes.”
Shadow arrives back at Mr. Ibis’ funeral home as Mr. Ibis (Demore Barnes), Wednesday (Ian McShane), and The Jinn (Mousa Kraish) are discussing which Old Gods are on their side. The Jinn’s of the opinion Bilquis isn’t but Wednesday believes she’ll fight for them when the time comes. Shadow informs the group he just found Mad Sweeney and he’s in bad shape. Wednesday takes that news as a sign Sweeney’s in the perfect state to join their cause.
When it’s only Wednesday and Shadow, Wednesday completes the mending of Gungnir which is now covered in magical runes. Shadow’s given the sword and told to guard it with his life. “Wars are coming, Shadow. I have a big role for you,” says Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Mama-Ji (Sakina Jaffrey) threatens to call the health department if Laura (Emily Browning) doesn’t leave the Motel America diner. Laura reminds her she’s capable of ripping off limbs and not to be outdone, Mama-Ji allows Laura to see her in her form as Kali the Destroyer, consumed by fire and brandishing a sword. She only wants a little respect from Laura and in turn, she can provide a little help. Laura describes what she needs: two drops of blood infused with love.
Mama-Ji tells Laura she doesn’t need that voodoo magic to heal. The power’s already in her heart, given to her by Mad Sweeney. “What? Like the power of love?” asks Laura. “No, the power to destroy,” replies Mama-Ji.
Mama-Ji slides Laura a note. Laura hits the road, hitchhiking her way toward Shadow’s light.
Emily Browning and in ‘American Gods’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Mad Sweeney arrives at the funeral home where he believes he sees a banshee. He greets Salim (Omid Abtahi) at the door with, “Morning, pillow biter,” which Salim takes in stride. Inside the funeral home, Mad Sweeney is convinced he hears the wailing of banshees. Salim tries to explain it’s just women outside mourning the loss of a husband and father, but that explanation doesn’t appease Sweeney.
Mad Sweeney enters the parlor where Bilquis (Yetide Badaki) is leading a service. After the service, Bilquis and Mad Sweeney discuss his past and he claims not to remember much. She places her hand on him and announces that she won’t have him, but she will have his confession.
Mad Sweeney remembers a woman who had the sight and as they made love, she told him he’d be undone west of the sunrise and that a dead woman would seal his fate. After that, the fairy folks’ stories changed and the leprechauns began being described as greedy little green men. As he recalls the stories and the various ways they described his death, Bilquis reminds him they’re not true. “You didn’t die that way and her fortune didn’t come true,” says Bilquis.
Mad Sweeney’s no longer sure of the truth.
Bilquis confesses the version she heard said he had a wife.
Mad Sweeney’s reunions continue. Up next, a meeting with Wednesday leads to Mad Sweeney declaring he’s quitting. Wednesday claims they have a contract Mad Sweeney hasn’t fulfilled. But an angry Mad Sweeney reminds him he killed the dead wife as requested and then she stole his coin. That should more than pay off any debt he owes Wednesday.
Wednesday wonders why Mad Sweeney doesn’t just take the coin, but Mad Sweeney can’t do that because his code of honor forbids it. The coin must be returned freely. They argue over whether Sweeney’s in love with Laura and Wednesday warns him to get over it.
Wednesday demands Mad Sweeney finish the job he’s contracted to do: kill Laura Moon.
Mad Sweeney drinks, sulks, and then screams at the banshees gathered outside the funeral home. He has a flashback to existing off eating ants to get by. In the flashback a woman he believes is a witch walks toward him through the forest, holding the hand of a little girl. She says she’s his wife and he smiles as he recognizes his family. When Sweeney doesn’t remember his daughter’s name, his wife says to her, “Remember the boundaries of your father’s mind have grown thin since he left us.”
The little girl introduces herself as Moira and Sweeney digs into the bread they’ve brought. He pauses to wonder why his wife’s dressed in rags. He asks about the beautiful dress she wore when they danced at their wedding, and she gently reminds him they lost everything, including their castle, his lands, and his title. The war was lost and because Sweeney abandoned their allies, he was cursed by the bishop.
Back to current events and Salim takes a seat outside the funeral home next to Mad Sweeney. Salim admits he’s only in town because The Jinn is there, and The Jinn’s there because he owes Wednesday. The conversation returns to the women in black, and Sweeney remains convinced they’re banshees. Salim’s equally convinced they’re women in mourning.
Mad Sweeney suggests Salim leave before the war starts. The Jinn has to stay but Salim shouldn’t give up his life for someone who’s going to live forever. Salim, however, believes that’s how love works.
Sweeney wonders if The Jinn would kill Salim if Wednesday asks. “I can’t explain love to someone who has never felt it,” says Salim. “Oh, I felt it. I had a family. I had a wife; I had a kingdom,” replies Sweeney, adding, “I’m starting to remember now.”
Another flashback shows Sweeney’s wife, Eorann (Clare McConnell), attempting to make Sweeney listen to reason. Sweeney stands firm in his belief the monks will ruin everything they touch. Eorann tries to get him to understand the world changes. She’s pregnant and soon he’ll be a dad, and she wants him to change with his family. She simply wants him to make alliances not enemies so they can live a long life together.
They kiss and Sweeney hears the bells in the church toll. Eorann doesn’t react but the sound is driving Sweeney mad. Enraged once again, he stalks off determined to stop the monks from building churches on his land.
Mad Sweeney recalls the events of that day and provides the details to Salim. Sweeney found Bishop Ronan, threw his prayer book into the lake, and then speared one of his priests. He was cursed by Bishop Ronan to become mad and die by the spear.
Sweeney heard banshees on the battlefield and knew he would die that night. He left the battlefield and lost his family and his mind. (Sweeney’s story is lifted from the Irish tale of Suibhne mac Colmai, king of Dal nAraidi. Suibhne exited the Battle of Mag Rath and began wandering, eventually earning the name Suibne Geilt or Mad Sweeney.)
A while later Mad Sweeney visits Shadow in his room. Sweeney warns Shadow not to let Laura near Wednesday. He also warns him that he’ll fall out of favor with Wednesday, as everyone does. “There’s always a cost with him. You just haven’t paid it yet,” says Sweeney.
Shadow’s dismissive of Sweeney’s warning, prompting Sweeney to act. He picks up Shadow’s coin and makes it disappear. Shadow demands its return but Sweeney refuses until Shadow makes a promise. Sweeney listens to the banshees wail and tells Shadow it means someone here will be dying soon. “When the time comes, don’t get in the f**king way,” says Sweeney. He wants Shadow to promise that, even though Shadow doesn’t understand what Sweeney’s talking about.
Shadow promises and Sweeney returns his coin. Sweeney then confesses that Wednesday and the gods are not heroes.
Mr. Ibis writes as Sweeney downs yet another beer. Mr. Ibis is putting pen to paper to tell Sweeney’s story, advising Sweeney he’s aware he has a lot of stories inside his head. Mr. Ibis calls what he’s writing “imaginative re-creations,” and the current story he’s working on is Sweeney’s earliest story. It concerns Sweeney fighting off all the gods who entered Ireland.
Another flashback shows Sweeney at war with the gods who’ve come from foreign lands. The war changed when the church arrived and twisted their stories into tales of fairies and saints and dead kings. Mr. Ibis reveals the story he’s writing is about the ancient race of gods in Ireland.
When Sweeney whispers that he was a king, Mr. Ibis corrects him. “You were a god-king,” says Mr. Ibis. He was a god of the sun, luck, craft, art, and everything valuable to civilization. He was known as The Shining One and Long Hand for his skill with a spear. A flashback shows Sweeney in action in war – a brutal, vicious warrior who kept his people safe.
His enemies were the Fomorians. The Fomorians were described as madmen, monstrous beings, and the things of nightmares. Sweeney remembers their leader was Balor, Sweeney’s father’s father.
Sweeney’s in anguish when a memory floods him of decapitating Balor. Sweeney’s memory is a tricky thing, and he believes Balor loved him. Mr. Ibis corrects his memory, reminding him Balor knew one of his grandchildren would kill him so he had them all drowned. Only Sweeney survived.
Sweeney doesn’t want to confront this memory and then realizes it wasn’t Balor he killed. He then has a vision of the battle ending as he held aloft Grimnir’s severed head.
Mr. Ibis asks him to remember stories aren’t truer than the truth. Sweeney hands Mr. Ibis the $20 he took from Shadow. He was going to use it on a ride or alcohol, but he no longer needs the cash. When Mr. Ibis asks if Sweeney’s not thinking about tomorrow, Sweeney warns him it’s none of his business.
Elsewhere in the funeral home, Wednesday leads a toast to the coming war, noting the proverbial sh*t is about to hit the fan. He calls the meal their “last supper.”
Sweeney interrupts the gathering, acknowledging he wasn’t invited to join the dinner. Sweeney makes note of the fact they’re eating the banshees’ food, wondering why Wednesday didn’t know any better than to do so. Sweeney warns Salim they’re in debt to the fairies now. Sweeney then addresses Wednesday directly, certain he’s no longer in his debt since he too ate the fairies’ food.
Sweeney walks around the table toward Wednesday, reminding Shadow of his promise not to get in the way. Shadow, ever the attentive bodyguard, reaches for Gungnir and Sweeney warns him it’s between him and Wednesday. Shadow rises from his seat with the spear in his hand. Everyone else is told to clear the room and only Wednesday, Shadow, and Sweeney remain as once again Sweeney claims his debt is cancelled.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll put the spear down. You’ll leave; you’ll never look on any of us f*cks again,” hisses Sweeney.
Shadow continues to hold onto the spear. He punches Sweeney in the face and then takes a swing with the spear. An all-out brawl breaks out and Shadow appears to get the best of Sweeney. Sweeney holds him close and asks if he can feel the poison, saying the poison is Wednesday. Sweeney then drops a bombshell, confessing he caused Laura’s car wreck on Wednesday’s orders. Shadow wants to know why Wednesday would kill Laura and Sweeney says it’s because he uses everybody.
Wednesday has been sitting at the table eating during the fight. When Sweeney divulges his big secret, Wednesday only acknowledges the disclosure by tipping his fork toward Shadow as if to say, yes, it’s as the leprechaun says.
Once again, Sweeney advises Shadow to leave. Shadow refuses, again, adding a “f*ck you” for emphasis. Sweeney then confesses he had sex with Laura which causes Shadow to lash out again.
Shadow leaves Sweeney kneeling after a punch, and Gungnir is now on the ground not far from Sweeney’s hand. Sweeney rises, grabs Odin’s spear, and lunges toward Wednesday. Shadow reacts by grabbing the shaft, sinking to his knees, and whipping around, placing the spear so that Sweeney runs into it. It pierces his chest and Sweeney gasps in pain. He’s been run through by the spear and it finally dawns on Shadow what he’s done. He apologizes and Sweeney says, “You owe me a coin, Moon Shadow.”
Wednesday claims he would have given Sweeney his battle. Before Sweeney dies, he grasps the spear and changes Gungnir into gold coins. He flips off Wednesday and calls him a one-eyed c*nt before falling to the floor.
As he dies, Sweeney says, “I used to be a king.” (This had better not be the end of fan-favorite Mad Sweeney! The Sweeney/Laura relationship is one of the show’s most compelling storylines.)
If the show wanted us to hate the Winchesters – Dean in particular – then Supernatural season 14 episode 19 “Jack in the Box” achieved this in spades. This was an episode thoroughly in contrast with established characterizations of the heroes and one that will make us resent them for quite a while, unless they reverse things in next week’s finale.
The episode starts off with Dean (Jensen Ackles), Cas (Misha Collins), and Sam (Jared Padalecki) giving a memorial to Mary, and we found out (much to my annoyance) that the Apocalypse World hunters are still alive – looks like Michael had killed only a few of them. Alternate Bobby (Jim Beaver) then signals his arrival by killing a wraith who had been infiltrating the bunker. Bobby is livid over the loss of Mary and leaves with the promise that he would find and kill Jack for what he did. This prompts Castiel to visit Heaven – and this cannot be stated enough, but Castiel is the only person who remains likable by the end of this episode.
In Heaven, Duma (Erica Cerra) reveals she’s imprisoned Naomi for her failure as a leader and taken over the reins herself. Castiel shares news of Jack’s soulless state to her, only for Duma’s eyes to sparkle with the idea that she can use Jack to further her own motives.
Finding Jack (Alexander Calvert) still whimpering over his actions, Duma manipulates him into killing those humans who she sees as influential, but enemies of God and his mission, such as an atheist professor and a TV evangelist. With the news of these deaths being public, Sam voices them over to the rest of the group.
Duma’s next intention is for Jack to create angels, and she has Jack convince a prayer group to accompany him to Heaven where he seemingly does succeed in turning them into angels. Their leader, who didn’t trust Jack’s words, is left to be eaten by worms, but survives long enough to relay Jack’s actions to Sam and Dean at the hospital. This is the final level for Dean, who convinces Sam they need to seal Jack in the box he had built back when he wanted to be thrown in the bottom of the ocean when Michael had been in his mind.
The plan is for them to dupe Jack into thinking they’ve forgiven him and then lie about finding a magical spell that can get him his soul back. Here, both Sam and Dean go against character and agree to seal Jack. It makes Dean look like nothing more than a vengeful jerk as he’s giddy at the prospect of sealing Jack for eternity despite all the boy has done for them. Likewise, Sam is only partly fazed by this prospect and even goes along with the plan knowing that Jack likes him better than Dean, so it would be prudent for Sam to manipulate him.
Castiel arrives in Heaven and kills Duma when she threatens to destroy the Heaven that John and Mary are sharing as well as claiming she won’t back down from her destructive ways. Before Castiel can get to Jack, Sam and Dean have summoned him to the bunker already. In a show of awful acting, along the lines of how they’d acted in season six’s “The French Mistake”, Sam and Dean tell Jack they forgive him for killing Mary. Jack admits he regrets what happened, although the blank look on his face conveys he doesn’t really feel much of what he claims to feel. Dean clearly loathes Jack by this point, but plays along until Sam convinces Jack to lie in the box.
Dear sweet Jack believes the Winchesters and agrees to be sealed in the box, not knowing they have no intention of ever releasing him. Strangely, and also infuriatingly, Dean and Sam are then shown enjoying a drink for their successful manipulation of the child and wonder if they can forget about him. While Sam voices some measure of regret and that he might not be able to forget Jack, Dean is more at ease and is just glad Jack isn’t their problem anymore.
However, inside the box, Jack is again shown to be talking to his subconscious, which takes the form of Lucifer once more. Lucifer taunts him by telling Jack that the Winchesters played him and will never release him.
Very upset Castiel – the only one who hasn’t given up on Jack – is severely disappointed in Sam and Dean for what they did to Jack and accuse them of not being any better than Duma for manipulating him. Dean, as always never claiming responsibility for his own actions, isn’t sorry at all and gets in Castiel’s face yet again over Jack killing Mary. By now, though, Jack’s super abilities kick in due to his upset state, and he destroys the box confining him. The trio enter the room to see Jack looking as vengeful as ever over their efforts to lock him up for good.
Although Supernatural wants us to see Jack as the bad guy, that’s nowhere near how it’s coming across. Instead, Dean and Sam seem like the villains as they refuse to see how Jack is being manipulated and that he can’t control what he does. Back in season six, when Soulless Sam had been running rampant, Dean did everything he could to help him and refused to let go of Sam. Here, it’s entirely hypocritical of them to accuse Jack of being bad.
With the boy now free and his trust in the Winchesters completely gone, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in the finale. If Dean remains as awful as he’s been the last couple episodes, I wouldn’t mind Jack coming out as the victor.
Fox’s 9-1-1 season two continues with episode 15 airing Monday, April 22, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT. The episode’s titled “Ocean’s 9-1-1” and features guest stars Jama Williamson, Christian Clemenson, and Max Adler.
The cast of season two includes Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, Peter Krause as Bobby Nash, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Kendall. Oliver Stark plays Evan “Buck” Buckley, Aisha Hinds is Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Kenneth Choi is Howie “Chimney” Han, Rockmond Dunbar is Michael Grant, and Ryan Guzman plays Eddie Diaz.
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear are the series’ creators and serve as executive producers and writers. Bradley Buecker and Alexis Martin Woodall also executive produce. Series star Angela Bassett is a co-executive producer.
The “Ocean’s 9-1-1” Plot: A going-away party for a bank manager turns into an emergency, and then a mystery, as the first responders are accused of pulling off a daring heist.
The Season 2 Plot:
“Creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear reimagine the procedural drama with 9-1-1, exploring the high-pressure experiences of police officers, firefighters and dispatchers who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.”
