The new trailer for Sony Pictures and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming kicks off with a warning: If you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame, don’t watch the new trailer. The three minute action-packed trailer definitely contains details from Endgame, however today’s the day Avengers directors Anthony and Joe Russo declared it’s now safe to discuss the record-busting Avengers: Endgame. This trailer’s release is timed with that lifting of Avengers: Endgame spoilers embargo.
Spoilers are in store in this trailer…but you’ve been warned! It’s just seconds into the actual trailer that the first major spoiler is discussed.
Tom Holland returns to lead the cast as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury, Zendaya returns as Michelle Jones, Cobie Smulders reprises her role as Maria Hill, Jacob Batalon is Ned, Marisa Tomei is back as May Parker, and Jon Favreau returns as Iron Man’s right-hand man, Happy Hogan. JB Smoove, Martin Starr, and Jake Gyllenhaal also star in the latest webslinger adventure.
Jon Watts directed from a script by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal produced, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Rachel O’Connor, Stan Lee, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach executive producing.
The behind the scenes team includes director of photography Matthew J. Lloyd, editors Leigh Folsom Boyd and Dan Lebental, production designer Claude Paré, and costume designer Anna B. Sheppard.
Spider-Man: Far From Home will be released in theaters on July 2, 2019.
The Plot:
“Peter Parker returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series! Our friendly neighborhood Super Hero decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plan to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks, creating havoc across the continent!”
Kit Harington in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 8 episode 4 (Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO)
We’re on the other side of “The Long Night” (season eight episode three) and though we’re left with many, many questions, and almost everyone who we were all so sure would die are still alive (RIP Ser Jorah and your cousin Lady Lyanna Mormont, Edd Tollett, Beric Dondarrion, Melisandre, and yes, even you Theon Greyjoy!), David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are determined to keep us guessing. (And we are just following along. They are Ramsey Bolton to our Reek.) The Night King is toast (or rather ice cubes – thank you Arya!) so it’s time to turn our attention south to King’s Landing and get back to speculating and theorizing about who, after they’ve won “The Last War,” will get to lay claim to the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones.
A week ago, I would have bet the ranch that it would be Aegon Targaryen, 6th of his name, aka Jon Snow (Kit Harington). Not least because I believed that Jon would be the one to end NK. Once the smoke clears, I imagine he (along with a vociferous segment of the internet) will feel a little disappointed that it wasn’t. He had been building toward that end for years. (Though let us remember, Arya [Maisie Williams] spent those same years training to be a killer. “Mary Sue” my Aunt Fanny.)
In episode four, we’ll have to take stock of who is left in the Dragon Queen’s army. She lost her most valuable military strategist, Ser Jorah, all the Dothraki (it seems) who arguably posed the greatest threat (aside from dragons) to the Lannister army, plus a huge portion of the Unsullied. Those who are still standing, including the Free Folk (aka Wildlings), who’ve never been further south than Winterfell, are all exhausted. Now Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) expects them to march down to the capital and fight the Lannister army plus the Golden Company. And Cruella de Cersei (Lena Headey) and her henchman, Euron (Pilou Asbaek), sit there waiting for them just like a spider.
The latest online theory is that the epic Battle of Winterfell that had been hyped for years was all a great big misdirect. And that the really big battle between good vs evil is yet to come. This show started with the War of the Five Kings, but it’s going to end with the War of the Two Queens, which will likely take most of episode five. But we’re not there yet!
“One of my favorite episodes is four because the characters have seemingly got what they needed,” Harington says of the roughly 20 main characters still gathered at Winterfell. “The world is safe now. They’re celebrating and saying goodbye to lost friends. But as an audience you’re going, ‘This is only episode four, something’s going to happen.’ And that’s the cool thing because I think the characters are aware of this as well. There’s something twisted and uncomfortable about it. It’s so Shakespearean.” – Kit Harington to EW
Hey, I’m always down for a little Shakespeare. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends…!”*
Episode four opens in daylight, thank the lord! We can see the body of Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) on his pyre as Dany leans over to kiss him goodbye. Sansa (Sophie Turner) weeps for Theon (Alfie Allen) and leaves him with the Stark sigil. All of the remaining gathered at Winterfell hear Jon say, “Good-bye to our brothers and sister, our fathers and mothers, our fellow men and women who set aside their differences to fight together, to die together, so that others might live. Everyone in this world owes them a debt that can never be repaid…they were the shields that guarded the realms of men and we shall never see their like again.” The pyres are lit.
Arya pauses over Beric, Sam over Edd, Jon over Lady Lyanna. Dany weeps for Ser Jorah.
Later that night, at a somber “victory” banquet, Gendry (Joe Dempsie) asks after Arya. After some encouraging words from the Hound (Rory McCann), he gets up to look for her. Dany stops him and starts interrogating him about his ties to Robert Baratheon. In a twist, she makes him Lord Gendry Baratheon of Storms End.
Ser Davos and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) discuss Melisandre’s death. “The Lord of Light, we play his games and we fight his war and then he f*cks off, no signs, no blessings.”
Tyrion talks to Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) about his wheelchair and that it’s much cleverer than the saddle he designed for him all those years ago. Bran tells him the chair is just like the one Daeron Targaryen built 120 years ago. He says it as if he was there. “I liked that one.” Bran tells Tyrion that he “mostly live(s) in the past.”
Toasts are being made to the heroes of the battle. Dany raises her mug to “Arya Stark, the hero of Winterfell.” Dany looks happy and smiles at everyone. Sansa continues to be suspicious and gets up from the table.
Tyrion, Pod (Daniel Portman), Jaime, and Brienne are playing a drinking game.
Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) is telling his Wildling compatriots about Jon riding a dragon. “I saw him! That’s why we follow him, that’s the kind of man he is!” Dany looks displeased with this kind of talk. Tormund isn’t done yet. “He’s strong! Strong enough to befriend an enemy and get murdered for it! Most people get bloody murdered, they stay that way! Not this one.”
The crowd, most of whom are drunk at this point, laugh. Even Jon is downplaying it. Ser Davos looks on, wary. Tormund, who loves to hear himself talk, continues. “He comes back, keeps fighting. North of the Wall and back again, he keeps fighting then climbs on a fucking dragon. Only person who does that – a madman – or a king!”
Jon catches Dany’s eye and they share a look. She looks at everyone drinking and enjoying themselves. Varys (Conleth Hill) is watching all. He follows Dany out of the hall.
The drinking game takes a serious turn when Tyrion says Brienne is a virgin. She gets up. Tormund tries to stop her, but Jaime follows. Tormund is moaning about his broken heart when he gets another offer. Clegane drives off an offer of his own. Sansa sits down and says, “She could have made you happy, for a little while.” The Hound bites out, “There’s only one thing that will make me happy…and it’s my f*cking business.”
He wants to know why she cares since she used to not be able to look at him. “That was a long time ago and I’ve seen much worse than you since then.” The Hound says that he’s heard of what happened between Sansa and Ramsey Bolton. Sansa replies, “He got what he deserved. I gave it to him.”
“How?”
“Hounds.” They share a smile.
“You’ve changed, Little Bird.” Clegane tells her that none of what happened to her would have happened if she’d left King’s Landing with him when she had the chance. Sansa puts her hand over his and tells him that without all those things, she would have “stayed Little Bird all my life.”
Gendry is still looking for Arya. He finds her practicing her archery and almost gets shot with an arrow for his trouble. He tells her of his new promotion, grabs her and kisses her. He then professes his love for her and tells her that nothing will mean anything if she’s not with him. Gendry asks Arya to be his wife and “the Lady of Storms End.” What do we know about Arya? She never wants to be called or to be “a Lady.” She kisses Gendry tenderly, but we see it in her face before she says the words. “You’ll be a wonderful lord. Any lady would be lucky to have you. But I’m not a lady. I never have been. That’s not me.”
Brienne and Jaime are alone now and still drinking. He says he’s warm and starts removing layers. He wants to know if Tormund has grown on Brienne. “He was very sad when you left.” Brienne tells him, “You sound quite jealous.”
He replies, “I do, don’t I?” Again he says, “It’s bloody hot in here,” and starts yanking at his clothes. Thinking him merely drunk, Brienne says, “Move aside” and begins to help him. Then Jaime starts taking her shirt off!
Brienne looks him in the eye and starts unlacing her own shirt! Now she’s taking Jaime’s shirt off! They’re both shirtless! Jaime says, “I’ve never slept with a knight before.” She says, “I’ve never slept with anyone before.”
They’re kissing!! Oh my god, it’s happening!!
Cut to Jon alone. Dany enters, asks if he’s drunk. He stands and staggers, “No. Only a little.” He tells Dany that though he didn’t know Ser Jorah well, he knows that if he could have chosen a way to die it would have been protecting her.
“He loved me and I couldn’t love him back. Not the way he wanted. Not the way I love you. Is that all right?” They kiss. Guess that whole aunt/nephew thing isn’t a problem. Oops. Jon pulls away. Guess it is.
Dany says, “I wish you’d never told me. If I didn’t know, I’d be happy right now. I tried to forget. Tonight, I did for a while and then I saw men gathered around you. I saw the way they looked at you.”
“I told you I didn’t want it,” replies Jon.
“Doesn’t matter what you want.” She thinks that if people know the truth, they’ll force him to press his claim. She wants him to never tell anyone, ever. She wants it “to be the way it was between us.”
Jon believes he has to tell Sansa and Arya. Dany thinks Sansa will want to get rid of her and see Jon on the throne. She insists that Sansa is not the girl he grew up with after everything she’s seen and had done to her. (Second time this point has been made in this episode. We get it.)
Jon says he owes them the truth. Dany thinks the truth will destroy “others” (she means her). Jon (who I suspect still knows nothing) insists that it won’t.
Dany, close to tears, pleads, “I’ve never begged for anything. But I’m begging you, don’t do this. Please.”
Jon thinks they can all be one big happy family. Her reply? “We can. I’ve just told you how.” She is pissed!
Jaime and Brienne are in bed! Jaime looks over at her sleeping form and smiles! They did it! (Oh crap! Now I know one of them is gonna die!)
The next morning and it’s back to strategizing and assessing losses. Varys says the balance is now “distressingly even.” Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) thinks that once the people know what “we’ve done for them…” Dany interjects, “Cersei will make sure they don’t believe it.” She says, “We will hit her hard. We will rip her out, root and stem.”
Tyrion reminds her that the “objective is to remove her without destroying King’s Landing.”
Varys tells them that Cersei is losing allies “by the day.” Yara Greyjoy has retaken the Iron Islands and Dorne is with them. Dany is not impressed. “As long as she sits on the Iron Throne, she can call herself Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. We need the capital.”
Tyrion thinks that if they feed the people, they will rally to their cause. Jon suggests they surround the city. Tyrion says that once the people see that Cersei is “our only enemy, her reign is over.” Dany and Jon share a look because he appears to still be with her.
Sansa reminds everyone that the men we have left are exhausted. Many of them are wounded. They’ll fight better if they have time to rest and recuperate.
Dany wants to know how long that will take. Sansa can’t say. It’s clear Dany is unwilling to wait. “I came north to fight alongside you at great cost to my armies and myself. Now that the time has come to reciprocate, you want to postpone.”
Sansa tries to make clear that it’s not just their people that need time. Dany won’t hear it. Jon takes Dany’s side. “The northern forces will honor their promises and their allegiance to the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.” He turns to her, “What you command, we will obey.” Arya and Sansa are not pleased.
Tyrion lays out the plans. Jon and Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) will ride south with the remaining Dothraki (yay – some of them survived!) and the Unsullied. Everyone else will sail from White Harbor with the dragons accompanying them overhead. Ser Jaime will remain in the north as a guest of the Lady of Winterfell. (Huh?)
Arya wants a word with Jon. In the Godswood, Sansa, Arya, and Bran are confronting Jon. Though Arya thinks Jon did the right thing swearing allegiance to Dany and she is grateful for the help her armies provided, she and Sansa do not trust “your Queen.”
Jon is still pushing the “you don’t know her” excuse. Arya says she’s not “one of us.” Jon tells her, “If you only trust the people you grew up with, you won’t make many allies.” Arya replies, “I don’t need any allies. We’re family. The four of us. The last of the Starks.”
Jon says he’s never been a Stark. Sansa tells him he’s just as much Ned Stark’s child as any of us. Arya insists, “You’re my brother. Not my half-brother or my bastard brother. My brother.”
Bran, who knows, pipes up with, “It’s your choice.”
Jon decides to come clean and thinks he can get them to swear to never tell another soul. (Oh, this will work!)
Sansa wants to know how she can promise to keep a secret before knowing what it is. Jon tells her, “Because we’re family.” And that is true. Arya and Sansa swear.
Jon asks Bran to tell them.
Cut to Tyrion and Jaime. Apparently, Brienne is going to stay in Winterfell with Jaime. Tyrion insists he’s happy that his brother is happy. “I’m happy that you’ll finally have to climb for it. Do you know how long I’ve waited to tell tall person jokes?” Their bawdy revelry is interrupted by the arrival of Ser Bronn of the Blackwater (Jerome Flynn).
Both want to know why he’s there, of course. Jaime asks what he’s doing with the crossbow. Bronn says, “That’s for the both you.” They get into a typical Bronn/Tyrion, Bronn/Jaime discussion about how much Bronn has done for the pair of them and how little he has to show for it. I am freaking nervous. Bronn just hit Tyrion in the nose with the crossbow and I swear I thought he shot him! They’re still arguing and he’s still got the crossbow pointed at them!
Bronn lays out what Cersei has offered him if he kills her brothers. Bronn, being Bronn, thinks Cersei is not the best bet because of the dragons. But he’s still negotiating. An arrow flies past Jaime’s head and Bronn reloads. Oh, this is dangerous! Bronn wants High Garden. Tyrion promises but says none of it means a thing until they win the war. Bronn won’t fight for them but he’s not going to kill them, either. Holy crap that was close!
The Hound is joined by Arya on horseback. They’re heading south alone, together. I’m here for the second edition of this roadshow!
Tyrion is with Sansa on the battlements watching the dragons fly overhead. He’s still trying to sway Sansa to trust Dany. Sansa senses that Tyrion is afraid of Daenerys. He counters with “every good ruler inspires a bit of fear.” Sansa does not want Jon to go south. “The men of my family don’t do well in the capital.” Tyrion says, “No, but as your brother once told me, he’s not a Stark.”
Tyrion can see that remark upsets her, but he doesn’t know why. He tells Sansa that Dany “wants to make the world a better place. I believe in her.” Tyrion starts to leave; Sansa calls him back. She asks, “What if there’s someone else? Someone better.”
Ser Davos and Jon are preparing to ride south. Tormund tells Jon he’s taking the Free Folk home. Jon asks him to take Ghost with him. Tormund and Jon say goodbye, though Tormund thinks they might meet again. “You’ve got the north in you. The real north.”
Sam and Gilly (who is pregnant!!) are also saying farewell. Sam and Jon’s goodbye is giving me the feels! As is his last look at Ghost, who whimpered!
On the ship, Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) and Missandei are sharing loving looks while below decks Tyrion (who has obviously been told the secret by Sansa) is with Varys. He wants to know how many others know. Tyrion says, “Including us? Eight.” Varys says that means it’s no longer a secret, it’s information. “He has the better claim to the throne…people are drawn to him.”
Tyrion points out that he loves the Queen and she loves him. Varys points out the whole aunt/nephew thing as a problem. Tyrion muses, “Maybe Cersei will win and kill us all. That would solve our problems.”
Dany is on Drogon flying over the sea. Arrows come out of nowhere and Rhaegal is down! He’s dead! Killed by Euron Greyjoy firing bolts from one of Qyburn’s machines. Why didn’t Dany say “Dracarys” and torch Euron? But they’re not just using them on the dragons! They’re firing giant arrows at the ships! Grey Worm orders Missandei to abandon ship. Tyrion is in the water!
Cut to black! Now we’re on the shore and the survivors are pulling themselves from the water. Grey Worm is searching for Missandei!
Pilou Asbæk and Lena Headey in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 8 episode 4 (Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO)
In King’s Landing, Cersei and Euron are gloating over the dead dragon. She’s now telling Euron that her baby is his! (Though it’s clear Cersei can’t stand him.) Euron says, “She’s coming for you.” Cersei is aware. She tells him to keep the gates open. If Dany wants to take the castle, she’ll have to murder thousands of innocent people first.
NO! Missandei is a prisoner in King’s Landing! Grey Worm wants to storm the city.
Varys is trying to talk Dany out of attacking King’s Landing in a rage. He knows there are thousands who will die needlessly. He begs her not to become what she’s said she wants to destroy.
Tyrion says it will be two weeks before Jon gets to King’s Landing. In the meantime, tell Cersei they’ll spare her life if she gives up the throne.
Dany says that it won’t do any good but that the people need to see that “Daenerys Stormborn made every effort to avoid bloodshed and Cersei Lannister refused. They should know whom to blame when the sky falls down upon them.”
Varys and Tyrion look concerned. Varys says all tyrants talk about destiny. Tyrion still wants to believe. Varys reminds him of the “problem of Jon Snow.” He seems to have left #TeamDany and is already heading for Jon’s camp. “Who do you think would make a better ruler?” Varys lists all the reasons Jon would be better.
Tyrion, who is again drinking heavily, wants to resist but can’t ignore the fact that Varys is making sense. He again suggests that maybe the solution is that they should marry. “He could temper her worst impulses.”
“As you have,” Varys quips. “A Targaryen father and a Stark mother. Jon’s the one man alive who might actually be able to keep the north in the Seven Kingdoms.”
Tyrion says he still believes in “our queen. She’ll make the right choice.” Who is he trying to convince? Varys or himself?
Varys reiterates what he has always said, he is “for the realm.” He’s never been about any particular person or House. Whoever is best for the people, he will support.
Tyrion asks, “So what happens to her?” It is now clear, at least to me, that Tyrion is in love with Dany. He pleads with Varys, “Please. Don’t.”
Varys at first appears confused but then replies, “I’ve spoken as honestly as I can. Each of us has a choice to make. I pray we choose wisely.”
Back at Winterfell, Jaime watches Brienne with Sansa. Brienne relays the news about the Euron Greyjoy ambush and the death of Rhaegal.
Sansa says, “I always wanted to be there when they executed your sister. It seems I won’t get the chance.”
Jaime looks at a sleeping Brienne who wakes up to find him gone. He’s saddling his horse. Brienne tries to get him to stay. She tells him he’s better than his sister, he’s a good man who doesn’t need to die with her. (And I’m with Brienne!) “Stay with me. Please! Stay.”
“You think I’m a good man? I pushed a boy out of a tower window, crippled him for life. For Cersei. I strangled my cousin with my own hands, just to get back to Cersei. I would have murdered every man, woman, and child in Riverrun, for Cersei.” The anguish on his face is plain, but he’s tearing Brienne’s guts out. (And mine!) He ends with, “She’s hateful. And so am I.” Oh Brienne! No! He’s earned his redemption! He cannot be going back to her! He’s going to kill her! Right? Right?
We’re back to the Dragon Queen and her small guard just outside of the King’s Landing gates. Cersei, Euron, The Mountain, and poor Missandei are on the other side, ready to face them.
Tyrion walks ahead to meet Qyburn. He gives Dany’s terms. Qyburn gives Cersei’s. Tyrion marches to the gates. Archers look about to fire upon him. He stops and looks up at his sister. She raises her hand. Will she give the order?! No. She doesn’t. Both Euron and Tyrion seem a little surprised.
Tyrion is trying to appeal to her better nature (ha!) and talks about her children, including her unborn child. Cersei looks out at Dany and then says something so wicked, so Cersei-like to Missandei, “If you have any last words, now is the time.”
Missandei looks out at Grey Worm, then at Dany and says, “Dracarys.” Cersei looks to The Mountain who raises his sword. He lops off Missandei’s head and her body falls from the top of the gate.
Cersei looks smug and Daenerys looks beyond pissed. Which one is more dangerous? Guess we have to wait until next week to find out! Only two episodes left! Gahhh!
Stephanie Levi-John, Charlotte Hope, and Nadia Parkes in ‘The Spanish Princess’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s limited series The Spanish Princess, the network’s third series based on the critically acclaimed novels by Philippa Gregory, premiered on May 5, 2019. Titled “The New World,” episode one begins in Alhambra Palace, Spain in 1501. Queen Isabella and her army have overthrown Muslim rule and it’s necessary to secure Catholic allies to maintain control over the land. At the same time, England needs an infusion of cash to fend off France and Scotland invasions.
The solution for both countries presents itself in a match between the Tudor heir, Prince Arthur, and Spanish Princess Catherine of Aragon. Catherine’s grown up believing she will be the Queen of England, a promise made to her as a child.
To fulfill her destiny, Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) makes the difficult journey from Spain to England, knowing she may never see Spain again.
Leading up to the much-anticipated meeting of Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine, the future King and Queen of England have been exchanging love letters. Catherine’s impressed with Arthur’s writing, and her heart is warmed by his passion. Catherine’s lady-in-waiting Lina de Cardonnes (Stephanie Levi-John) assures her it’s fine to fall in love with a man she’s never met based solely on his letters.
Catherine admits her own letters are equally as passionate as Prince Arthur’s.
Queen Isabella (Alicia Borrachero) and members of the Spanish army accompany Princess Catherine on the first part of her perilous journey. The group is attacked by Moors who’ve vowed to die fighting for their beliefs. And while Catherine expresses her desire to participate in the battle, her warrior mother reminds her she needs to remain safe and protect Spain by fulfilling her duties and becoming England’s Queen.
Princess Catherine watches her mother ride into battle and sinks to her knees, plunging a knife into the earth and reciting, “Daughter of Spain, Queen of England, wife to Prince Arthur,” in ever-increasing volume and surety.
Queen Isabella and her men emerge from the battle victorious. (The Queen led the charge and is coated in blood at its end.)
At Westminster Palace, King Henry VII (Elliot Cowan) and Queen Elizabeth (Alexandra Moen) fret over Princess Catherine’s delayed arrival. They believe God is keeping Princess Catherine away. King Henry’s beside himself with worry over England’s finances. Until Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine are wed, the country is in dire straits and vulnerable to attack.
Prince Arthur asks after Princess Catherine’s status and is told she has sailed. Elizabeth informs her oldest son he’s to meet Catherine as she makes her way to Westminster. Neither King Henry nor Queen Elizabeth will accompany him, but he will have Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole (“Aunt Maggie”) in attendance.
As Prince Arthur prepares for his trip, Queen Elizabeth asks what he and Aunt Maggie discuss. Elizabeth believes Margaret would be aware of any plots against their family.
The seas are rough as Catherine of Aragon continues her trip to meet her betrothed. Catherine suffers from seasickness; however, Lina remains able to care for her mistress. When she looks for something to help the princess’ stomach, she finds Oviedo (Aaron Cobham) praying to Allah. Shocked, she reminds him they’re in service to Princess Catherine and Spain. He objects, believing he can be loyal to Princess Catherine and worship his god.
Prince Arthur makes it to Dogmersfield House where Margaret and Richard Pole are currently residing. Aunt Maggie obviously genuinely cares about the young prince, and the affection is returned. Arthur attempts to put her mind at ease, claiming his mother holds her in high esteem.
Margaret admits to her husband she misses their children and doesn’t like Dogmersfield House. She’s also unhappy Princess Catherine is arriving soon, going as far as to wish her dead. Richard reminds her Queen Elizabeth wants them to put their past behind them.
The King and Queen of England aren’t in attendance as the King’s mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort (Harriet Walter), prepares to greet Catherine of Aragon prior to her trip to Dogmersfield House. My Lady the King’s Mother (as she was referred to at the time) is unaware Catherine has ordered their ship to dock elsewhere, not wishing to see her other lady-in-waiting, Rosa (Nadia Parkes), continue suffering from seasickness.
The ship lands and they encounter two men who welcome them to England. Catherine asks the location of the church and is told it’s nearby. One of her men sets up an escort with the town major and as rain pours down, they continue their journey accompanied by Edward Stafford (Olly Rix), Duke of Buckingham.
Stafford scolds the Spanish party, telling them they should have stuck with the plan and landed in Southampton. Lady Margaret has had to alter her plans and will meet them at Dogmersfield. He softens his comments by complimenting Catherine, saying she and Rosa’s beauty brighten the day.
King Henry’s relieved Catherine of Aragon is now on English soil. Queen Elizabeth thinks this might indicate God is now smiling upon them.
Last minute finishing touches are taking place inside Dogmersfield House as Princess Catherine arrives on horseback. Lady Margaret greets Catherine with, “Welcome to England, child,” and their initial conversation sets the stage for later conflicts. When Lady Margaret requests they speak in Latin because isn’t proficient in Spanish, Catherine assures her she’s not a child and can speak English perfectly well.
When Catherine claims she holds the titles of both Princess of Spain and Princess of Wales, Lady Margaret begs to differ. Catherine may not call herself Princess of Wales until after the wedding. However, Catherine corrects her, reminding her the marriage was sealed by proxy while she was at sea.
Richard Pole breaks the tension, introducing himself and his wife. Catherine barely acknowledges his greeting, wanting only to enter the house and get out of her wet clothes. She wants to bathe and then take a siesta. Lady Margaret tries to squash that idea, saying they don’t sleep in the afternoon. She wants Catherine to meet Prince Arthur immediately after she changes her clothes.
Princess Catherine is having none of this. She will not meet Prince Arthur until they stand in God’s presence and exchange vows. The battle of wills continues, with Lady Margaret tossing Catherine’s words back in her face. Because their marriage is already complete, there is nothing holding Catherine back from meeting Prince Arthur. Catherine of Aragon wins this battle, telling Lady Margaret she will not meet anyone until she has had a bath and a siesta.
Rosa and Lina help Catherine from her clothes as a forlorn Catherine asks, “Where is the light?” Lina says Catherine is the light. Alone, Catherine warms herself by the fire and retrieves a gold compass. She also reads a letter from Prince Arthur who says he longs to embrace her.
Lina instructs the servants where to place Catherine of Aragon’s belongings. Lady Margaret’s confused by the supplies and flabbergasted when Lina says Princess Catherine will bathe every day. That’s unheard of, even among the English royalty.
It’s Lina’s turn to be shocked when she discovers the Spanish soldiers are going to be bunked in the stables. She tells Lady Margaret the men will be housed in the big house and not like animals. Lina reminds Lady Margaret the soldiers were brought to England as part of Princess Catherine’s dowry.
Lina wakes Princess Catherine from her nap when she sees King Henry approaching the house. He enters and pounds on Catherine’s door, demanding she open up so he can meet her. After a few hurried moments of preparing Catherine to greet King Henry, the ruler of England enters and is immediately dressed down by Princess Catherine. She declares this is no way for a king to act and threatens to write her mother about his disrespectful behavior toward both her and Spain.
King Henry explains he simply wants to lay eyes on her after waiting so long for her arrival. He asks that she remove her veil and Princess Catherine refuses, determined to wear it until she is wed. The English customs are different, and Catherine continues to prove she’s fierce and unafraid of speaking her mind. She reminds him it doesn’t matter if she’s ugly because she’s there for the purpose of making a treaty.
Princess Catherine makes King Henry chuckle when she states England needs Spain more than Spain needs England.
With another battle under her belt, Princess Catherine removes her veil. King Henry asks that she come and meet his son and let him also lay his eyes upon her.
Princess Catherine and her ladies, along with Lady Margaret and the Poles, take a walk around the grounds. (Catherine and Arthur walk a few paces ahead, getting to know each other.) Catherine’s clearly unhappy to learn she’s moved to a rainy country, and Arthur attempts to explain the many different types of rain that falls in England. Princess Catherine doesn’t care about the semantics; she isn’t fond of so much water raining down from the heavens.
Prince Arthur attempts to change the subject, assuring Princess Catherine he’ll try and be a good husband who’s always attentive to her needs. Catherine, however, is stuck on her dislike for the rain. She wants to return to the house so that she won’t become sick, noting he’s not at all as caring as his letters made him out to be. She reminds him of what he’s written, including saying he wanted to hold her in his arms.
Prince Arthur’s stunned to hear about these letters, demanding to know if she replied. Princess Catherine realizes something’s wrong but doesn’t understand what it is as Prince Arthur rushes away.
Charlotte Hope as Catherine of Aragon in ‘The Spanish Princess’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Back in her room, Catherine tells Lina that Arthur did not write the letters. She’s embarrassed she shared her heart and passion with the letter-writer. Catherine truly believed she was in love, and now she wonders if it was all a sham, a trick played by some other nobleman.
During his initial meeting with Princess Catherine, King Henry had mentioned something to the effect of what was done to bring Catherine to England, and Lina, Rosa, and Catherine now believe that’s another thread in this tale of deception.
Richard and Margaret Pole finally reunite with their young children, the only people who truly bring a smile to Margaret’s face.
King Henry reports to Queen Elizabeth he’s officially met Catherine of Aragon. Elizabeth asks if Catherine’s as attractive as her portrait, and King Henry stammers when he says she is. He tells Elizabeth that Catherine has her spirit and is beautiful.
After King Henry makes his exit, Lady Margaret confides to Elizabeth that Catherine is arrogant and over-privileged. Queen Elizabeth, obviously not one to hold her tongue with her mother-in-law, believes those are perfect qualities for a queen – just not qualities Lady Margaret approves of.
Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Pole have a strained reunion, and when they meet in private Elizabeth asks Maggie to join her as she prepares to give birth. When Maggie demurs, Elizabeth gets to the point – she demands to know if Maggie’s heard of any traitors rising up against King Henry. “I tend to Arthur…that is all,” says Margaret, extremely uncomfortable with the turn this conversation’s taken.
Edward Stafford accompanies Princess Catherine to her temporary accommodations in the Tower. It’s apparently the custom before a Royal wedding, and Edward assures her the apartments will be comfortable. They run into Prince Harry (Ruairi O’Connor) and he asks if Catherine likes it here. He then reveals he’ll be leading her up the aisle for her wedding.
Catherine thanks him for his warm welcome, a genuine smile gracing her face for one of the only times in England. He wonders why she’s wearing a veil, thinking it might be to keep his brother, Arthur, from kissing her. He tells his soon-to-be sister-in-law Arthur’s afraid of girls so she doesn’t need to worry about the physical aspect of their marriage.
Prince Harry’s easily distracted and asks for Oviedo’s crossbow. He takes a shot and likes how it feels, commanding Oviedo to teach him how to use it. Edward interrupts to inform Catherine the Queen has asked to see her.
As Catherine’s leaving, Prince Harry confesses he wrote the love letters.
Margaret tells Prince Arthur he’ll make a handsome groom, but Arthur’s in a foul mood. He, of course, already figured out his brother is the one who penned the love letters. Arthur explains he tried to write Catherine but couldn’t find the words. Harry found the drafts and apparently wrote in his stead. Margaret reminds him Catherine only replied because she believed she was corresponding with him – unaware of his brother’s trickery.
Rosa and Lina discover the herbs (rosemary) for Catherine’s bath have wilted. They make their way through the dark castle at night in search of replacement herbs and run into Edward Stafford. When he asks where she’s off to, Rosa explains and then heads with Edward into the shadows to make out.
Lina’s on her own when a soldier approaches and grabs her. Oviedo stops the assault and then accompanies her to search for herbs. When she questions him about being a Muslim and drinking, he explains it’s because there’s nothing else safe to drink.
Princess Catherine and Queen Elizabeth have their first face-to-face meeting. When Catherine says King Henry was rude to her, Elizabeth disagrees. She says his behavior was due to the fact they paid a high price for her and he’s desperate. “He is a starving man and you are bread,” says Queen Elizabeth.
This is the second time a price has been mentioned and Catherine asks for an explanation. Queen Elizabeth explains two young men were killed so that they could not challenge Prince Arthur’s claim to the throne. This was done at the request of Catherine’s mother, Queen Isabella. One of the young men was Margaret Pole’s brother, Edward Plantagenet.
Edward was simple and did not understand why he had to die.
Catherine of Aragon refuses to believe this was done at her mother’s request. Queen Elizabeth assures her it’s true and that she’s revealing this secret so that Catherine realizes what’s at stake with her marriage to Prince Arthur. Princess Catherine must give birth to sons to continue their hold on the Crown.
Queen Elizabeth warns, “Do not cross me, Catherine. There is nothing I won’t do to save my boys or to save my love.” She seals her words with a kiss and departs, leaving Catherine alone to consider what she’s learned.
Lina and Rosa talk about Edward, and Lina reminds her it’s an honor to attend Princess Catherine. She also warns her against engaging in a relationship with Edward.
Catherine’s wedding day arrives and she refuses to rise from her bath to prepare. Lina sends everyone away and then recalls a meeting between Catherine and Christopher Columbus. Catherine had asked how Columbus knew he wouldn’t sail off the earth’s edge and Columbus told her to always remember where she came from. He gave her the gold compass she now cherishes.
Catherine reluctantly allows Lina to dry and dress her.
A stunning Catherine of Aragon makes her way down the carpet lined with soldiers outside the church. Prince Harry joins her at the door and removes her shoes. She asks why he wrote to her and he admits he liked her letters. “They excited me,” says her future brother-in-law.
Catherine believes Prince Harry’s admission is a show of weakness. She has power over him after he admits her letters excited him. They walk down the aisle as Catherine quietly recites, “Daughter of Spain, wife to Prince Arthur.” The episode ends as she adds, “…and soon, Queen of England.”
Series star David Boreanaz stepped behind the camera to direct SEAL Team season two episode 21. The upcoming episode marks the second time Boreanaz has pulled double duty in front of and behind the camera on the CBS action drama. (Boreanaz also directed season one episode 21.) Episode 21 titled “My Life For Yours” will air on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
John Glenn and Spencer Hudnut wrote the script. The guest cast includes Alona Tal as Stella, Peter Jessop as Commander Shaw, C. Thomas Howell as Ash Spencer, and Pooja Batra as Anita Patel.
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 “My Life for Yours” Plot – Bravo Team desperately searches for Ray after he gets separated from them while in enemy territory.
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.
Netflix just released the official trailer for It’s Bruno, a new series set to premiere on May 17, 2019. The series was created by filmmaker Solvan “Slick” Naim and features Rob Morgan (Mudbound, Daredevil, Luke Cage) and Shakira Barrera (GLOW, Lethal Weapon, Queen of the South). Naim stars in, wrote, directed, and executive produces.
Season one of the Netflix and Stage 13 series consists of eight episodes shot in Bushwick, New York. Molly Conners, Amanda Bowers, and Vincent Morano are on board as producers.
Details on It’s Bruno, Courtesy of Netflix:
“There’s just no coming between a man and his dog, as the Netflix/Stage 13 new scripted series It’s Bruno attests. It’s the brainchild of Solvan ‘Slick’ Naim, whose entry into filmmaking started with music. As a kid, whenever he would hear a song he loved, he would create characters and a narrative to go with it. Before he turned to filmmaking, he was pursuing a career in music as a rapper. In a way, it’s what makes Slick’s visual style so dynamic. It’s Bruno plays like vibrant, pulsing and visual beats surrounding the tight bond between a man and his dog.
As he began making independent films which segued into directing episodes for such popular shows as Blacklist, Animal Kingdom, Power, and Snowfall, he started to have dogs in his life – which was a new experience for him. He was working a lot from home so it was a joy to have company. He ended up adopting three rescue dogs, among them Bruno, a puggle mutt.
One day while editing to some music, Slick turned around to see Bruno’s expressive face and started cracking up. This inspired him to recruit some friends to go shoot a proof of concept featuring Bruno and himself and their ridiculous adventures in their neighborhood of Bushwick.”
Solvan “Slick” Naim and Bruno in ‘It’s Bruno’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Tickets are now on sale via LiveNation for the Stone Temple Pilots and Rival Sons co-headlining tour kicking off on September 13, 2019 in Baltimore, MD at the MECU Pavilion. The co-headlining tour will stop in 12 cities including New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Houston, and Las Vegas.
The tour is scheduled to finish up on October 9th in San Diego at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU.
The upcoming tour marks the first time the two rock groups have joined forces to lead a tour. “We are thrilled about this tour and grateful to share these upcoming shows with Rival Sons. A great band! They don’t make them like this anymore. Looking forward to seeing all of you!” said Stone Temple Pilots’ Dean DeLeo.
“We’re delighted to share the stage with the DeLeo brothers and STP! Not to mention performing together in some really great venues,” added Scott Holiday of Rival Sons. “These guys wrote some of the soundtrack to my childhood…and it’ll be killer to watch and listen to ‘em hit these gems every night!”
Stone Temple Pilots and Rival Sons 2019 Tour Dates:
Friday, September 13, 2019 – Baltimore, MD at MECU Pavilion
Sunday, September 15, 2019 – Asbury Park, NJ at Stone Pony Summer Stage
Thursday, September 19, 2019 – Philadelphia, PA at The Met Philadelphia
Sunday, September 22, 2019 – New York, NY at Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 – Chicago, IL at Aragon Ballroom
Friday, September 27, 2019 – Detroit, MI at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill*
Sunday, September 29, 2019 – New Orleans, LA at The Fillmore New Orleans
Tuesday, October 01, 2019 – Houston, TX at Revention Music Center
Thursday, October 03, 2019 – Irving, TX at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sunday, October 06, 2019 – Las Vegas, NV at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
Tuesday, October 08, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ at Comerica Theatre
Wednesday, October 09, 2019 – San Diego, CA at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU
*Stone Temple Pilots not performing
More on Stone Temple Pilots, Courtesy of LiveNation:
With over 70 million albums sold, Stone Temple Pilots roared on to the scene in 1992 with their raucous debut, Core. A breakout success, the album peaked #3 on the Billboard 200 chart, and dominated radio waves with hits like “Sex Type Thing,” “Wicked Garden,” and the Grammy-Award winning smash single, “Plush.”
STP quickly distinguished themselves as a band beholden to no trend. Boasting the inimitable riffs of guitarist Dean DeLeo, the propulsive rhythm section of bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz, and the charismatic baritone of frontman Scott Weiland, STP ruled airways, video playlists and charts alike over their legendary career. The band released their seventh studio album, Stone Temple Pilots (2018), their first with new lead singer, Jeff Gutt. The debut single “Meadow” from the self-titled album, channels the gritty guitars and swaggering rhythms that STP is known for, and reached top 5 at rock radio.
The official trailer for Designated Survivor season three finds President Kirkman (played by Kiefer Sutherland) turning to his staff for advice on entering the upcoming race for the White House. Kirkman’s only the President of the United States due to a terrorist attack that wiped out the elected officials above him in rank. Now in season three Kirkman’s faced with the choice of walking away after he finishes out his current term or vying for votes in the presidential election.
In addition to dropping the official trailer, Netflix released a new poster for season three. The upcoming season marks the first under Netflix after Designated Survivor spent two seasons on ABC before getting axed.
Joining Kiefer Sutherland in the season three cast are returning series stars Adan Canto as Aaron Shore, Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, Kal Penn as Seth Wright, and Maggie Q as Hannah Wells. Newcomers include Anthony Edwards as Mars Harper, Lorraine Zimmer as Julie White, Dontae Evans as Ben Watson and Isabel Pardo as Elena Tovar.
David Guggenheim created the series and serves as an executive producer with Mark Gordon, Kiefer Sutherland, Suzan Bymel, Simon Kinberg, Aditya Sood, and Peter Noah. Neal Bear is the season three showrunner and also executive produces.
Netflix will release Designated Survivor season three on Friday, June 7, 2019.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
“The high-stakes political thriller stars Kiefer Sutherland as a low-level cabinet member who is suddenly catapulted to the position of President of the United States after a devastating terrorist attack strikes during the State of the Union, killing all those ahead of him in the presidential succession line.
In season three President Kirkman faces a political reality…campaigning. What does it take to make a leader? What price will he be willing to pay? This season will explore today’s world of campaigning, smear tactics, debates, campaign finance and ‘fake news.’ Democracy, as we know it, will hang in the balance.”
Dianne Doan stars in ‘Warrior’ (Photo by David Bloomer / Cinemax)
Cinemax’s critically acclaimed new series Warrior, based on the writings of Bruce Lee, airs on Fridays at 10pm ET/PT. Set in San Francisco in 1878, Warrior is gritty and smart, with incredible fight choreography that strengthens rather than detracts from the character development. The series focuses on a disturbing time period in American history when Chinese immigrants were treated as vermin and the government actively sought to curb their ability to immigrate with the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Dianne Doan stars as Mai Ling, a Chinese immigrant married to Long Zii (Henry Yuk), leader of one of the most powerful tongs in San Francisco. Mai Ling is a strong, independent woman who refuses to be manipulated or pushed into a subservient role. In our exclusive interview, Dianne Doan discussed delving into the character, Mai Ling’s motivations, and the current state of diversity in Hollywood.
Mai Ling is such an interesting character. The audience doesn’t know a lot about her history. How much of a backstory did you develop for her?
Dianne Doan: “The more I know the better for everything that Jonathan (Tropper’s) writing and all the writers in the writers room. So, I had a chance to sit down with JT and he kind of hashed out what he thought up for Mai Ling’s character. And, of course, throughout the season I would add on or I would ask questions.
Everything is motivated by her past. We’ve watched her through the first four episodes that aired, but we don’t really know much about what’s going on in her head. But I would say I built a whole backstory – where she came from, why she went to San Fran, how she got to San Fran, and just her need to rise to the top of the tong.”
Will we be treated to more of her history this season or in season two?
Dianne Doan: “I can only wish and dream that we see more of that backstory in season two. The hard part I would say is that our whole regular cast is so large and there are so many different characters and storylines going through that it’s kind of hard to get a whole episode based on one character, or a couple of scenes. But, yes, I hope that we would shed some light. I think in episode three we got a look into Bolo’s past. I realize that seeing 11 people’s past is a little tricky, but there’s been scenes like when Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) mentions my past. There’s been little gateways into what happened.”
Do you believe she would be the person she is now if not for her first abusive husband?
Dianne Doan: “No, definitely not. The backstory that I created for Mai Ling is when she was a young girl obviously that marriage to the warlord was abusive and for all the many years I was there, thus the need to escape to San Francisco. And it was that idea that I would never again be abused. So, becoming a prostitute in a brothel in San Francisco wasn’t an option.
Jonathan and I had this idea that when I came to America having English as a weapon in my back pocket, I was able to work in one of the casinos. I started from the bottom and I was able to climb that ladder, whether it was overhearing anything and feeding it back to Long Zii and then they have this relationship.
I think the hard part as an audience member watching the show is I’ve heard a lot of feedback that Mai Ling is ruthless and she kind of sleeps her way to the top. But I didn’t see it that way at all, which kind of broke my heart that on the outside it seems like that. But it was the need for survival. I do believe that Long Zii and Mai Ling do have a relationship. He’s the first man who’s given her any sort of respect as a woman. So, to have that in my life, you cling on to that. I don’t think at all that it’s, ‘I’m just going to sleep with everyone and claw my way to the top.’”
I didn’t view it as her sleeping her way to the top. I saw it as Mai Ling doing what she needs to survive. Did she enter the marriage with Long Zii because she had to?
Dianne Doan: “I don’t think that she had to. I think it was mutual respect between the two. I don’t think that necessarily I married him to somehow take over the tong. It was more so marry him to be protected. I found that to never be abused I needed to find a position of power.
It’s a fine line between being a villain or surviving. I think the main thing throughout season one of filming is that we don’t want to go too far. Sometimes the things that Jonathan writes, if I were to become a certain way it’s almost villainous or mustache-twirling. But the root of it is survival and power, and just never being in that place again in my life. That’s the constant motivation of Mai Ling and I hope it translates to the screen.”
Is that what you latched onto in reading the first script? What about Mai Ling grabbed you and informed you as to who this woman is as a person?
Dianne Doan: “When I first auditioned for the show, I wasn’t really given any information. It was at first a difficult decision whether to sign on. I think in the initial breakdown we turned it down – the audition – because it just worried me. I think the information given was something like, ‘Female, series regular, leading character within the tong.’ It was an HBO/Cinemax show and being a female performer, the kind of red flag for me was when it said, ‘You must be comfortable with nudity or simulated sex.’
I think right away that concerned me because I didn’t want to be another Asian trope. So, it took me getting on a phone call with Jonathan Tropper, the showrunner, and him explaining the whole series because in this situation you never get a full script – you’re lucky if you do. So, I got on a call with him and he just created this world and it was a beautiful story, and the fact that it obviously helped that Bruce Lee dreamt it up. He explained my arc going through. He said, ‘Nothing is set in stone, but this is the idea of Mai Ling’s character.’ And to know that I would have such a long, independent role in the show, that’s what drew me to the role. And then he gave me the first script and I put it on tape the next day.”
Did how Mai Ling was initially described to you by Jonathan play out? Did he fulfill all his promises about your character?
Dianne Doan: “He did. Thankfully, he did. I had three scenes in my audition, and it was initially Mai Ling and Ah Sahm reuniting in the pilot. There was a scene between Li Yong and Mai Ling, and then a scene in episode eight. Those scenes were just every shade on the rainbow of emotion, of power. Not knowing who the character was yet – still not sure after putting something on tape – and then later after filming it on set was just incredible. Yeah, everything that Jonathan in a way promised me came true.”
Your resume is so impressive but is there a character you’ve played who gave you a similar vibe or is she completely different?
Dianne Doan: “Thank you. That’s a very kind compliment. I’ve been really lucky in my career so far. I mean, I’m coming from Disney to I did a History Network show and now HBO/Cinemax. Yeah, a lot of different ranges, I’d say. But you know what? To be honest, a little bit of my…I wouldn’t say they’re similar at all, but I try to make my characters as grounded as possible and never play the victim in a way. So, I would say the background for the most similar character would maybe be Yidu in Vikings.
Yidu was bought as a slave and then my real identity comes through later on in the episodes of me being an emperor’s daughter. So, in that sense, in Vikings I was given no power at all and no chance to rise but yet I claimed my power through – you know, Travis (Fimmel) and I talked about it – through knowledge. Being an emperor’s daughter, I was highly educated. I’m now in this land of Vikings where they’re not the most educated people. (Laughing) But I definitely ground my characters in reality and kind of bring out those characteristics that I think are important for women and young girls to watch.”
Dianne Doan as Mai Ling in ‘Warrior’ (Photo by David Bloomer / Cinemax)
Did you end up doing much research into San Francisco in the 1870s? Did you research how Mai Ling would hold herself or her mannerisms, given the era of the series?
Dianne Doan: “I looked up a lot of documentaries with immigration and coming into America and obviously the Exclusion Act, how the Chinese people were treated at that time. A lot of background research. But in terms of mannerisms for Mai Ling, not necessarily because that is part of creating the character is being able to decide how she talks or how she walks. The costume dictates so much and your backstory as a character says something else. But I definitely wanted to make sure that I felt that I knew how women were treated at that time.
And also, there are fourth, fifth generation now living in America and I’m a first generation Asian Canadian, so it was fascinating to me. There are cast members on the show who are fourth generation and I have no idea what that even feels like to have a grandparent who was born in the States and how they grew up in a different way than how I grew up.”
Was there anything you learned about that time period in America’s history that struck you and stayed with you?
Dianne Doan: “The funny thing is, being Canadian we didn’t necessarily learn a lot about America’s history, unfortunately. But now having been living back and forth between the States and Canada the last few years, it was just chilling reading the scripts that Jonathan and everyone else had been writing and kind of seeing the political atmosphere in the States. It’s not necessarily Asian Americans who are suffering right now, but the different (groups). It’s insane and it breaks your heart, but it mirrors…100 years later we’re having the same political issues. I know it’s been said before but it’s like a vicious cycle. Everything kind of repeats itself over and over again.
But the important thing is we’re sharing this Asian immigration story that has never been shared. And how sad is that? A country that has been built from immigrants, their story’s never seen the light of pop culture or media. It was very important to Bruce Lee, and Shannon Lee brought it forward, this story that is in American history books and maybe takes up a paragraph or two about the Exclusion Act.”
That is extremely sad. Obviously now is the right time to tell the story, but why do you think that period was ignored for so many years?
Dianne Doan: “I mean, you’re asking the wrong person because I’m a little bitter towards it. (Laughing) But the blunt way to say it is in people’s eyes, whoever published these books, it’s not important and brushed aside. I think a lot of the times, especially in the entertainment industry right now, we’re seeing this wave of diversity. How long has that taken and why is it now that we’re being trusted to be able to make a profit and be accepted by the public? Why has it taken this long to see that people can relate to diversity? Everything happens in its own time and for a reason, but even being an actor for the last eight, nine years now, we’re finally getting an opportunity for inclusion. I’d say it took long enough for all of us to make noise and to make us be seen.
[…] I don’t know if it’s necessarily that they’re writing roles for us, it’s more that the roles that they’re writing they’re open to seeing us audition for them. And I only hope that executives of color and writers of color are now…my hope is that they’re getting opportunities to write specifically for us and not just, ‘Lead character, female, open ethnicity,” but that now it’s specifically for African American or Asian American. It’s been a long time and the ball has just started rolling.”
Were you a fan of Bruce Lee and did this cause you to delve into his life and career?
Dianne Doan: “I was raised on Bruce Lee movies. My mom and dad immigrated from Vietnam in 1984 to Canada. Bruce Lee was a universal icon for everyone. So, I was raised on Bruce Lee movies and then it trickled to Jet Li and Jackie Chan. He played a huge role in my childhood.
My parents, being immigrants, they don’t quite understand the arts. (Laughing) Back then they didn’t understand my choice to be an artist. Not that they don’t care, but I’m working and that’s all that they’re happy about. If I can put food on the table and keep a roof over my head, they’re happy. But as soon as I told my dad about Warrior – I hadn’t booked it yet, but I was just auditioning. I said Bruce Lee and his ears perked right up.
When I actually got the show and we did screenings in LA, I remember him calling me – this was the first time in my whole life he’s ever done this – he called me and told me, ‘When you meet Shannon Lee can you please greet her and just tell her how important her father has been in our lives?’ I think I started crying – it was amazing. And then he saw a picture of Shannon and I in a group cast photo and he texted me and he’s like, ‘Is this Shannon?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, dad, that is.’ He said, ‘I knew it. She has her father’s chin.’ Those things, I died when he said that. He just loves Bruce. Bruce Lee is huge in our household.”
Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen star in ‘Long Shot’ (Photo by: Hector Alvarez / Lionsgate)
“Do you, like, date?” asks Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen). “Who wants to follow me around the world and hope I have five minutes to be affectionate?” replies Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), the Secretary of State who has her eye on the presidency in the romantic comedy, Long Shot.
Flarsky is a free-spirited investigative reporter who’s recently become unemployed after the small independent newspaper he writes for is bought by a big conglomerate news company. Looking to be cheered up, he meets up and tags along with his successful best friend, Lance (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), to a fancy high-profile party. It’s at this party that Flarsky and Field wind up reconnecting.
The candidate for president spots him and realizes she knows this guy from somewhere. Flarsky reminds her they were neighbors and she used to babysit him all those years ago when he was 13 and she was 16.
The day following their random encounter, Field takes a look at some of Flarsky’s news articles. Her campaign could use a little punching up in the speech department, and Charlotte informs her staff she wants to hire Fred as her new speech writer.
The very unlikely pair get to know each other better as they travel the world together while Charlotte campaigns and prepares to push through her bill to help the environment. Sparks start flying between this odd couple, leading to an unexpected and possibly career-ending romance.
Long Shot tries its hand at being a slapstick romantic comedy but fails due to its dumb, crude humor as well as its two stars having zero chemistry. Charlize Theron gives a solid performance as Field, a shining star in politics working to take over the Oval Office and become the first woman president. Theron captures her drive and passion well. It’s when she tries to be funny and comedic instead of the straight woman to Rogen’s comic antics that her scenes come off as forced and, even worse, not funny.
Seth Rogen never disappears into the character of Flarsky, a drug using, immature, and rude journalist who never got over his teenage crush on Field. The writers apparently believed using curse words in every other sentence would sell Rogen’s character as an edgy reporter.
The movie does have a few laugh-out-loud moments but unfortunately they’re few and far between. Rogen still doesn’t know when to end a gag and the constant use of one particular curse word simply shows the lack of creative writing needed for a truly entertaining romantic comedy.
Long Shot is a dull, uneven comedy with few laughs. It’s filled with vulgar, adolescent humor and missing any kind of romantic vibe or substance.
GRADE: D
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, language throughout and some drug use
The world of black-ish is expanding even further with the addition of mixed-ish, a new half-hour comedy. ABC ordered the new spinoff and announced black-ish has been renewed for a sixth season.
Season six of black-ish will air during the 2019-2020 primetime season. The network didn’t announce when we can expect to see mixed-ish join their lineup. The first spin-off, Freeform’s grown-ish, will air the second half of season two this summer.
The cast of critically acclaimed black-ish is led by Anthony Anderson as Andre “Dre” Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson. Laurence Fishburne is Pops, Yara Shahidi is Zoey Johnson, Marcus Scribner plays Andre Johnson Jr., Miles Brown is Jack Johnson, Marsai Martin is Diane Johnson, Jenifer Lewis is Ruby, Peter Mackenzie is Mr. Stevens, and Deon Cole plays Charlie Telphy.
The Peabody Award-winning series was created by Kenya Barris. Barris, Jonathan Groff, Kenny Smith, Gail Lerner, Courtney Lilly, Lindsey Shockley, Peter Saji, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and E. Brian Dobbins serve as executive producers.
mixed-ish stars Arica Himmel as Bow Johnson, Tika Sumpter as Alicia Johnson, Christina Anthony as Denise, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Santamonica Johnson, and Ethan Childress as Johan Johnson.
Peter Saji and Kenya Barris are on board as writers for the spinoff. They also executive produce with Tracee Ellis Ross, Randall Winston, Artists First (Brian Dobbins), Cinema Gypsy (Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland) and Anthony Anderson.
The mixed-ish Plot:
“In mixed-ish, Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s and the constant dilemmas they had to face over whether to assimilate or stay true to themselves. Bow’s parents Paul and Alicia decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they’re perceived as neither black nor white. This family’s experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one’s own identity when the rest of the world can’t decide where you belong.”
