‘Supernatural’ Season 14 Episode 17 Recap: “Game Night”

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April 5, 2019

Supernatural Season 14 Episode 17 — Alexander Calvert as Jack and Samantha Smith as Mary Winchester in ‘Supernatural’ season 14 episode 17 (Photo: Diyah Pera © 2019 The CW Network)

When this season started out, we thought it would be about Alternate Michael’s quest for power, but Supernatural’s season 14 episode 17 “Game Night” made it clear that it was all leading toward Jack’s fall from grace.

Now that the Michael thing’s been done with, the B story of the season took center stage this week as we returned back to the exploits of Nick (Mark Pellegrino) – the guy who is Lucifer through and through in evilness. We touch base with Old Donnie (Keith Szarabajka) as he’s making dinner – for a guy who’s soulless, the guy sure does have a lot of personality – and enjoying the heck out of the process. Donatello is interrupted when a stranger shows up, ties the prophet, and painfully injects him with a mysterious substance.

We are treated to a family game night at the Men of Letters bunker as Jack (Alexander Calvert), Dean (Jensen Ackles), and Mary (Samantha Smith) are about to sit down for a game while Sam’s out picking dinner, before Dean gets a chilling message from Donnie begging for his help. Donnie also speaks in a language none of the heroes can understand.

When Dean can’t get through Sam’s cell, he and Mary hit the road for Donnie’s. An incensed Sam (Jared Padalecki), who’s still dealing with guilt at losing his friends, translates the message with Jack. It is revealed to be a Bible verse about the Devil. Obviously, Nick’s behind everything.

Dean and Mary find the Devil’s number one fan at Donnie’s house being all nonchalant. Clearly, he’s got something up his sleeve. Dean tries to beat the information of Donatello’s whereabouts out of Nick, who reveals that he’s poisoned the prophet and he has only 24 hours to live before it takes effect. Dean and Mary bring Nick back to HQ where an even more livid than before Sam is prepared to make Nick pay.

However, Dean makes him stay put while he interrogates Nick. Meanwhile, Mary makes a similar speech she’d given to Dean in the car to Sam, about how he’s a good man and how he shouldn’t blame himself for all the people he’s lost, and the people Nick’s killed. If you know Supernatural, you know this is going to lead up to something happening to Mary soon enough. Dean’s efforts are fruitless, and Nick only agrees to talk to “his son” – Jack.

Jack is enraged enough during their little chat that Nick headbutts him when the boy gets up in Nick’s face. Jack’s bleeding face is quickly healed by him, though, and he tells the others that Nick has agreed to show him where Donatello is.

While Jack and Mary stay behind (a trademark boneheaded Winchester decision), Sam and Dean are taken to a warehouse. Dean heads inside while Sam keeps an eye on Nick in the car. At the bunker, Jack is able to detect that the injection Nick used has angel grace in it, not poison. Upon being informed of this, Sam pulls a gun on Nick and asks him what he’s planning. Nick candidly reveals he used Donatello, whose prophet status makes him unique, to talk to Lucifer in the Empty – remember many episodes back when he’d woken up there?

In a flashback, we see Lucifer communicate through Donatello to Nick that he needed Jack’s blood to complete the process of extracting Lucifer from the Empty, hence why Nick headbutted Jack in order to get his blood smeared on his shirt. This whole thing was a ploy to get Jack’s blood. In a meta moment, Nick argues that “nobody stays dead anymore,” and Sam should know best. Nick, who’s become the world champion of unlocking handcuffs by now, does so again and attacks Sam.

Meanwhile, Dean is in trouble himself with demons, whom Nick has employed, while saving Donnie. Weirdly, Dean easily kills the demons, while Sam somehow can’t beat Nick of all people in a fight. Nick flees after bashing Sam in the head with a rock, and Sam seems to be in severe danger.

Dean arrives and calls Mary to inform her of the terrible scenario, as Nick has fled to the inside of the warehouse and is summoning Lucifer with Jack’s blood. However, Jack uses his powers and teleports himself and Mary to Nick, where Jack flings a creepy-looking essence of Lucifer back in the Empty just before he possesses Nick. Jack, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, grotesquely snaps Nick’s hands (it really is rather hard to look at), before incinerating Nick’s skin – it’s not confirmed, but it looks like Nick might be dead. Jack then teleports to Sam and heals him. When he returns to Mary, the Winchester matriarch displays yet again why she’s a terrible fit to be a mother by chastising Jack for how he seemingly killed Nick.

An enraged Jack can’t take any more of Mary’s ridicule – she seriously should’ve shut her trap rather than kept going on about how Jack’s changed. Jack throws his hands around his head when Mary tells him she’ll tell Sam and Dean what he did, and we don’t see what happens as the last we see is Jack’s distraught face as he whispers Mary’s name. Did he finally rid the fandom of Mary’s worthless existence? We don’t find that out this episode.

Over on the B story, Castiel (Misha Collins) and Anael (Danneel Ackles) try to locate something that Joshua the Angel once used to communicate with God. Castiel figures only God can help in restoring Jack’s soul and wants to appeal to Chuck – looks like Castiel’s forgotten just how much Chuck sucks as God. They head to Joshua’s old roommate; whose sardonic attitude brings out the badass Cas for a moment as Castiel threatens the man to reveal the item Joshua used.

The man directs them to the thousands of items lying around in the emporium. It resembles the Room of Requirement from Harry Potter, only crappier, and Cas and Anael start sifting through the junk. This is pretty much all they do the whole episode, with some dialogue that isn’t really interesting or important, before Castiel spots the amulet that God had responded to in season 11. As expected, Chuck doesn’t respond and Joshua’s friend tells them it never worked for Joshua either.

Although the episode was fast-paced when it came to the main plot, it just wasn’t as thrilling as it could’ve been. And although Lucifer is my favorite villain and among my favorite characters, I don’t like the idea of making him the baddie yet again. Supernatural should be shooting for new villains, but it appears the show wants Lucy back as the bad guy for the 15th – and final – season.

With God expected to return in the finale, expect things to get very messy as far as Jack is concerned. We have no idea what he did to Mary at present.

‘She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’ – AJ Michalka and Lauren Ash Talk Season 2

By

Fred Topel

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April 5, 2019

Being She-Ra’s sister isn’t easy, especially when you’re Catra and you’ve just been promoted to leader of the Horde. Catra’s not the only animalistic Horde member either. There’s also Scorpia.

Catra voice AJ Michalka and Scorpia voice Lauren Ash joined their fellow cast mates at the 2019 WonderCon held in Anaheim. Following their She-Ra and the Princesses of Power panel, Michalka and Ash teams up to speak with the press about what’s in store for the animated series’ second season.

She-Ra and the Princesses Of Power returns for a second season on Netflix April 26, 2019.

Do share any traits with your characters?

Lauren Ash: “Other than my giant claw hands? I have to say that I’m a very loyal friend. Am I as loyal as Scorpia? That’s tough.”

AJ Michalka: “Who is?”

Lauren Ash:: “Well, that’s the thing. But I definitely think that’s the number one thing that I have in common with her. She’ll fight somebody for her friend though. I don’t know. I’m Canadian, I don’t think I can actually hit another person. But maybe if pushed, but probably not. But the loyalty is it for me.”

AJ Michalka: “For me, it’s so hard. The way we know Catra now, no, there’s not any similarities. But the way we’re going to get to know Catra in later seasons to come, there are similarities. I think it has to do with the friendship her and Adora have and the love they have for one another. And to me there’s like a sister bond a little bit there that ends up becoming actually even deeper. I really think that in my mind that’s something that…gosh, in a way, it’s like I almost feel like their relationship, their friendship is like there’s a sisterhood there that I think is really important. And I kind of have that with my sister.

I don’t know if this is going to make sense down the road, this interview, based on the episodes that are going to come out, but there is a sisterhood between those two girls that no one can break.”

So how is Catra handling her new leadership position?

AJ Michalka: “She’s a little overwhelmed, I think. She’s obviously excited for the upgrade and job, however her main focus is impressing Hordak. I kind of feel like she’s still the underdog and she feels like she has to prove herself. And meanwhile Entrapta is coming in and kind of holding court and Catra is not happy with that. So once competition kind of comes into play, Catra has an issue with that.”

Scorpia’s getting more of a leadership role, too. Are there any things she still wants for herself or does she just want to be more like Catra?

Lauren Ash: “She just wants attention from Catra, I think, is the number one thing. I mean, like you heard in that clip that they showed during the panel, it’s like she said, ‘Even I couldn’t mess it up.’ Like, her rose-colored glasses are on just strapped to her head that literally anything that even has a semblance of positivity that Catra says to her is very meaningful. So, really, that’s her main focus is, ‘I have to do a good job because Catra entrusts me with this.’ That’s like of the utmost importance.

In terms of things, I don’t know that she has wants for herself. I think her only real want is just to have Catra’s friendship and love and to please her. That’s really her whole being.”

AJ Michalka: “Yeah, just approval-based.”

Lauren Ash: “It’s just approval-based.”

AJ Michalka: “Yeah, which is really sweet but sad. There’s so much more going for her that I just wish she would not base her worth off of what Catra thinks.”

Lauren Ash: “I know but that’s a lesson that I think that so many people can learn in real life, too.”

Aimee Carrero, AJ Michalka, Lauren Ash and Marcus Scribner on the DreamWorks ‘She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’ red carpet at WonderCon (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for DreamWorks Animation Television)

How have your interactions with fans been since season one? Do people tell you how much they love you?

AJ Michalka: “Yeah. I mean people have connected down the road that I’m Catra or I’m sure that you’re Scorpia, it clicks with people. Like, ‘I know that voice. It sounds familiar. What is that from?’ And then I’ve talked about it and it’s like you kind of see them go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s it!’

It’s neat that you can be identified in that way by using your voice. This is the second thing I’ve ever done as a voice actor, but it’s been so fulfilling as an actor because it’s taught me how much I’m able to actually do with my voice. And then to be recognized for that and not for, ‘Oh I recognize your look,’ it’s more I recognize how you sound. That’s neat for me.”

Lauren Ash: “Yeah, I don’t feel like the response I’ve got…it’s like people don’t view Scorpia as a villain even though she is, she one hundred percent is. But I think because she has such a big heart and she’s so lovable and goofy, I don’t think people even view her that way. It’s kind of like, ‘Oh yeah, she’s doing bad stuff but come on! She knows not what she does. That’s not who she is.’ Which is amazing.

And definitely too I remember there was a She-Ra party and so there were a lot of behind the scenes people, animators and stuff like that. I’d be introduced to someone and literally they’d be like, ‘Oh my god!!!’ because they recognize the voice. They don’t necessarily know what you look like and they’ve been working with these voices. So, it was such a fun night of just like blowing people’s minds.”

AJ Michalka: “You’re so right. That night was really fun. We’d never met these people working on the show.”

Lauren Ash: “Yeah. That’s the thing also that I think people forget is there’s like hundreds of people that it takes to make any show but certainly an animated show. And, also, that you never meet but that know you intimately because they work with your voice literally every day.”

AJ Michalka: “Yes and are cutting you a cartoon. It’s crazy.”

After doing the first season was there anything different you wanted to do with your voices in the second season?

Lauren Ash: “You know what? I think that what happens in general on any show that you’re on is that when you continue to get more episodes, the writers begin to write to how you sound more and more. So, I feel like it kind of just cements itself, if that makes any sense, where you know early episodes you may be putting your taste on it a little bit more in terms of tone. But then when the writers hear it, they learn that and then they start kind of writing in that way. So when you’re getting into season two, I’m looking at it going, ‘Oh yeah, this sounds exactly like it. I know exactly how to do it.’

AJ Michalka: “Yeah. No, there’s nothing where I’ve been like, ‘Oh gosh, I want to experiment with this,’ and I wasn’t able to play with it the first season. My thing that I’ve really had a fun time doing that I want to do more of in future episodes is like playing young Catra because that was just a fun exploration as an actor to figure out how young I could go and how it could sound authentic to the character.

But, yeah, I agree a hundred percent. They understand how to write for you the more you record. I think that our showrunner and our director get our voices and our personality so well that each season got stronger and stronger. And you would literally read a line and go, ‘I know exactly what to do with that,’ because I feel like I’ve gotten to a place now where I feel very in control of this part.”

What other fun stuff is coming up?

AJ Michalka: “So Bow and Glimmer realize that Entrapta is alive and Catra kind of pulls one over on them and makes them feel very guilty for leaving her behind when really they did not do that. But, of course, Catra’s like, ‘How can I play a mind game on these two to convince them that what they did was wrong and they’re horrible friends and they’ll never redeem themselves?’ And they don’t fall for it. Glimmer does a little bit and then realizes that’s not true.

But to get Entrapta back is going to be a big goal for them and we’ll have to see where that goes. But that’s one of my favorite storylines for this season.”

Lauren Ash: “Yeah. There’s also a really cool episode which they did show a clip from where we’re going to see a plan of attack through the eyes of Bow. You get to see all of the characters and it’s a real nod to that ’80s original version of the show. So, we get to see Adora in the more traditional original She-Ra costume and stuff like that. We get to see Catra.

I mean, like literally She-Ra was my favorite cartoon growing up; it really, really was. I did a squeal when Catra came on because I was so into it. I’m so excited for people to see that scene because it’s such a fun thing and it’s such a fun way to pay homage to the original but doing it in a way that isn’t…”

AJ Michalka: – “It’s super cheeky.”

Lauren Ash: – “And fun. It’s like reminding us that this did exist in another way before. We have to address that in some way but we’ll do it in a way that’s really, really fun and authentic because I’m sure there’s also like… Think about this: there’s people that weren’t alive when that show came out that have never…they have no concept that that show existed.”

‘FBI’ Season 1 Episode 19 Photos: “Conflict of Interest” Plot and Cast

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 5, 2019

Season one of CBS’s hit drama FBI continues with episode 19 titled “Conflict of Interest.” Episode 19 is set to air on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT and was directed by Christine Swanson from a script by Nick Santoro.

Season one episode 19 guest stars include Aleeah Rogers as Chantelle King, Mike Keller as Detective Steve Torino, Christopher M. Ramirez as Juan Torrez, Donald Paul as Morris Kalu, Anna Weng as Mika Chang, Andrew Hovelson as Ryan Parker, and Taylor Sele as Tayo. Alexander Pineiro, Kurt Uy,
Jason Furlani, Bueka Uwemedimo, Laris Macario, Jennifer Honka, and Teren Carter also guest star in the episode.

Season one stars Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, and Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal. The cast also includes Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine and Sela Ward as Dana Mosier.

The “Conflict of Interest” Plot – An American diplomat is killed while being used as a pawn in a dangerous drug ring, and the team must work together to bring them down. Also, Jubal and OA try to help friends from their past fight off their inner demons.

FBI Season 1 Plot:

“From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind the Law & Order franchise, FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe.

Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI. Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge, Dana Mosier, who operates under intense pressure 24/7/365 and has undeniable command authority.

The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. Kristen Chazal is the team’s most valued resource, a brilliant analyst recruited straight out of university who can piece together the big picture faster than anyone. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence.”

FBI Season 1 Episode 19 — Zeeko Zaki, Missy Peregrym and Jeremy Sisto in ‘FBI’ season 1 episode 19 (Photo by Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

JoJo Siwa Adds 17 Dates to Her ‘D.R.E.A.M. The Tour’

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 4, 2019

JoJo Siwa’s 2019 “D.R.E.A.M. The Tour” has just expanded by 17 dates. The tour marks the first North American tour for the Nickelodeon star who’s about to launch her second EP, Celebrate, on Friday, April 12th. The new EP will feature four songs – “It’s Time To Celebrate,” “#1U,” “Worldwide Party,” and “Bop!”.

The just-added dates include stops in Indianapolis, Birmingham, Memphis, and New Orleans. “D.R.E.A.M. The Tour” will kick off in Phoenix, Arizona at the Comerica Theatre on May 17th. The tour is scheduled to wrap up on September 17th in Grand Prairie, Texas at The Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 12 at 12pm local time via JoJoDREAMTour.com. American Express Card Members will be able to participate in a special presale on Wednesday, April 10th at 10am local time.

JoJo Siwa “D.R.E.A.M. The Tour” North American Dates:

May 17 – Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
May 19 – Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater
May 20 – San Diego, CA San Diego Civic Theatre
May 21 – San Jose, CA City National Civic
May 23 – Seattle, WA Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
May 25 – Eugene, OR Hult Center for the Performing Arts
May 28 – Salt Lake City, UT Abravanel Hall
May 30 – Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
June 1 – Tulsa, OK Brady Theater
June 2 – Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
June 4 – St. Louis, MO Stifel Theatre
June 5 – Des Moines, IA Des Moines Civic Center
June 6 – Minneapolis, MN Northrop, University of Minnesota
June 8-9 – Chicago, IL Nickelodeon’s SlimeFest
June 11 – Cleveland, OH Keybank State Theatre
June 12 – Baltimore, MD The Modell Lyric
June 13 – New Brunswick, NJ State Theatre New Jersey
June 15 – Hartford, CT The Bushnell
June 16 – Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial Auditorium
June 18 – New York, NY Beacon Theatre
June 20 – Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
June 21 – Nashville, TN Tennessee Performing Arts Center
June 22 – Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
June 25 – Grand Prairie, TX The Theatre at Grand Prairie
June 26 – Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
July 10 – Orlando, FL Amway Center
July 12 – Sunrise, FL BB&T Center
July 13 – Saint Augustine, FL Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
July 14 – Charleston, SC Volvo Car Stadium
July 16 – Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
July 18 – Richmond, VA Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
July 19 – Vienna, VA Wolf Trap
July 20 – Mashantucket, CT The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
July 23 – Boston, MA Agganis Arena
July 24 – Newark, NJ Prudential Center
July 26 – Uniondale, NY NYCB Live
July 27 – Philadelphia, PA the Mann
July 28 – Lewiston, NY Artpark
July 30 – Pittsburgh, PA Petersen Events Center
July 31 – Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
Aug. 2 – Toronto, ON Coca-Cola Coliseum
Aug. 3 – Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre
Aug. 4 – Milwaukee, WI BMO Harris Pavilion
Aug. 6 – Omaha, NE Baxter Arena
Aug. 8 – Broomfield, CO 1STBANK Center
Aug. 10 – Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
Aug. 11 – Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl
Aug. 13 – Anaheim, CA Honda Center
Aug. 14 – Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
Aug. 15 – Reno, NV Reno Events Center
Aug. 17 – Portland, OR Theater Of The Clouds
Aug. 18 – Redmond, WA Marymoor Park Concerts
Aug. 20 – Vancouver, BC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

New Concert Dates:

‘Pet Sematary’ Review: Resurrects Stephen King’s Story with Mixed Results

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 4, 2019

The 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary stayed incredibly true to the novel. That’s in large part due to the fact King adapted his own work for the screen. The horrormeister himself claims Pet Sematary as his scariest novel and the first movie remains a must-see for King fans.

King was inspired to write Pet Sematary after his daughter’s cat was killed by a truck outside a rented house in Orrington. He took the true story of a major truck route steps away from a family’s front yard, combined that with an actual pet cemetery that existed behind the rented home, and twisted the real-life outcome to replace a pet’s death with that of a child as the trigger for the novel’s terrifying third act.

The devastating loss of a child, our relationship with mortality, and how we process grief remains at the heart of both the 1989 film adaptation and the 2019 version hitting theaters on April 5th. What would a parent do if they were presented with the option of saving their child from dealing with death by bringing back a beloved pet? And what decision would you make if you could resurrect a child taken far too soon, knowing they’ll come back from the dead changed?

The Creed family is forced to answer those questions after moving from bustling Boston to a quiet rural town where dad Louis (Jason Clarke) has taken a position as a doctor at a college. Louis has moved his family – mom Rachel (Amy Seimetz), daughter Ellie (Jeté Laurence), and son Gage (played by Hugo and Lucas Lavoie) – away from the stress of the big city just so he can spend more time enjoying his wife and kids.

The Creeds settle into a large, comfy home surrounded by woods. Unfortunately, their new domicile is yards away from a road used by big rigs speeding to their destinations. Their property is also the home of a decades-old pet cemetery, a fact they learn within days of moving in.

Children in animal masks and carrying a dead dog have a procession through their property, and inquisitive Ellie jumps on the first possible opportunity to sneak out and follow their trail. She discovers the cemetery and is drawn to a barrier of tree branches at its rear. Fortunately, the Creeds’ nearest neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow), stops Ellie from exploring where no child should set foot. Jud, a widower, quickly becomes a friend of the entire Creed family, passing on his first-hand knowledge of the power of what lies beyond the “Pet Sematary” to Louis.

It’s not long after the family’s settled in that Ellie’s beloved cat, Church – a gorgeous, fluffy purr machine – is found dead, the victim of a passing truck. Of course, Jud and Louis make a late-night trek to the area off-limits behind the pet cemetery instead of breaking Ellie’s heart with the news of her cat’s death. And, of course, Church comes back a changed cat. He’s no longer a cuddlebug; this feline member of the walking dead stinks, has bloody, matted fur, and a new sour disposition.

After Church’s death we learn Rachel’s relationship with death is deeply complicated. Her sister, Zelda, suffered from a devastating illness and died when Rachel was just a child. Prior to her passing, Zelda’s gnarled appearance was nightmare-inducing. Rachel’s guilt at being the cause of her sister’s death not only haunts her dreams but has also shaped how she deals with loss.

The 2019 film strays from Stephen King’s novel by switching up the next unfortunate victim. The crucial events in King’s tale were driven by the horrific death of young Gage. In 2019, Ellie dies in the road while yards away from family and friends gathered to celebrate her birthday.

With a grieving Rachel fleeing town with Gage, Louis is given the opportunity to cheat death. Ellie’s death presents Louis with the agonizing decision: should he toss morality and mortality away, take his daughter to the ancient burial ground past the pet cemetery, and hope for the return of his Ellie and not some abomination?

Even if you haven’t read the novel or watched the original feature film, nothing in the above summary’s a spoiler. It’s all been laid out in the film’s multiple trailers which were obviously pieced together with the assumption the target audience has more than a passing knowledge of the plot. The meat of King’s story remains in place with the 2019 adaptation, although the path to getting there takes a few side roads.

What’s not necessarily obvious from the trailers leading up to the April 2019 theatrical release is that this version minimizes Rachel’s backstory. Characters are missing who were crucial to understanding the relationship between Rachel and Louis, as well as the relationship Jud has to the ancient burial ground.

In many ways this version feels like a CliffsNotes take on the central characters, with the exception of Ellie. Altering the story to place Ellie as the victim is both an understandable and effective choice. Ellie, played by the film’s breakout star, Jeté Laurence, is better able to display a myriad of emotions upon being brought back from the dead as opposed to the limited ability to bring to the screen any complicated layers due to Gage’s tender age.

Yet while directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer remained true to the intent of King’s work, there’s an ingredient missing that could have lead to a real emotional connection with the family in this 2019 version. Jason Clarke’s performance is too restrained and disengaged to truly elicit the necessary sympathetic (and empathetic) reaction to his dilemma. Amy Seimetz’s Rachel is much more compelling and relatable, even with her backstory glossed over.

The original film stands the test of time, which means in order to justify a remake this 2019 version has to knock your socks off by delivering something complicated and horrifying. There are a few decent jump scares in this latest adaptation, but there are also annoying plot threads left dangling. 2019’s Pet Sematary isn’t a better film than 1989’s version and ultimately feels like an unnecessary remake that fails to improve upon the original adaptation.

GRADE: C+

MPAA Rating: R for horror violence, bloody images, and some language

Release Date: April 5, 2019

Running Time: 101 minutes

‘Yellowstone’ Season 2 Trailer: New Season Debuts in June

By

Rebecca Murray

-

April 4, 2019

In the first trailer for the upcoming second season of the gritty drama Yellowstone, John Dutton (Kevin Costner) confesses that the walls are closing in. The Dutton family and its sprawling ranch are fighting to survive, according to the family patriarch. The trailer also asserts that war is certain for the valley and that despite John Dutton’s best efforts, change is coming.

The trailer ends with Costner as John Dutton declaring, “All the angels are gone, son. There’s only devils left.”

In addition to Kevin Costner, the season two cast members include Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton, Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, Kelsey Asbille as Monica Dutton, Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton, Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom, and Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater.

The series was created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water) and John Linson. Oscar-winner Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves) executive produces Yellowstone along with Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, and David C. Glasser.

Season two of Yellowstone premieres on Paramount Network on June 19, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.

Yellowstone Season 2 — Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), John Dutton (Kevin Costner), Monica Long (Kelsey Asbille), Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley). Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) in ‘Yellowstone’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)

The Plot:

“Yellowstone is a drama series that follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton (Costner). The Duttons control the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S. and must contend with constant attacks by land developers, clashes with an Indian reservation and conflict with America’s first national park.”

More on Yellowstone:

John Cho to Star in ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Live-Action Series

By

Rebecca Murray

-

April 4, 2019

John Cho in The Exorcist — John Cho in ‘The Exorcist’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo by Sergei Bachlakov © Fox Broadcasting Co)

John Cho (The Exorcist) is confirmed to star in Netflix’s live-action Cowboy Bebop series. The series is based on the incredibly popular Japanese animated series and has Alex Garcia Lopez (The Witcher, Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s The Punisher) attached to direct the show’s first two episodes.

John Cho will star alongside Mustafa Shakir (Marvel’s Luke Cage), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), and Alex Hassell (The Red Sea Diving Resort). Season one will consist of 10 episodes.

Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg are the showrunners and executive produce the series. Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Yasuo Miyakawa, Masayuki Ozaki, and Shin Sasaki are also on board as executive producers. Christopher Yost (Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok) is writing the first episode.

The Plot and Characters, Courtesy of Netflix:

Based on the worldwide phenomenon from Sunrise Inc., Cowboy Bebop is the jazz-inspired, genre-bending story of a rag-tag crew of bounty hunters on the run from their pasts, as they hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals. They’ll even save the world…for the right price.

JOHN CHO as Spike Spiegel: Spike Spiegel is an impossibly cool “cowboy” (bounty hunter) with a deadly smile, a wry wit, and style to spare. He travels the solar system with his ex-cop partner, Jet, pursuing the future’s most dangerous bounties with a combination of charm, charisma — and deadly Jeet Kune Do.

MUSTAFA SHAKIR as Jet Black: Jet Black was one of the few honest cops in the solar system before an ultimate betrayal robbed him of all that he loved, forcing him into a vagabond life of hunting bounties to put food on the table. Jet is an inveterate jazz enthusiast and Captain of the Bebop.

DANIELLA PINEDA as Faye Valentine: Faye Valentine is a bold, brash and unpredictable bounty hunter. Suffering from amnesia after years of being cryogenically frozen, Faye does whatever it takes to survive. Whether she’s lying, stealing, or just being a thorn in Spike and Jet’s side.

ALEX HASSELL as Vicious: A man who thoroughly enjoys a good kill, Vicious is the Syndicate’s most notorious hitman. He’s also Spike Spiegel’s ex-partner and arch-enemy.

‘The Code’ TV Series Preview: Plot, Cast and Photos from CBS’s New Drama

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 4, 2019

CBS will launch their new dramatic series The Code on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. The network’s given the series a prime slot immediately after NCIS for its debut. Episode two will premiere in the series’ permanent time slot of Mondays at 9pm, taking over the time spot after Bull. The combo of Bull and The Code will give the network a two hour block of legal dramas.

The Code was created by Craig Sweeny (Elementary, Limitless) and Craig Turk (FBI, The Good Wife). Sweeny, Turk, Marc Webb, Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, and Christine Moore serve as executive producers on the series’ first season.

The cast is led by Luke Mitchell as Captain John “Abe” Abraham, Anna Wood as Captain Maya Dobbins, Ato Essandoh as Major Trey Ferry, Phillipa Soo as Lieutenant Harper Li, Dana Delany as Colonel Glenn Turnbull, and Raffi Barsoumian as Warrant Officer Rami Ahmadi.

The Code Season 1 Plot:

“The Code is a drama about the military’s brightest minds, who tackle the toughest legal challenges facing the U.S. Marine Corps. As prosecutors, defense lawyers, and investigators, these Marines work together to serve their country with integrity while often putting aside their personal ideals for the sake of justice.

Operating out of Judge Advocate General Headquarters in Quantico, Captain John ‘Abe’ Abraham is a driven prosecutor for whom becoming a Marine is a longstanding family tradition and a responsibility he treats with devotion and passion. His colleague and friend, Captain Maya Dobbins, is the fearless lead defense attorney who is never hesitant to go up against one of her own, but is also a team player if it means finding the truth. Major Trey Ferry is Abe’s eloquent and wise superior officer working for the prosecution who pursues suspects with ferocity.

Commanding officer Colonel Glenn Turnbull, one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Judge Advocate Corps, demands excellence of herself and her staff, while inspiring intense loyalty. Assisting the team is Lt. Harper Li, a highly capable lawyer who is eager to take on bigger cases, and tech-savvy, efficient Warrant Officer Rami Ahmadi, the Marine equivalent of a paralegal. These active duty Marines are attorneys who have chosen to serve their country in pursuit of military justice at home and abroad.”

The Code Season 1 — Phillipa Soo as Lieutenant Harper Li, Ato Essandoh as Major Trey Ferry, Dana Delany as Colonel Glenn Turnbull, Luke Mitchell as Captain John “Abe” Abraham, Anna Wood as Captain Maya Dobbins and Raffi Barsoumian as Warrant Officer Rami Ahmadi in ‘The Code’ (Photo: Mark Schafer ©2018 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

‘The Society’ Netflix Series Has a Teaser Trailer and Premiere Date

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 4, 2019

Netflix confirmed their new young adult drama The Society will premiere on May 10, 2019. Season one, which was shot outside of Boston, is made up of 10 one-hour episodes.

In addition to announcing the premiere date, Netflix released a teaser trailer for the show’s first season.

The Society was written by Chris Keyser (The Last Tycoon, Tyrant, Party of Five). Keyser serves as the first season showrunner and executive produces with Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer, The Amazing Spider-Man).

The Society Plot:

“The Society follows a group of teenagers who are mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their wealthy New England town without any trace of their parents. Their newfound freedom will be fun… but it will also be very dangerous. As they struggle to figure out what has happened to them and how to get home, they must establish order and form alliances if they want to survive.”

The Cast and Characters, Courtesy of Netflix:

Kathryn Newton plays “Allie,” who has lived her entire life in the shadow of her more remarkable older sister Cassandra. Whatever Allie’s strengths are, she has very little sense of them. Allie inspires her sister to take charge of the group as they are thrust in to the mysterious new world.

Rachel Keller (Legion, Fargo) plays the role of “Cassandra.” She’s popular and the most impressive amongst her peers, and they all know it. A natural leader, she is the longtime rival of Harry. If she has one person she loves most in the world, it’s her sister, Allie.

Gideon Adlon (Blockers, Mustang) plays “Becca,” who is mature, tough and adventurous, yet always on the outside looking in. She’s the daughter of a single, alcoholic mother and in order to keep the rest of the world at bay, she hides behind her camera, viewing the world with a reporter’s eye.

Jacques Colimon (Duat) plays the role of “Will.” Will is a foster kid and a true orphan. He’s an outsider in West Ham who finds his natural social disadvantages disappearing in New Ham.

Olivia DeJonge (The Visit) has been cast as “Elle.” A dancer, she is brittle from living in the obsessive, cruel world of dance. Her fear and uncertainty in this new world leaves her susceptible and vulnerable to those who don’t have her best interest in mind. She will struggle to find her own self in this dangerous frontier. Whether she finds salvation or, like those to whom evil is done, comes to do evil in return, only time will tell.

Alex Fitzalan (Slenderman) plays “Harry.” The epitome of privilege, he’s handsome, wealthy, ambitious and, in almost every other way, entirely unremarkable. Harry finds himself the leader of the roughly half of the population that would choose to recreate, in the New World, an exact replica of the world they left behind.

Kristine Froseth (Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, Apostle) plays “Kelly,” the Queen Bee of West Ham. She’s smart and has a firm moral compass. But now that the rules have been rewritten, she may well take the opportunity to rewrite herself as well. In doing so, she finds herself torn between the old high school hierarchy and the new world order.

Jose Julian (A Better Life, Shameless) plays tech wiz “Gordie.” Smart and grounded, he proves to be indispensable in the new world. He secretly pines for Cassandra. When he learns about her health issues, he vows to teach himself basic medicine so he’s prepared should crisis strike.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo plays “Helena.” All of her certainty – about her boyfriend Luke, about God – masks her deep-seated uncertainty. More confident in Luke’s ability to lead the town than Luke himself, Helena finds herself stepping into that role in the face of conflict.

Alex MacNicoll (Transparent, Backseat) plays “Luke,” the high school quarterback, and built like one. His girlfriend pushes him to be a leader, but he’s much more content with being a supporter.

Jack Mulhern (Locke & Key) is “Grizz,” a jock with a poetic side. Incredibly smart, he becomes important to the power struggles and game of survival in the new world.

Salena Qureshi (Madam Secretary) plays “Bean.”

Grace Victoria Cox (Heathers, Under the Dome) plays “Lexie.” Quirky and slightly unpredictable, Lexie comes into her own in the political arena of New Ham.

Sean Berdy (Switched at Birth) and Toby Wallace (Romper Stomper) play the roles of “Sam” and “Campbell,” respectively. Sam and Campbell are brothers and cousins to Cassandra and Allie. Sam is sweet, sensitive, and funny. Born deaf, he is painfully aware of the unfair vicissitudes of fate. His brother, Campbell, is a sociopath, insecure and angry at the attention his brother’s “difference” has stolen from him.

‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ New Photos Featuring Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 4, 2019

Terminator: Dark Fate LInda Hamilton — Linda Hamilton stars in Skydance Productions and Paramount Pictures’ ‘Terminator: Dark Fate.’

Paramount Pictures is showing off six new photos from the newest addition to the Terminator franchise, Terminator: Dark Fate. The new photos include shots of returning Terminator stars Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator.

Terminator: Dark Fate stars Natalia Reyes (“Dani Ramos”), Mackenzie Davis (“Grace”), Diego Boneta, and Gabriel Luna are also featured in the latest batch of photos released.

Tim Miller (Deadpool) directed from a screenplay by David Goyer (The Dark Knight trilogy), Justin Rhodes, and Billy Ray (story by Goyer, Rhodes, and James Cameron). Miller, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, John Kelly, Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, and Edward Cheng executive produced, and James Cameron and David Ellison served as producers.

The new Terminator film follows the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, released in 1991. Other than that tidbit, Paramount’s keeping mum on plot details.

Terminator: Dark Fate is the sixth film in the sci-fi action film franchise. The series kicked off with The Terminator in 1984, followed by Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines arrived in 2003, Terminator Salvation opened in theaters in 2009, and the most recent entry, Terminator Genisys, was released in 2015.

James Cameron directed the first and second Terminator films, with Jonathan Mostow (U-571) taking over the reins for Terminator 3. McG (Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle) took on the task of directing Terminator Salvation and Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) was at the helm of Terminator Genisys.

Paramount Pictures is planning a November 1, 2019 theatrical release.