Fox’s Lucifer returns for a third season on October 2, 2017 at a new time, 8pm ET/PT. Season three episode one titled “They’re Back, Aren’t They?” finds the sexy Devil trying to figure out why his dad gave him back his glorious wings. The episode will also introduce Smallville‘s Tom Welling as Marcus Pierce, a potential rival for Chloe’s affection.
Season three stars Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lauren German as Chloe, DB Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Kevin Alejandro as Dan, Scarlett Estevez as Trixie, Rachael Harris as Linda Martin, Tricia Helfer as Charlotte, and Aimee Garcia as Ella. The episode one guest cast includes Pej Vahdat as Josh McGregor, Michael Gladis as Sam, and Jeremiah Birkett as Lee.
“They’re Back, Aren’t They” Plot: After a confused Lucifer wakes up in the middle of the desert with his wings back, he recruits the help of Chloe to help figure out what happened to him and why. Upon doing their own research, they come across a crime scene that could be tied to Lucifer’s kidnapping. When the Lancaster Police Department get involved, newcomer Lieutenant Marcus Pierce (Tom Welling) fails to make a great impression on everyone with his stern demeanor. The investigation goes awry when Lucifer finds himself in another compromising situation and something much darker is revealed.
The killer clown film finally met its match in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. It had to give up its hold on the #1 spot while still ringing up $30 over its third weekend in release. The critically acclaimed horror film based on Stephen King’s bestseller is now the highest grossing R-rated horror film in history with a total domestic gross of $266 million. Warner Bros has to be ecstatic about It‘s performance, especially given its $35 million budget.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle opened lower than expected, but still managed to surpass Kingsman: The Secret Service‘s opening weekend numbers, taking in $39 million domestically compared to the first Kingsman‘s $36 million. Critics ranked the sequel below the original film, with Kingsman: The Secret Service sitting at 74% fresh while Kingsman: The Golden Circle rests at just 51% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Also opening lower than anticipated were the latest LEGO movie, The LEGO Ninjago Film, and the social media horror film, Friend Request. Ninjago‘s opening ranks third among the three LEGO films, while Friend Request‘s C+ CinemaScore and 19% Rotten Tomatoes rating don’t bode well for a successful theatrical run.
Opening next weekend: Tom Cruise’s American Made, the Flatliners remake, and an expansion of Battle of the Sexes into wider release.
20th Century Fox released the first trailer for Maze Runner: The Death Cure starring Teen Wolf‘s Dylan O’Brien. As the trailer proclaims, every maze has an end which also holds true for the Maze Runner film franchise. The 2018 sci-fi action film is the final installment in the trilogy directed by Wes Ball and based on James Dashner’s bestselling books.
In addition to Dylan O’Brien, the cast includes Giancarlo Esposito, Dexter Darden, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, Kaya Scodelario, Patricia Clarkson, Katherine McNamara, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Jacob Lofland. 20th Century Fox is aiming for a January 26, 2018 theatrical release.
The Plot: In the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.
Sam Heughan stars in ‘Outlander’ season 3 episode 3 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
Episode three of the third season of Starz’s Outlander is titled “All Debts Paid.” And, in my estimation, all but one is completed by the end of the episode: Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) duty to the Crown. There are also deviations from the book’s account of the many paths our beloved characters take. The end results remain the same…don’t worry, book lovers. As the incredible showrunner Ron D. Moore said, he baked in some surprises so there would be fresh excitement. I will point out a few of these divergent storylines, but if I detail all the book’s differences with the show we will be here for a month!
We open in 1956 Boston, at breakfast with Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Frank (Tobias Menzies). Frank is making what he calls a proper English breakfast because wee Brianna (Gemma Fray) had asked for Eggo waffles. (I have those in my freezer right now because my son likes them.) Claire and Frank are doing a bit of husband and wife back and forth. Claire suggests a trip to the movies that night since she doesn’t have class. Frank likes the idea but informs Claire he has seen the current movies already; the suggestive look he gives is that it was on dates with other women. Here is a key difference from the book. In the previous episode, “Surrender,” they had twin beds and now they talk about the open marriage arrangement they agreed upon. That is not the way they conduct the marriage in the book. Frank does have affairs but Claire acts as if she knows nothing about it until Brianna is grown and almost out of high school.
Now to check in on Jamie. When we last saw him, the Redcoats were taking Jamie away from Lallybroch to prison. Ardsmuir Prison in 1755 is a perfectly revolting place. There is a changing of the leadership of the prison and Major John Grey (David Berry) is taking up his new post when he realizes he’s acquainted with one of the prisoners, Red Jamie. Jamie is the only prisoner with irons around his wrists and ankles, showing how scared the Redcoat guards are of our beloved Highland warrior.
Jamie heads down into the cells with the rest of the men who were in the yard. The prisoners call Jamie Mac Dubh, pronounced MacDoo, and it means the Son of the Black after his father who was called Black Brian because of the darkness of his hair. Jamie takes up a seat in the cells next to a stone pillar, and who is sitting on the other side but Murtagh Frazer (Duncan Lacroix). This is another surprise to the book readers. In the books, Murtagh was killed on Culloden Moor. They’re talking about the new governor of the prison, and Jamie mentions that he looks familiar but canna yet place him. Jamie has managed to gather some milk thistles that might help the very sick Murtagh. Jamie says he learned the trick with the thistles from Claire.
Jamie is taken to meet the new governor, Major Grey. Major Grey knows who he is, but does not reveal this to Jamie. The meeting is brief, mainly about rats, and Grey is taken aback by the fact the prisoners try to catch them and eat them. Jamie does exert his dominance in the situation with a piercing stare before he’s taken back to the lower cells.
It’s graduation day for Doctor Claire and her dear friend, Joe Abernathy (Wil Johnson). They’re celebrating with a group of friends when a woman rings the doorbell looking for Frank. The celebration party leaves for the restaurant, but clearly all pretense is broken.
An older, rambling Scottish man is found wandering and spouting Gaelic and French. The soldiers pick him up and place him in a nearby cell with a bed. The soldiers did make out one clear word of English, gold, so Major Grey wants to know what he’s saying. The Crown thinks the French sent a cache of gold to help the Jacobite cause, but the gold was never found. Grey is forced to seek Jamie’s help because he’s the only prisoner who can speak both French and Gaelic. Grey makes a bargain with Jamie to remove his irons if he will translate what the old man is saying.
When Frank returns home from his date, Claire is waiting for him and the inevitable battle begins. The discussion consists of who has caused who what pain. Claire gets around to telling Frank to file for divorce, which is another element not in the book. The show does explain the impact of divorce in that era. Frank is not willing to leave and be forced into the visitation situation to see Brianna. So, the pretense and external masquerade will continue.
During the discussion with the rambling old man, he mentions to Jamie something about a White Witch. Jamie’s trying to determine if there is anything truly about the gold, but the old man says the White Witch is seeking a strong man and then he goes into all the MacKenzie clan are dead. The man rambles on a little more about the White Witch before he dies, and it makes Jamie think it could be Claire. When Grey tries to get from Jamie what the man said, he can tell Jamie is holding something back – though it’s not what Grey thinks it is. Grey threatens to force Jamie to talk, but Jamie informs him there’s nothing that he could possibly do that has not already been done. How true that statement is, thanks to Black Jack Randall.
We have a quick look at Brianna (Sophie Skelton) blowing out her candles on her 16th birthday cake before we go back to the prison with Jamie attempting to doctor Murtagh. Jamie tells Murtagh what the old man rambled on about and reveals he mentioned the White Witch. They talk about Claire and wonder if she has come back through the stones. Murtagh wishes he could know what happened to Claire and the baby. Jamie tries to warn Murtagh about lingering on those wishes; it would only bring pain from not knowing.
Caitriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies in ‘Outlander’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Television)
A guard arrives and takes Jamie to see Major Grey, and Grey has Jamie join him for a meal of pheasant in wine sauce. Jamie takes the opportunity to ask if the Major would let the men set snares and keep what they catch since the Crown canna provide adequate food for the prisoners. He also asks they be allowed to collect watercress to help with the Scurvy. Major Grey has never heard about watercress being used for such a reason, and Jamie mentions his wife taught him about the use of watercress because she was a healer. They sit down to eat and Jamie takes one bite and smiles. For one thing, it is probably the first time he has had pheasant in a long while. Jamie mentions the wine in the sauce and the Major smiles and says he isn’t sure what it is.
Mac Dubh tells the men in the cells about what they ate in detail. The men like hearing that the Major is treating their chieftain so well.
A few days later, the prisoners are taking a typical excursion outside the walls to do the usual hard labor they’ve been doing for years. But this time they are permitted to check their snares for any catches. As several of the men take off in a couple of directions, the guards must follow each group. It is enough of a distraction to allow Jamie to go hide in a place where other prisoners can cover him up so he can escape. Major John is incensed and the hunt is on to bring Jamie back. The soldiers make their way to the cliffs but there’s no sign of Jamie for three days.
The Major returns to the prison and is outside relieving himself when Jamie grabs him from behind. This is Jamie’s way of telling him he knows who the man is. Grey was the 16-year-old boy who tried to slit his throat while Jamie was relieving himself before the battle of Prestonpans. Jamie grabs Major Grey’s sword and asks him to complete his vow to kill him when they next saw each other. Major Grey refuses to kill an unarmed man, so Jamie is left alive again. Jamie just cannot get someone to kill him!
They walk out a distance from the prison and Jamie tells him of the additional meaning that the old rambling man’s words had. He tells Grey about the meaning of the White Witch and admits he had to go to see if his wife was at the cliffs. Jamie said he only found one jewel and presented the jewel to Major Grey as proof of his story.
We get to see Brianna graduate from high school with the proud parents looking on together. The look Frank gives a smiling Claire should reveal that he’s contemplating something.
Bounce back to the cells. The guards bring a doctor to care for Murtagh which surprises Jamie, to say the least. Jamie later enjoys a game of chess with Major Grey and they are comfortable enough with each other now to deliver a very personal story. The Major tells of a male friend he loved and lost at Culloden. Jamie surprises the Major with the knowledge that the woman he protected in their first encounter was none other than Jamie’s wife. In the book, Jamie reveals that at the time which is why Grey is ashamed of the way he gave up information that day.
The men share a tender enough moment that Grey feels brave enough to put his hand on Jamie’s in a show of affection. In the book, you can get inside Grey’s head. He begins to have affection for Jamie that he has not felt for another person since he lost his friend at Culloden. Jamie tells Grey to take his hand away or he will kill him. Jamie rises and leaves the Major’s office without the Major’s permission to go. The tear that falls from Major Grey’s cheek is enough to split your heart in two. He, quite naturally, doesn’t know all the meaning behind Jamie’s reaction to the touch. Jamie is not a lover of men in that way, but it is even more a reaction because of the things Black Jack Randall did to him in a similar prison those many years ago.
Claire is sitting contemplating a surgery she had performed earlier that day when Frank comes into the room. Claire can tell that Frank wants to discuss something. Frank announces he’s going to take his mistress with him and Bree to England. He’s going to leave Claire; he wants a divorce. Frank wants to live his life with someone who would truly love him instead of a ghost. He asks Claire if Brianna hadn’t looked so much like Jamie could she have forgotten Jamie in time? Claire says that amount of time does not exist. Frank grabs his keys and leaves in his car. The phone rings to call Claire to a surgery at the hospital.
The soldiers have all the prisoners lined up and are walking them in one direction, but Jamie is grabbed and taken in another direction. Jamie is tied by the hands and given to Major Grey. The rest of the prisoners are being taken to ships to eventually be delivered to servitude in the colonies for a period of 14 years. Murtagh is sent with them. As I mentioned, Murtagh’s story is an unknown to the book readers, so I hope we get to keep him in future seasons. Some book lovers might disagree with me since this is a change from the book, but I like Murtagh so much I hope he stays a while.
Jamie is marched behind Major Grey’s horse for three days until they reach Helwater Estate in England. Jamie is a convicted Jacobite traitor to the Crown and it’s at the Crown’s discretion as to what happens to him. Grey did what he could for Jamie since the Crown would not eventually commute his sentence with the rest of the men. Grey was able to get him an indentured sentence to a Lord as a groom in his stables.
Claire has completed her surgery and informed the husband of her patient’s status when Joe comes to tell Claire that Frank was in a car accident. Claire runs down the hall to see Frank laid under a sheet, already dead. Claire’s upset and tells him that she did love him, confirming he was her first love.
Frank paid his debt to Claire to help raise Brianna. Claire paid her debt to go back to Frank and be safe to raise their child; remember that promise she made Jamie in France when he wanted to kill Black Jack. Major Grey has paid his debt by giving Jamie back his life. Jamie has paid most of his debt to the Crown but as you saw at the end, he was delivered to Helwater. It’s a much better prison to be sentenced to, given he’ll be with horses and not confined within stone walls. Not full freedom, but a level of freedom Jamie has not had in a very long time. Claire is also now freed to take her future in whatever direction she wishes.
Frank, you will be missed… RIP! Bravo Tobias Menzies!!
Filming is now underway on the zombie apocalypse film, The Clearing, starring Spartacus‘ Liam McIntyre. The cast of the horror film also includes Sydelle Noel (GLOW, Black Panther), Steven Swadling (Point Defiance), and Aundrea Smith. Dave Matalon wrote the script and is directing, with Mark Mathias Sayre (Doubting Thomas), Jonathan Piumelli (Waterlily Jaguar), Christopher Wolfe, and Steven Swadling producing. Ryan O’Quinn, Wes Halula, and Michael Davis are on board as executive producers.
The Clearing, a Lexicon Entertainment and Room in the Sky Films production, is shooting throughout Los Angeles in remote areas.
“I was interested in bringing back the classic horror-action films I loved as a kid in the ’80s and ’90s,” said director Dave Matalon. “Movies that were full of chills and thrills, but at their heart were about deeply personal relationships and family. I’m so proud to have been able to have such an amazing cast and crew. Liam McIntyre’s incredible dedication and professionalism. Director of Photography Olivia Kuan’s keen eye, and the entire crew’s commitment to making The Clearing. It will be a very ambitious shoot on a tight deadline, and we could not have attempted it without each and every member of our team.”
The Plot:The Clearing is set at the dawn of the zombie apocalypse. Amid tensions between Tom (McIntyre) and his wife (Noel) over his parental responsibilities and the time he spends with his young daughter Mira (Smith), Tom takes Mira on a camping trip, only to discover the impending disaster, trapping the pair in…The Clearing. Will Mira’s recently learned backwoods and orienteering skills help her survive the onslaught of the infected and rejoin her father, who is using every physical and intellectual tool at his disposal to hold the horde at bay?
Isabelle Cornish, Iwan Rheon, and Ari Dalbert in ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ (ABC/Karen Neal)ABC’s new comic book-inspired series, Marvel’s Inhumans, scored an ABC first by debuting in IMAX prior to its premiere on primetime television. The series, which is based on Marvel Comics characters, stars Anson Mount as Black Bolt, Iwan Rheon as Maximus, Serinda Swan as Medusa, Eme Ikwuakor as Gorgon, Isabelle Cornish as Crystal, Ken Leung as Karnak, Ellen Woglom as Louise, Sonya Balmores as Auran, and Mike Moh as Triton.
Scott Buck is the season one showrunner and executive produces with Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory. Roel Reiné directed the first two episodes.
Marvel’s Inhumans will premiere on September 29, 2017.
The Plot:Marvel’s Inhumans explores the never-before-told epic adventure of the royal family, including Black Bolt, the enigmatic, commanding King of the Inhumans, with a voice so powerful that the slightest whisper can destroy a city. After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.
Episode 1 “Behold…The Inhumans!” and Episode 2 “Those Who Would Destroy Us” Plot: After a military coup leaves the Royal Family stranded in Hawaii, they must find a way to reunite with each other and return home before their way of life is destroyed forever.
Serinda Swan, Iwan Rheon and Anson Mount in ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ (ABC/Marvel)Ari Dalbert and Iwan Rheon in ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ (ABC/Mario Perez)Sonya Balmores, Serinda Swan and Iwan Rheon (ABC/Marvel)Isabelle Cornish and Lockjaw (ABC/Marvel)Iwan Rheon in ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ (ABC/Karen Neal)
Fox and Gordon Ramsay are working on a new unscripted series titled Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell & Back. Season one of the new series will consist of eight episodes and will be executive produced by Gordon Ramsay, Michael Van Briesen, Chris Brogden, Layla Smith, and Greg Lipstone.
“With the clock set at 24 hours-and-ticking, I can promise you this culinary boot camp gives a whole new meaning to ‘Hell on Wheels,’” stated Ramsay.
“The restaurant business is one of the toughest there is – and no one knows that more than Gordon,” said Rob Wade, President, Alternative Entertainment and Specials, Fox Broadcasting Company, announcing the network’s continuing partnership with Gordon Ramsay. “Watching him try to save these businesses, not to mention restore the livelihoods of hardworking men and women, really puts the pressure on – and doing this as the clock ticks, challenges him like never before.”
Ramsay’s other Fox series include MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef Celebrity Showdown, and The F Word with Gordon Ramsay.
The Plot: In today’s world, everyone can be an amateur food critic on social media, and restaurants often find themselves one bad Yelp review away from shutting their doors. Ramsay will travel throughout the United States to find restaurants on the knife’s edge of losing everything. A timer is set, and Ramsay will work around the clock to put these restaurants back on course. With only 24 hours to turn the restaurant around, he’ll make the necessary changes that he sees fit – from re-interviewing the staff to see who makes the cut, to renovating the space and updating the menu with signature dishes and first-class service.
Additionally, to help him with the task at hand, Ramsay will unveil his secret weapon – Hell on Wheels – a 70-foot-long semi-truck that unfolds into a state-of-the-art, completely self-sustaining mobile kitchen, where he’ll re-invent the struggling restaurant’s menu, and whip the staff into shape. Then, when the time is up, he’ll present the launch of a revamped restaurant.
Showtime has landed the rights to the upcoming novel The President is Missing from President Bill Clinton and bestselling novelist James Patterson. Showtime will adapt the book, which will be released on June 11, 2018, into a series. The novel marks the first time an American President has co-authored a thriller, and Showtime believes it will be one of the “biggest and most spellbinding” novels of 2018.
“I’m really enjoying writing this book and working with Jim,” said President Bill Clinton. “And I can’t wait to see Showtime bring the characters to life.”
“The White House is such an exciting world to explore and is made even more so with the unique insights of a former President,” said Patterson. “Rich storytelling opportunities for this series abound.”
“Bringing The President is Missing to Showtime is a coup of the highest order,” stated David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “The pairing of President Clinton with fiction’s most gripping storyteller promises a kinetic experience, one that the book world has salivated over for months and that now will dovetail perfectly into a politically relevant, character-based action series for our network.”
Patterson has sold more than 380 million books over his four decade-long career. His books include the Alex Cross, When the Wind Blows, Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett and NYPD Red series. Patterson’s Zoo is the basis for CBS’s summer series starring James Wolk.
President Clinton wrote the bestselling nonfiction books including My Life, Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy, Between Hope and History, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World, and Putting People First: How We Can All Change America.
The President is Missing Plot: In the book, President Clinton and Patterson tell the startling story of a sitting U.S. president’s disappearance, with the level of detail that only someone who has held the office can know – generating a powerful, one-of-a-kind thriller. Though fictional, the story brings to life the pressures and realities of the most important position in the world.
Thomas Jane stars in ‘1922’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Yet another Stephen King-inspired film is opening in 2017. Netflix is premiering 1922 at the Fantastic Fest on Saturday, September 23rd, followed by the horror film’s premiere on October 20th. The full trailer’s arrived featuring Thomas Jane as a man who murders his wife rather than allowing her to leave him. The cast also includes Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Kaitlyn Bernard, Brian d’Arcy, and Neal McDonough.
Zak Hilditch adapted the Stephen King novella and directed.
The Plot:1922 is based on Stephen King’s 131-page story telling of a man’s confession of his wife’s murder. The tale is told from the perspective of Wilfred James, the story’s unreliable narrator who admits to killing his wife, Arlette, with his son in Nebraska. But after he buries her body, he finds himself terrorized by rats and, as his life begins to unravel, becomes convinced his wife is haunting him.
Kingsman: The Secret Service’s lead actors return, reuniting with director Matthew Vaughn on the much-anticipated sequel. They’re joined by a pack of big name actors including Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, and Narcos‘ Pedro Pascal. The presence of so much talent must have made it difficult to cut out unnecessary storylines. There are simply too many supporting characters squeezed into the mix, leaving the main plotline short-changed and feeling incomplete. Throw in Sir Elton John as a kidnap victim and even with a two-and-a-half hour running time, there’s no way to flesh out the story enough to fill in all the plot holes.
The villain at the heart of the action is Poppy (Moore), the narcissistic, sadistic leader of a drug cartel who longs to be acknowledged as one of the world’s shrewdest businesswomen. She’s built a secret hideaway filled with buildings that look lifted from the sets of Happy Days and Grease. Poppy’s office is in a vinyl and chrome diner and her henchmen patrol the grounds wearing leathermen jackets. Poppy’s desire for world domination )and admiration) via the illegal drug trade leads to a deal with the President of the United States, a deal which the President agrees to but has no intention of carrying through on. It seems Poppy has a plan to make drugs legal, but first she has to wipe out all the Kingsman.
Fortunately for Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong), Poppy’s plan doesn’t involve getting rid of the American cousins of the Kingsman, the Statesman. A Kentucky distillery is their base and Eggsy and Merlin make their way to the U.S. where they team up with their American counterparts, each named after liquor. They also discover Harry (Colin Firth) is not dead and is being cared for by the Statesman while they attempt to cure him of his amnesia.
While saving the world from Poppy’s devious, demented plan takes up a fair amount of his time, Eggsy is also dealing with meeting the disapproving parents of his girlfriend, a Swedish princess. Eggsy’s also determined to get his friend and mentor, Harry, back into the spy game.
Pedro Pascal’s ‘Whiskey’ is wicked with a whip, Channing Tatum’s ‘Tequila’ pops in and out of the film much too quickly, and Halle Berry’s ‘Ginger Ale’ has to play second-fiddle to the men even though she can outsmart them all. Jeff Bridges is ‘Champagne,’ the leader of the Statesman who agrees to working with the agency’s British counterparts. The performances by the Kingsman newbies are fine, but none can replace the chemistry among the original 2014 Kingsman team.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle works best when Egerton and Strong are paired up, or when the Kingsman trio of Egerton, Strong, and Firth are front and center. Of the many supporting players thrown into the mix in this sequel, surprisingly it’s Sir Elton John who delivers the most enjoyable performance. Elton John even gets to kick a little ass in high-heeled boots and his trademark outlandish costumes.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle tries to do too much and loses much of what made the original film such a huge hit. The first film was a fun, frenetic, fish-out-of-water story; the sequel feels jaded and restrained.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material
