Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 improved on the first film’s domestic opening weekend, ringing up $145 million over its first three days in release compared to Guardians of the Galaxy‘s $94 million. The sequel’s a hit with critics, sitting at 81% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes based on 253 reviews, and ticket buyers awarded it an A, according to CinemaScore. 41% of its $428 worldwide gross came from 3D screenings which accounted for $174 million of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘s total gross.
The eighth film of the Fast and Furious franchise, The Fate of the Furious, moved down into second place after three weekends in the top spot on the domestic box office chart. Including this weekend’s tally, The Fate of the Furious has rung up $207 million domestically.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and The Fate of the Furious will be taking on newcomers King Arthur: Legend of the Sword with Charlie Hunnam and Snatched starring Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer next weekend, both opening in wide release on May 12, 2017.
Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle in ‘American Gods’ season 1 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’ American Gods episode two titled ‘The Secret of Spoon’ begins with a flashback to 1697. A closeup of a spider fades into a scene of slaves huddled below deck on a ship. A man cries out to Anansi, pledging gifts and songs of praise if he frees him from these strange Dutchmen who’ve bound his hands. He wonders where his mother is and a man in a wild suit enters the area below deck, informing the pleading slave his mother’s been thrown off the boat. The stranger, Mr. Nancy (Orlando Jones), also advises them to take swimming lessons and then tells them the story of black people in America. He provides them with a lesson in prejudice and what their future holds.
Mr. Nancy informs these men that even 300 years in the future they’ll be discriminated against by white men. Mr. Nancy’s happy when the pleading man becomes angry, saying “angry gets sh*t done.” When Mr. Nancy suggests they rise up, slay their captures, and burn the ship, a man speaks up and says they’ll die too if the ship burns. “You’re already dead, a**hole. At least die a sacrifice for something worthwhile,” replies Mr. Nancy. He rips the pleading man’s chains off (the pleading man sees Mr. Nancy in the form of a giant spider talking to them) and he frees the rest of the slaves. They race upstairs as fire spreads below deck, destroying the slave ship and killing all those on board. The spider survives, walking off a piece of wood and onto the beach.
Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is stitched up after his encounter with Technical Boy’s minions. He then makes his way to Mr. Wednesday’s motel room where he finds him eating pizza with a naked young woman. Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) claims not to know about the attack on Shadow until Shadow describes Technical Boy and his limo, delivering the message that Technical Boy’s reprogrammed reality. Mr. Wednesday tells Shadow to chalk the lynching up to an “occupational hazard,” and he’ll double his salary. Shadow accepts and heads off to get some sleep. Mr. Wednesday stops Shadow to let him know that despite not reacting angrily, he is insulted by Technical Boy and his attack and has a plan.
Shadow makes a bath and gently lowers himself into the tub. He moans in pain and removes his wedding ring. After the bath, Shadow falls asleep in bed and dreams he’s visited by Laura (Emily Browning). He wakes up and cries, overcome with emotion.
Shadow, wearing a Motel America T-shirt with a buffalo, visits his home for one final time. Mail is piled up inside the door and a Welcome Home Shadow banner hangs in the living room. He has a vision of Laura standing by the sink in the kitchen and then one of her lying on their bed. He packs up his personal items, glancing occasionally at the evidence box on the bed. He finally opens it and goes through the possessions taken from Laura after she died. Her cell phone grabs his attention and he checks her text messages which include a picture of Robbie’s penis.
He scrubs the house until his knuckles bleed and then finally has the moving company haul everything away. Mr. Wednesday leans against his car outside and Shadow says he won’t miss this town, calling it Laura’s town. Mr. Wednesday warns Shadow he’s going to want to hurt him when he says what needs to be said. He says word on the street says Laura died giving Robbie head, and tells Shadow he only should feel bad about that for so long.
They hit the road and Mr. Wednesday informs his driver they are never supposed to take the highways. Mr. Wednesday explains if you’ve seen one highway, you’ve seen them all, asking Shadow to keep it under 70 mph. He also shares that they’ll be meeting with people respected in their fields and then they’ll rendezvous at one of America’s most important places. But first, a stop in Chicago.
They stop at a diner where Mr. Wednesday has a meeting and he gives Shadow $1000 to do some shopping for him. Among the items he needs are maps, clipboards, five romance novels, Vodka, ear muffs, and highlighters. As Shadow passes rows of televisions, Lucille Ball talks to him and calls him by name. She talks about technology and how people worship in front of their screens, big and small, and apologizes for the beating he took from Technical Boy’s minions. She offers Shadow a job, saying “we” are now and tomorrow while he’s on the side of the road selling oranges that aren’t even organic. She also reveals she was impressed with how he dealt with Technical Boy and says she’ll give him anything he wants to work for her, even offering him a peek at Lucy’s tits. She warns him she’s trying to help him and that guys like him wind up committing suicide.
Shadow returns to the diner and Mr. Wednesday says his meeting went as well as could be expected. Shadow confesses he might be losing his mind and Mr. Wednesday believes he’s trying to wiggle his way out of the job. He tells Mr. Wednesday Lucille Ball talked to him and Mr. Wednesday says the universe does seem to have singled him out for abuse. He should ask himself if he’d rather be ignored, and Shadow immediately answers yes. “Always better dead than forgotten, and no one is ever going to forget you,” says Mr. Wednesday. Shadow has a choice: he didn’t see what he saw or he did. Either the world or Shadow is crazy, and Mr. Wednesday tells him to take his time to consider that. “There are bigger sacrifices one might be asked to make than going a little mad,” warns Mr. Wednesday.
They hit the road and Mr. Wednesday’s impressed with Shadow’s shopping skills except for his purchase of a cell phone. He doesn’t want one and he also doesn’t think Shadow needs one, tossing their phones out the car window.
We pause our Shadow story now to return to Bilquis (Yetide Badaki) in bed engaged in multiple sexual encounters, each ending with her partner pulled into her through her vagina. Later, she walks up to a statue of herself – the Queen of Sheba and goddess of love. In front of the statue is a case containing jewelry laid out full length. She watches as a human form is revealed under the jewelry.
Back to Shadow and Mr. Wednesday. They’ve made it to Chicago where Zorya Vechemyaya (Cloris Leachman) greets them at her front door and tells them “he” won’t happy to see Mr. Wednesday. He assures her he wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t vital, handing her a bottle of Vodka. She calls her sister in and Mr. Wednesday gives her the romance novels. Zorya offers to read Shadow’s fortune but he doesn’t believe in it. She sends him off to sit down, instructing him to go down the hall to the second door, warning him not to go in the third door where her sister is sleeping. Once he’s gone, she tells Mr. Wednesday Shadow doesn’t know their world. Mr. Wednesday claims to be easing him in.
Peter Stormare and Ian McShane in ‘American Gods’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Slavic god Czernobog (Peter Stormare) walks out of one of the rooms and throws a lamp at Mr. Wednesday, complaining to Zorya that he should not be in his home. Mr. Wednesday offers him gifts and Czernobog reluctantly allows them to stay for dinner. Shadow offers to help cook, and Zorya schools him on family. She then reads the grounds from his coffee and lies, saying he’ll have a long, happy life with many children. Shadow replies, “That bad, huh? Any good news?” She says that although his mother died of cancer, he won’t die of cancer.
Czernobog threatens Mr. Wednesday telling him he and Shadow need to leave. Mr. Wednesday wants him to go with them to the rendezvous, but Czernobog doesn’t want anything to do with it. Mr. Wednesday says everyone will be there and they all respect him. Mr. Wednesday says without him they’ll die, and as they argue the third sister wakes up. They tell her nothing’s wrong and to go back to sleep.
Dinner is served and Czernobog discusses his brother and the presumption that his sibling was the good one. He talks about arriving in New York and then making his way to Chicago, and about his work as a meat killer taking sledgehammers to cows. He says it’s a craft and you used to need strength to crush the brain inside the skull. That’s a good death, and the cow is not angry. That’s not how it’s done now. He then challenges Shadow to a game of checkers. They both believe it’s an honorable game and will play once they finish eating.
They begin to play and Czernobog retrieves his cow-killing hammer from the mantle. He claims it’s responsible for 10,000 deaths as Shadow has a vision of blood dripping from the tool. They continue playing and Czernobog suggests they make a wager. If he loses, he’ll go with Mr. Wednesday and do what he asks. If he wins, he will knock Shadow’s brains out with his hammer. Mr. Wednesday tells Shadow it’s his decision, and Shadow agrees. If this is all real, if there’s a world under a world, it’s all good says Shadow. Game on, they continue playing. Czernobog wins and Shadow will get down on his knees at sunrise and have his brains knocked out.
Colin O’Donoghue, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Josh Dallas in ‘Once Upon a Time,’ the musical episode (ABC/Jack Rowand)
ABC’s Once Upon a Time ventures into new territory with season six’s 20th episode airing May 7, 2017. Titled ‘The Song in Your Heart,’ season six episode 20 is the show’s first musical episode, with many of the main cast members showing off their singing voices in a variety of catchy numbers. The musical episode begins with a young Emma sitting on her bed, reading a talent show flyer and humming into a tape deck. Her dreams of showing off her talent are squished when a mean-spirited girl tells her she’s not special. She wads up the paper and tosses it in the trash.
And now we see Emma (Jennifer Morrison) trying to decide between two wedding dresses. Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) is almost too excited to contain herself when she delivers the news Belle found her wedding dress in storage at Gold’s shop. Uncertainly, she asks if Emma will wear it and Emma says yes, with Snow assuring her daughter the dress will be clean and ready for the wedding that very evening. They hug and Snow is overcome with emotion.
A flashback shows Snow upset and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) attempting to calm her down. Snow doesn’t believe they’ll ever stop the Evil Queen and they won’t be able to protect their unborn daughter, but Charming tells her she needs to get some rest. Snow steps out on the balcony for a bit of air and looks up into the stars as she wishes for what they need to protect their baby.
Snow wakes the following morning to a songbird tweeting away in her bedroom. As she says hello to it, she’s totally confused when everything she says comes out in song. “A rhythm stirs deep inside my soul…I’m saying things in ways I can’t control!” sings Snow. Charming busts in singing about a spell or a curse, and then he embraces his surprisingly good singing voice. Now a duet, Snow figures out it’s because of the wish she made on a star. She also decides to embrace this quirky spell, believing it might help them fight the Evil Queen. “Cause love expressed through song is a weapon like the Queen has never seen,” she sings, determinedly.
Charming and Snow sing about love being the most powerful magic of all. Servants join in as Snow and Charming dance about the room, saying lines that end in rhymes are sublime. They believe this magic can defeat potions and schemes, and end with a kiss.
Back in Storybrooke, Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Zelena (Rebecca Mader) share in Emma’s joy when she removes Snow’s wedding dress from the box. However, their joy is short-lived when the dress transforms from white to black. The Black Fairy (Jaime Murray) shows up to spoil everything, and now they know Rumple lied about killing her. The Black Fairy’s still positive she and Emma need to fight, although she offers to take Emma’s heart now to save her from going through the final battle. Emma doesn’t take her up on that offer, so the Black Fairy advises her to go to the clock tower to see what she’s up against. No matter what, there will be a final battle declares the Black Fairy.
Snow, Regina, Zelena, and Emma find a huge orb filled with black fairy dust hanging in the air in the clock tower. It’s set to release the dust at exactly 6pm, the same time as Emma and Hook’s wedding. Emma wants to fight her now, but no one thinks that’s a good idea. Regina believes she and Zelena can disable this fairy dust bomb before it explodes. Regina’s determined to give Emma a happy wedding after ruining Snow and Charming’s.
Back in the Enchanted Forest, the Evil Queen is none too pleased to be singing out her thoughts. The Evil Queen thinks this new development is hellish and deranged, and the Magic Mirror reveals this is a powerful curse that won’t be easily broken. She becomes more and more enraged as she sees the townsfolk singing happy tunes, including the dwarves who are apparently really into their little ditty. Watching Snow and Charming enjoying themselves pushes the Evil Queen over the edge and she sings about love’s magic spell being unable to match her power, even throwing in a few sexy dance moves as she gets into her song. “Once I loved and once I learned. Love is weakness that will leave you burned,” sings the Evil Queen. She kicks the dwarves around while declaring love doesn’t stand a chance. Then she visits Geppetto and Granny, taking her anger out on whatever’s around. And here comes the Evil Queen’s zinger … “Stole my shot at one true love, that’s what she did to me. Now that little bitch will wish she never ever knew me!”
And now we check in with Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) who’s staring intently at the suit he’ll be wearing at the wedding. David wonders if Hook’s not happy about it since it’s not leather and Emma pops in to hear him answer, “Do you think Emma will be disappointed if I don’t wear it?” Emma doesn’t mind if he chooses a different outfit and when Hook jokes about it being bad luck to see the bride, the mood quickly shifts as Emma’s deadly serious when she asks her dad to step out of the room. Emma reveals Rumple lied and the Black Fairy is about to unleash a curse that will force her into fighting the final battle alone. Hook realizes Emma’s there to say goodbye and she refuses to let him help her because she doesn’t want the Black Fairy to hurt anyone she loves. He begs her to let him help, but she doesn’t back down. Emma says a quick I love you and then leaves. The two don’t even share what could be one final kiss.
Once more to the Enchanted Forest we go and Prince Charming and Snow White enter a bar looking for the captain of the Jolly Roger. They’re willing to pay him to take them to the Evil Queen, offering him gold and jewels. And now we get to hear Captain Hook deliver a catchy song about sending them off the plank. He claims to be all about revenge and cares nothing for jewels. “I’ve savaged and pillaged and pilfered each village. My conquests I’m justly proud of,” sings Hook (Colin has a good singing voice!) after being asked by Snow about the revenge he’s seeking. “Each town that I plunder I leave torn asunder, a pirate’s life is one to love.” He sings that they’re wasting their time because all he wants to do is skin a Croc and tear out his spine.
Snow and Charming figure out Hook’s singing about the Dark One, who just happens to be locked up in their dungeon. If Hook gives them passage to see the Evil Queen, they’ll give him the Croc. Deal struck, Hook and his pirate crew revive their song but now he’s in a better mood because revenge is going to be his.
Returning to Storybrooke, Hook confronts Rumple about betraying Emma – and everyone. Rumple doesn’t expect Hook to understand, and he’s right. Hook shoots him with a dart full of dreamshade, a substance that nearly killed Rumple once before. Hook’s plan is to knock out Rumple so he can’t help the Black Fairy who just happens to show up right then to warn Hook Rumple’s not the only one he should worry about.
Emma goes through her desk at work, putting her things in order. Henry (Jared Gilmore) arrives and, surprisingly, he tells her she’s doing the right thing. “The final battle…it’s why I brought you to Storybrooke in the first place,” says Henry. He believes in her and she’s thankful for his support. Among her belongings are the tape recorder and tape from when she was a child preparing for the singing competition. It begins playing and Emma immediately shuts it off.
Regina and Zelena are researching how to stop the Black Fairy’s curse, and Regina’s frustrated she can’t figure it out. Zelena says there must be something Regina learned long ago that she can use against her this time, and the word “time” sparks an idea. Regina remembers the first curse stopped time, so she’s hopeful she can isolate that part of the spell and stop the curse from happening.
Back in Fairy Tale Land, the Evil Queen confronts Rumple demanding he help her find a way to break the Charmings’ curse. She yells, “Now sing!” and Rumple does a little twirl and then laughs. The Dark One does not sing, saying he’d rather gouge his eyes out. He taunts her with the possibility of a student who was more talented than she was and sends her off to visit Zelena.
Zelena is next up with a musical number about Rumple and the pain she felt when he chose Regina over her. She’s practically giddy with the prospect of Regina’s life falling apart. She grabs her broom and soars over Oz, singing about smiling while Regina is crying. “Evil may be powerful, but wicked always wins,” she sings. “What they call green with envy, I just call looking good!” But then she has an idea – she’ll give Regina something to take the Charmings down. After her spell works, she’ll reveal to Rumple she’s the one he should have picked.
Once more to modern Storybrooke we go and Regina’s come up with the spell she thinks will work against the Black Fairy. Snow and David are happy Emma won’t have to fight the Black Fairy alone, but then Rumple shows up and snatches the bottle out of Regina’s hands. He says, “This was made to freeze the curse. I wonder how well it’s going to work on people?”
Josh Dallas, Jennifer Morrison and Ginnifer Goodwin in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 6 episode 20 (ABC/Jack Rowand)
Emma shows up at Regina’s office and confronts the Black Fairy, saying they shouldn’t wait and instead should start the final battle now. The Black Fairy waves her hand and Snow, David, Regina, Hook, and Zelena appear in the room, frozen in time. Emma tries to use her magic and attack but nothing happens. The Black Fairy claims Emma’s magic’s not working because Emma has faced the truth and knows she can’t battle her alone. Emma runs from the room, leaving her motionless family and friends behind.
Emma heads back to the sheriff’s office and Henry assures her no matter what she’s not alone. She remembers that as a child every time something big came along, she bolted. She tells Henry she wasn’t brave enough to keep him, and he reminds her she’s changed. He says she’s the Savior and is strong enough to do this on her own. Emma realizes the only way to win is if she gives the Black Fairy her heart. Henry says it’s not how the book is supposed to end, but Emma believes this is the only option.
Back in Fairy Tale Land, Snow and Charming confront the Evil Queen, demanding she come with them. They reprise their song from the opening of the episode. The Evil Queen also reprises her musical number after her magic misses its target. It’s a battle of Snow and Charming’s happy tune versus the Evil Queen’s darker rock number, and then the Evil Queen whips out Zelena’s spell box and robs Snow and Charming of their singing voices. Now that the world is back to normal, the Evil Queen believes she won. She tells the Charmings to enjoy their short time left as a family and sends them away.
Snow and Charming wonder what happened and the Blue Fairy arrives, confirming she granted Snow’s wish. She also tells them the songs remain inside them, but they weren’t meant to use the song’s magic against the Evil Queen. Everyone’s songs were meant to help Emma have her happy ending, and the Blue Fairy then places them in Emma’s heart. “One day she will face a battle like no one has ever faced before,” explains the Blue Fairy. “And I’m afraid she will have to face it alone.” Snow realizes that what Blue has done means Emma will not be alone after all. Blue declares everyone will forget they sang come the morning, and that will keep the songs safe in Emma’s heart. “We will just have to hope that they find their way to the surface when she needs them the most,” adds Blue.
In Storybrooke, Henry is staring at a blank page in the book and Emma’s old tape recorder is right next to him. Frustrated that he can’t figure out a new ending, he tosses the book off the desk, unveiling a new drawing of the Blue Fairy pointing her wand at Snow’s unborn baby with Charming looking on. Henry realizes Emma is not alone now nor has she ever been alone.
Emma returns to face the Black Fairy, telling her to let her family go and she’ll give her her heart. The Black Fairy agrees and before her family is unfrozen, Emma apologizes to Hook and gently kisses him. The Black Fairy is ecstatic she’s getting her happy ending and Emma tells her to just get on with it. She yanks Emma’s heart out but Emma doesn’t die. The Black Fairy’s angry and confused, and Emma’s heart falls to the floor unharmed. Henry barges in and says his mother’s heart is incredibly strong. He shows Emma the drawing and tells her she doesn’t need to be afraid and that the songs have always been inside her. He plays the tape of her singing as a child and says, “It’s not your weakness, it’s your strength.”
Now it’s Emma’s turn to use a song to fight evil. As she sings her voice gets stronger. The Black Fairy’s magic is useless against her and Emma sings about her family’s bravery and her destiny to be the Savior. Her light magic is almost able to break the spell trapping her family, and she continues to sing. She strokes Hook’s face and belts out, “The answer was inside me with a song!” Her family is freed and Henry puts Emma’s heart back where it belongs. The Black Fairy hasn’t given up and tells Emma her curse is still coming and the final battle will be “worse than you can imagine.”
Jennifer Morrison and Colin O’Donoghue in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)
Hugs all around and tears well up in Emma’s eyes as she tells her mom and dad they were with her her whole life. She hugs Hook next and the scene transforms to an outdoor wedding at sunset, set up on main street. Hook’s in black rather than the white suit that was originally picked out, and everyone looks incredibly happy. Henry hands over the rings and now it’s just Hook at the altar waiting for his bride. She walks down the aisle accompanied by her mother and father who are beaming with pride. David plants a kiss on her cheek and then Snow does before Emma takes her place next to Hook.
Dr. Hopper is officiating and Hook tells his bride, “You showed me that a heart full of love was the most precious treasure of all. One that I don’t intend to lose.” He places the ring on Emma’s finger and tells her his heart belongs to her. Emma says that just because she came from true love didn’t mean she thought she’d ever find it. “Thanks to you, now I have,” says Emma, placing the ring on Hook’s finger. Dr. Hopper pronounces them man and wife and the kiss is long and romantic, with Hook dipping his wife at the end.
“You did it, Swan. You got your happy ending,” says Hook while holding his wife tight. “That’s not what this is. It’s something else,” she replies. “A happy beginning.”
Emma and Hook sing to each other while slow dancing, telling each other they have everything they need. “And happily ever after is the way these stories go,” they sing, combining their voices. Snow and David are up next, followed by Regina and Zelena. Even Henry gets to sing a line as the wedding party and guests rise and join the dance. It’s a very sweet, well-deserved scene of sheer joyfulness. So, of course, it’s suddenly interrupted by the bell tolling in the clock tower and the release of the Black Fairy’s curse. It weaves its way toward the townspeople, but Emma now believes it doesn’t matter where they end up because they are going to win this battle.
(‘The Song in Your Heart’ was written by David H. Goodman and Andrew Chambliss and directed by Ron Underwood. Songs by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Mark Isham is the composer for the show.)
Jodie Comer (Lizzie) and Jacob Collins-Levy (King Henry VII) in ‘The White Princess’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s The White Princess season one episode four picks up with the Duchess of Burgundy (Joanne Whalley) in bed where she’s been for days following Mary’s tragic and unexpected death. Duchess Cecily (Caroline Goodall) attempts to convince her to get up, but the Duchess of Burgundy initially ignores her. She finally makes up her mind to rise and enters the throne room. Hugging Mary’s daughter, she tells Duchess Cecily they must plan their revenge on the Tudors. “Elizabeth will have her war,” says the Duchess.
Queen Elizabeth (Jodie Comer) and King Henry (Jacob Collins-Levy) lie awake in bed, face to face and on the verge of intimacy. They smile, enjoying each other’s company until Lady Margaret (Michelle Fairley) barges in without knocking. She announces Jasper’s returned from Burgundy.
King Henry is informed the visit didn’t go well because Mary died while racing Lord Strange. The Duchess of Burgundy blamed the Tudors and turned against King Henry, however, Jasper doesn’t know what the Duchess has planned. Everyone fears the worst. It’s also revealed Lady Margaret is currently setting up politically advantageous marriages for Lizzie’s sisters.
Jasper (Vincent Regan) rushes after Lady Margaret following the meeting, and she’s angry at him for ruining their chance at peace. She also seems to believe he grew close to the Duchess while he was on the diplomatic mission, and her jealousy is barely kept in check.
Lizzie takes a walk cradling Arthur when Maggie Plantagenet (Rebecca Benson) catches up to her and asks if Mary’s death might actually be beneficial to Teddy. Maggie’s hopeful the Duchess will send men to rescue Teddy, but Lizzie explains this now means her sisters must all be strategically married to Tudors or Tudor faithful. It dawns on Maggie that means she’ll be married off too, and she grows concerned she’ll have to move away from her brother. Lizzie swears she will have a say in whoever is chosen to marry any one of her sisters or Maggie, saying she’ll take a stand against Lady Margaret if necessary.
Over at the Court of Burgundy, Francis Lovell (Anthony Flanagan) meets with the Duchess of Burgundy and Duchess Cecily. He’s gathered young English boys for the Duchess of Burgundy’s inspection, and she selects one to impersonate Teddy. The Duchess then pens a letter to Dowager Queen Elizabeth to be delivered to the Abbey. She apologizes for not writing earlier and has provided ink and paper for Elizabeth to write to Ireland for support.
Lizzie joins her sister Cecily (Suki Waterhouse) and Lady Margaret who are busy plotting weddings for Lizzie’s sisters, Maggie, and baby Arthur. Lizzie protests Arthur’s too young, but Lady Margaret says Henry plans to wed his son to the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon. Lizzie says she’ll discuss Arthur’s betrothal but won’t bind him to the decision, and she informs Lady Margaret she’s going to select Maggie’s husband herself. And while she’s demanding things, she also says she’s taking over the Queen’s rooms that Lady Margaret currently occupies.
Lady Margaret isn’t having any of Lizzie’s interference and tells her Maggie will marry Richard Pole, a loyal commander of King Henry’s. Cecily, of course, has to put in her two cents, claiming Richard Pole is a vicious brute. Lady Margaret says this is Henry’s decision and it’s settled. She also insists she’s not moving out of the rooms her son gave her to live in. Proving it’s unwise to cross Lizzie, the Queen fights back by suggesting Jasper Tudor should marry her mother’s sister, Catherine Woodville. Lizzie knows the impact her decision will have on Lady Margaret, given how much she secretly cares for Jasper. Lady Margaret’s face reveals just how much she hates Jasper marrying another woman, yet she says nothing as Lizzie leaves.
Lizzie finds King Henry and demands his mother be removed from the Queen’s rooms. Her timing is rotten as Henry’s just learned Teddy has escaped from the tower. They enter the tower and Teddy’s still there, securely locked up and under guard. Lizzie’s confused about what happened and King Henry blames the rumor on Burgundy. If they claim Teddy’s free, then they can use Teddy’s name to raise an army against King Henry.
Lizzie has a plan that involves Henry allowing the real Teddy to attend Cecily’s wedding. That will prove Teddy is still with them, and they can show he’s a valued member of their household. If he’s at the wedding, he can’t be in Burgundy. After the wedding, they can keep him instead of returning him to the tower where he’s scared and lonely. “You are better than this. Don’t be so threatened by a child. Show the world the man you are and let him live with us again,” pleads Lizzie. He agrees and Lizzie hugs him tight.
Cecily dresses for her wedding, practically begging Lizzie for compliments on her dress. Maggie lets Teddy know he’ll get to walk outside as part of the wedding party, telling him he must be good and not speak.
Lady Margaret is, of course, angry Teddy’s been allowed out. She meets with Bishop Morton (Kenneth Cranham) to make sure he has someone in the crowd who will insure Teddy is tossed back into the tower.
As Cecily, King Henry, and Queen Elizabeth ride through the crowd they’re greeted with cheers and applause. Everything is going well until a woman (paid by Bishop Morton) yells that she supports King Edward (‘Teddy’), the Earl of Warwick. Teddy’s happy to hear this and yells out, inciting more of the crowd to call for him to be King. Lady Margaret sends the guards after Teddy and then fighting breaks out between York loyalists and those pledged to support King Henry. Teddy’s hauled away as selfishly Cecily tries to make it all about her, complaining they’ve just spoiled her wedding day.
King Henry’s angry and frustrated he let Teddy out and that men who pledged fealty have turned. Others who remain loyal fled after the limited uprising, believing this has done King Henry harm. King Henry’s not sure if Lizzie planned this chain of events, but she argues it wasn’t what she wanted. Lady Margaret intrudes to say it was Dowager Queen Elizabeth’s fault, claiming Elizabeth paid the woman in the crowd and it will lead to further attacks against King Henry’s claim to the throne. She suggests Elizabeth be killed and Lizzie can’t believe King Henry’s considering it. He believes he’s unloved by the people and they laugh behind his back. “I would kill for less than that,” says Henry, striding away with his mother.
Next, we return to Cecily’s wedding ceremony. She looks angry and not at all like a joyful bride. King Henry’s also in a foul mood and Maggie asks Lizzie to convince the King this was not Teddy’s fault. Lizzie tells her to be patient and then confesses she hasn’t met Maggie’s betrothed.
Jasper speaks quietly to Lady Margaret, agreeing to wed whoever they’ve selected for him. However, he’d rather stay at court with her.
Lizzie makes sure her ladies are passed out drunk after the wedding and sneaks out of the castle. She makes her way to the Abbey to visit her mother.
In Burgundy, plans are moving forward to go to war with King Henry. Francis informs the Duchess that Ireland is with them. She tests the young boy she selected to masquerade as Teddy and he mistakenly answers when she calls Lambert. The Duchess is angry he reacted to his old name, scolding him he is Edward, the Earl of Warwick. While the Duchess of Burgundy speaks to “Teddy,” Francis explains to Duchess Cecily this young boy will be going into battle and that’s why he needs to practice sword fighting. Francis says this fake Teddy must lead the army to England or else there’s no point in the masquerade.
Lizzie’s little sisters cheer her unexpected arrival at the Abbey, giving their missing sister hugs before she can speak to their mother. Lizzie apologizes to her mother she didn’t come sooner and Dowager Queen Elizabeth (Essie Davis) asks after Arthur. When Lizzie asks if she’s been in contact with anyone, Elizabeth lies and says she hasn’t heard from the Duchess of Burgundy, not quite trusting her daughter’s loyalties. Lizzie reveals Lady Margaret wants her dead and so does the King because of Teddy’s kidnapping. Lizzie begs her mom to tell her if she knows anything about the Duchess’ plans, but Elizabeth continues to deny being in touch with anyone outside the Abbey.
Lizzie returns to the castle and is met by King Henry who believes she betrayed him. “You lied to me and you are as treacherous as she is,” he says through gritted teeth. Lizzie chases after him as he walks away, confessing she only went because he threatened to execute her mother and she wanted to see if her mother had any knowledge that would help them against Burgundy. Lizzie tells her husband the truth, that her mother wouldn’t tell her anything about any plans. She yells out to Henry as he’s leaving that her mother doesn’t trust her. He stops as Lizzie confesses, “She saw before I did myself that I am Tudor now. The birth of Arthur makes me so, whether I like it or not because I will never stand against him. Our son puts me on your side forever.” Henry looks unsure as Lizzie says their family is all she has now.
The Duchess of Burgundy and her men set sail to Ireland, with “Teddy” seasick and asking to return home. The Duchess has no sympathy and won’t agree to let him go home. Duchess Cecily does not support this decision and declares she will not be part of any of this.
News arrives that the Burgundy army is in Ireland and the Irish army is joining the war. King Henry’s trusted council, including Lizzie, listen as the King declares he’ll ride out at dawn to defend his crown.
Jasper asks Lady Margaret for a walk, confessing he’s been lonely and if circumstances were different he’d marry her. He acknowledges they’ve dedicated their lives to putting their son, Henry, on the throne and now that’s done, he wants her to ask for an annulment so they can finally be together in the open. He asks her to think about it while he’s at war.
Jodie Comer stars in ‘The White Princess’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Lizzie brings Arthur to Henry as he lies awake in bed. She asks him not to fight, to lead his men into battle but not personally participate in the fighting. He replies, “If I were to die, you’d be rid of me. Your mother safe, your cousin free to take the throne.” Lizzie, tears in her eyes, asks how she can prove her loyalty, believing asking him not to die should convince him she’s on his side. She snips hair from Arthur and gives it to Henry, wrapping her hands around his and asking for him to promise not to fight and to come home safe. She kisses Henry’s hand as Arthur sleeps on the bed by his father’s side.
Army camps are shown and King Henry kneels in prayer. On the opposite side, the Duchess of Burgundy hands the fake Teddy a white rose to carry with him into battle. At home, Lizzie attends Maggie’s wedding.
The battle begins and poor Teddy looks terrified as the English army rides toward him. The battle is bloody and brutal, and Jasper is wounded while King Henry watches over the battlefield but doesn’t personally engage.
At home, Lizzie receives a letter from her mother who apologizes for lying to her about being able to send letters. Her sister Cecily whispers that Lady Margaret believes their mother funded the York army. Elizabeth’s letter reveals she had a vision Arthur will never be King. She also asks her daughter to turn on King Henry and back her missing brother’s claim to the throne. Lizzie reveals the note’s contents to Cecily, telling her sister their mother wants Arthur to die. Cecily wants Lizzie not to listen to their mother who has never been on their side and only does what’s best for herself.
Lizzie and Cecily help prepare Maggie for her wedding night. Maggie’s frightened of this stranger who comes to her bed but Sir Richard’s surprisingly nice. (He is missing an arm from battle.) He confesses he doesn’t like to be the center of attention and says he’s beneath her but will try to be a good husband. She cries a little, confessing she doesn’t want to move away from her brother. Richard reassures her all she has to do is ask and they’ll return to London for visits. He genuinely wants to make her happy, and she tries out her new name: Maggie Pole.
Lizzie visits Lady Margaret, telling her she’s difficult to figure out. She has love for Henry but there’s so much hate inside her, and Lizzie believes Lady Margaret would have been happier had she married Jasper. Lady Margaret doesn’t take this well and storms off. She decides she will allow Jasper to marry Catherine Woodville after all.
Cecily delivers the good news to Lizzie that they’ve won and their mother has lost. Cecily also reveals she will be leaving court to live with her new husband at his castle. Cecily briefly kisses her sister, throwing in a jab that she’ll be happier than her sister, and then she leaves to join her husband.
King Henry, Jasper, and the men return and they’ve brought Lambert Simnel, the boy the Duchess masqueraded as Teddy, back with them as a prisoner. Jasper’s badly injured and cries out in pain while dismounting his horse. After King Henry proclaims the traitor will be dealt with, Lady Margaret speaks up and says the traitor Dowager Queen Elizabeth also needs to be dealt with.
Jasper approaches Lady Margaret and she looks down and turns away. He understands she’s declined to be with him.
Queen Elizabeth sits beside King Henry when he addresses his people. Henry thanks his loyal and trusted men, grateful for their performance on the battlefield. He promises they will be rewarded, but first he must deal with two traitors. One is the York woman who has plotted against him and the other is Lambert Simnel, the fake Teddy. The penalty for treason is death, and the crowd cheers when he asks if they should be killed. Only one person – Richard Pole – speaks up when he asks who wouldn’t see them put to death. He speaks on behalf of Lambert, saying the young boy is just a pawn and should be spared.
Lady Margaret speaks against Dowager Queen Elizabeth, reminding her son Elizabeth rallied the Irish and paid them in gold. Henry then reminds her he won, despite Elizabeth’s plotting. Lambert quietly says, “Please, your grace,” and King Henry delivers his verdict. Lambert will live and will work in the palace kitchens. He then focuses his attention on Lizzie, telling her she may inform her mother on their next visit that “the King is in good health and sends his regards.” Those gathered laugh and Lizzie grabs Henry’s hands, thanking him for sparing her mother. Meanwhile, Lady Margaret shoots daggers with her eyes at Lizzie.
Jasper, walking with a limp, meets once more with Lady Margaret. She informs him he will marry the wealthy Catherine Woodville, Dowager Queen Elizabeth’s sister, and that King Henry has given his blessing.
King Henry shows Lizzie to the Queen’s rooms, confessing he made his mother vacate them. They are now Lizzie’s, reminding her he’s kept his promise and now would like her to keep her promise that they’ll be happy together. Lizzie’s worried her mother won’t give up but King Henry believes she’s done her worst and he’s still alive. He gives Arthur a gentle kiss. Lizzie caresses Henry’s face and they kiss while Arthur coos.
Back in Burgundy, the Duchess sits on her throne as Duchess Cecily introduces a surprise guest. A boy enters the room and claims to be Richard, the lost young prince.
Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise in New Line Cinema’s ‘It.’
A brand new teaser trailer for the horror film It debuted during the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards. The incredibly creepy trailer features the film’s young stars heading into the sewer and discovering their dead friend’s tennis shoe. A red balloon floats toward them and pops, scaring the crap out of the kids. The new teaser also features new footage of Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise.
Directed by Andres Muschietti (Mama) and based on the bestselling novel by Stephen King, It stars Jaeden Lieberher (Midnight Special), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip), Sophia Lillis (37), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton and Jackson Robert Scott. Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman adapted King’s book for the screen, and Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Seth Grahame-Smith, David Katzenberg, and Barbara Muschietti produced the much-anticipated thriller.
It is set to open in theaters on September 8, 2017.
The Plot: When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.
The CW’s Riverdale finishes up its short 13 episode first season on May 11, 2017 with ‘The Sweet Hereafter.’ Season one episode 12 featured the big reveal of who killed Jason Blossom, with the killer getting his just desserts. The episode also revealed that if it weren’t for Betty, Veronica, Archie, Jughead, and Kevin, Jughead’s father would likely be spending the remainder of his life in jail wrongly convicted of murder. Hopefully, the season one finale will leave viewers feeling satisfied with the outcome of Jason Blossom’s murder investigation while setting up an equally intriguing mystery for the series’ second season. Executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa teased fans can expect a huge twist ending and promised viewers will be left fearing for one of the main characters.
Episode 13 was directed by Lee Toland Krieger from a script by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.
The Riverdale cast includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick as Alice Cooper, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, and Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy.
The ‘Chapter Thirteen: The Sweet Hereafter’ Plot: SEASON FINALE – Archie (Apa) and Veronica (Mendes) continue to grow closer. Betty (Reinhart) is tired of her family acting as if nothing has happened and confronts her mother. Jughead (Sprouse) finds himself in an unexpected situation, leaving Archie and the gang scrambling. Hermione (Nichols) makes Fred (Perry) an offer that seems too good to be true. Meanwhile, the truth about Blossom’s family business is revealed leaving Cheryl (Petsch) to take matters into her own hands.
Sony’s released a new restricted (not safe for work, kids, or anyone easily offended) trailer for the R-rated comedy, Rough Night. The new restricted trailer features Scarlett Johansson, Zoë Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, and Ilana Glazer as five college friends who take things a bit too far while celebrating. First-time feature film director Lucia Aniello co-wrote the script with Paul W. Downs, and Downs co-stars in the film. Sony’s set to release Rough Night in theaters on June 16, 2017.
The Plot: In Rough Night, an edgy R-rated comedy, five best friends from college reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they’re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most.
Katherine Waterston as Daniels in ‘Alien: Covenant’ (Photo Credit: Mark Rogers)
A new video titled ‘She Won’t Go Quietly’ has just arrived for the sci-fi thriller Alien: Covenant. The one-minute video directed by Luke Scott finds Daniels (played by Katherine Waterston) teaming up with the Covenant’s artificial intelligence, MUTHER, to track down an alien onboard the ship.
Directed by Ridley Scott, the new addition to the Alien franchise stars Michael Fassbender, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, and Benjamin Rigby. Alien: Covenant is set to open in theaters on May 19, 2017.
The Plot: Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with Alien: Covenant, a new chapter in his groundbreaking Alien franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.
Warner Bros Pictures has unveiled a new thrilling trailer for the much-anticipated action movie, Dunkirk. The World War II drama comes from writer/director Christopher Nolan and stars Tom Hardy (Mad Mad: Fury Road, The Revenant), One Direction’s Harry Styles, Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet), Cillian Murphy (Inception, The Dark Knight trilogy), Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy, Jack Lowden, Barry Keoghan and Tom Glynn-Carney. Nolan and Emma Thomas produced the film and Jake Myers executive produced.
Warner Bros Pictures is planning a July 21, 2017 theatrical release.
The Plot:Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.
If you weren’t already a member of #TeamOctavia, you probably jumped on the bandwagon following The CW’s The 100 season four episode 10. Octavia was a badass in the fight arena and then followed that up by fully embracing her new leadership role and transforming into a diplomat. Unfortunately, after surviving the battle and earning the right for Skaikru to be safe inside the bunker out of the deadly rain, her own people betrayed her. Episode 11 titled ‘The Other Side’ airing on May 10, 2017, will find Octavia hoping Bellamy will find a way to help those locked outside and left to die. ‘The Other Side’ was directed by series star Henry Ian Cusick and has written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson.
The 100‘s season four cast includes Eliza Taylor as Clarke, Bob Morley as Bellamy, Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia, Devon Bostick as Jasper, Lindsey Morgan as Raven, Henry Ian Cusick as Marcus, Christopher Larkin as Monty, Richard Harmon as Murphy, Zach McGowan as Roan, Paige Turco as Abby, Isaiah Washington as Jaha, Chai Hansen as Ilian, and Luisa D’Oliveira as Emori.
‘The Other Side’ Plot: HENRY IAN CUSICK DIRECTS THE EPISODE — Clarke (Taylor) faces the consequences of her fateful choice.
