Ella Purnell stars in ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ (Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, based on Ransom Riggs’ bestselling fantasy novel, offers up a new trailer featuring more footage of the children’s peculiar skills. Adapted for the screen by Jane Goldman and directed by Tim Burton, the cast is led by Eva Green (Penny Dreadful) and includes Asa Butterfield, Chris O’Dowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench, and Samuel L. Jackson. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children opens in theaters on September 30, 2016.
The Plot: From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.
Watch the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children trailer:
Tom Austen, Alexandra Park and William Moseley star in ‘The Royals’ (Photo by Charley Gallay/E! Entertainment)
Season three of E!’s scripted dramatic series The Royals is now shooting in London. Elizabeth Hurley is back as Queen Helena, William Moseley returns as Prince Liam, Alexandra Park is Princess Eleanor, and Jake Maskall returns as King Cyrus. Season three also includes returning cast members Tom Austen as Jasper the bodyguard and Genevieve Guant as Prince Liam’s friend, Willow. Max Brown has joined the cast as the apparently-not-dead Prince Robert.
The Royals was created by Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill), who writes, directs, and executive produces. Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, and Shauna Phelan also executive produce.
The Plot: The new season will feature 10 one-hour episodes to premiere later this year. Season three picks up two weeks after the execution of King Simon’s murderer who had plagued the royal family for months. With Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor’s celebrity status hitting new heights, continued debate in the UK on who is the rightful heir to the throne, and the potential return of the presumed deceased Prince Robert, season three promises even more scandal, heightened stakes, and steamier love triangles.
The final theatrical trailer has arrived for Warner Bros Pictures’ The Legend of Tarzan. Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books, this new Tarzan film was directed by Harry Potter‘s David Yates and stars True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard as Tarzan and Suicide Squad‘s Margot Robbie as Jane. The cast also includes Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, and Samuel L. Jackson. The Legend of Tarzan will open in theaters on July 1, 2016.
The Plot: It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.
HBO capitalized on the huge audience tuning in for the Battle of the Bastards on season six of Game of Thrones to show off a new teaser trailer for the upcoming sci-fi series Westworld. Based on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film, the one-hour series stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, and Clifton Collins, Jr. The series, which experienced lengthy production delays, will finally debut this fall.
The Plot: The drama series Westworld (ten episodes) is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
Iwan Rheon in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Helen Sloan / Courtesy of HBO)
Game of Thrones season six episode nine was perhaps the most anticipated episode in the six seasons of the popular series. Titled ‘Battle of the Bastards’, the episode more than lived up to expectations, delivering one of the most spectacular, bloody, brutal, and realistic battle scenes ever depicted in a series (or feature film for that matter). Jon Snow offered Ramsay Bolton the opportunity to end the fight before their armies even took the field, but Ramsay opted to let his men fight in his place rather than take on Jon in a one-on-one fight to the death. After weeks of speculation as to what it would look like to see the Starks return to take on the Boltons, Ramsay’s answer was likely met with cheers by Game of Thrones fans who’ve anxiously awaited this fight for Winterfell.
Episode nine focused on just two storylines: the battle for Winterfell and the maneuverings in Meereen. By concentrating on moving just those two storylines forward, the “Battle of the Bastards” served up a riveting 60 minutes that will likely become one of the most memorable episodes of the critically acclaimed series. The episode advanced the idea that it’s the women – Daenerys Targaryen, Yara Greyjoy, Sansa Stark, and Cersei Lannister – who are the powers to be reckoned with while playing the Game of Thrones.
”Battle of the Bastards” Recap:
Season six episode none begins with the Masters’ ships shooting fireballs at Meereen as Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) watches from the pyramid. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) tries to convince her to take shelter as he explains that the city is actually on the rise and that the citizens are behind her. She doesn’t seem convinced, and Tyrion says a city without Masters proves no one needs a master which is why they need Meereen to succeed and why the Masters can’t let it. After barely considering what Tyrion says, Dany tells him she’s going to crucify the Masters and set their streets on fire. Tyrion tries to rein her in, reminding her her father kept wildfire under the Red Keep (keep that reminder in mind when we return to Cersei’s storyline next episode) and the rest of the streets and would have burned every man, woman, and child alive. He has an alternate approach for her to take against the Masters this time.
Dany, Tyrion, Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson), and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) meet with three Masters on the beach. With a small group of their men backing them up, the Masters command Dany to flee Slaver’s Bay on foot, calling her a “beggar queen.” She must abandon Meereen and leave the Unsullied and Missandei behind to be sold to the highest bidders. Just for good measure, they throw in the fact her dragons will be slaughtered after she leaves. Dany, smiling, tells them she’s there to discuss their surrender, not hers. They swear her reign is over and as her dragon Drogon nears, she says her reign has just begun. Drogon lands behind Dany, lifts her up, and together they fly out over the ships. The other dragons are freed from their prison and join Drogon as he circles the bay with the Mother of Dragons on his back. On the ground, the Sons of the Harpy are busy slaying freed citizens of Meereen when the Dothraki arrive and kill the Sons. Meanwhile, in the bay the dragons concentrate their fire on the lead ship of the fleet, with men burning to death as the ship breaks apart. It’s the best dragon scene thus far and shows just how easily Dany is now able to command her scaly children.
Back on the beach, the armed men protecting the three Masters are told they can go free, leaving the masters unguarded. Tyrion tells the Masters they broke the promise, and Missandei says that one of the Masters must die. Two immediately choose the lowborn outsider who drops to his knees in front of Grey Worm, begging for his life. Grey Worm kills the other two men with one swipe of his blade. Tyrion then sends him the remaining, traumatized Master off to spread the word about what happened in Meereen. Dany has now gathered a large part of the fleet of ships she’ll need to sail her army to Westeros.
On to the much-anticipated battle at Winterfell… Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and a few of his men ride out to meet with Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Davos (Liam Cunningham), Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and a few other men. Ramsay addresses Sansa as his “beloved wife” and thanks Jon for returning her to him. He tells Jon to kneel before him and swear his allegiance, saying Jon doesn’t have the men, the horses, or Winterfell. “There’s no need for a battle. Get off your horse and kneel. I’m a man of mercy,” says the cruel Lord Bolton. Jon responds by saying there’s no need for thousands of men to die, challenging Ramsay to a 1-on-1 fight. Ramsay says the people of the North talk about Jon as the greatest swordsman who ever walked, and says his army of 6,000 men would beat Jon’s army which has just half that number. Jon wants to know if Ramsay’s men would fight for him if they learn he won’t fight for them. Sansa speaks up, asking how they know Ramsay actually has Rickon. In response, they toss over Rickon’s direwolf’s head. Sansa says, “You’re going to die tomorrow, Lord Bolton. Sleep well,” and turns and rides away. Ramsay tells Jon he looks forward to having Sansa back in his bed, and his dogs are looking forward to eating Jon’s men.
Back at their camp, Jon, Davos, and the leaders plot out their strategy. Tormund worries about the knights on horseback and Jon explains his strategy. Davos says the Boltons have the numbers which means the Stark army has to have the patience. Ramsay’s men need to charge them for the Stark army to stand a chance. Tormund asks if Jon really believed Ramsay would fight him man-to-man, and Jon explains he only threw down the gauntlet to make Ramsay mad enough to come at them full tilt. After the men leave, Sansa says she’s lived with Ramsay and knows him but Jon never considered she had some insight. Sansa says Ramsay plays with people, and Jon says he’s fought beyond the Wall against worse than Ramsay. Sansa, increasingly frustrated, says they’ll never get Rickon back and that Ramsay will have to kill him because he is Ned Stark’s true son and therefore holds more weight in Ramsay’s eyes as the true Lord of Winterfell. Jon and Sansa scream at each other, and Sansa tells Jon not to do what is obvious. Sansa wants them to wait to fight, reiterating her stance that they do not have enough men. But Jon argues back, reminding her they’ve asked everyone and no one else will support them. “If Ramsay wins, I’m not going back there alive. Do you understand me?” asks Sansa. “I won’t ever let him touch you again,” replies Jon.
Davos and Tormund walk through the camp discussing whether their army actually stands a chance against the Boltons. Tormund wants to know if Davos still loves Stannis. Tormund says he loved the man Stannis burned – Mance Rayder – and thought he was the man to lead them through the long night but he was wrong. Davos says believing in kings might have been both their mistakes, and Tormund points out that Jon Snow is not a king. Tormund’s off to get a drink, but Davos says he’s off to think and walk – and to shit his guts out away from camp. Laughing, Tormund says, “Happy shitting.”
Jon meets with Melisandre (Carice van Houten), wondering why she wasn’t at the war council. He asks for her advice and she says, ‘Don’t lose.” He tells her that if he loses, not to bring him back. She says she serves the Lord of Light and does what he commands. If the Lord didn’t want her to bring him back, how would she have done it the first time? Jon finally asks why he was brought back and she admits she doesn’t know and that maybe he was brought back here just to die again. She simply doesn’t know and he asks, “What kind of god would do something like that?” She says, “The one we’ve got.” Oh no…is this setting us up for another Jon Snow death?!
Davos leaves camp and wanders over to where Stannis Baratheon and his army camped. He comes across a pile of burnt wood and ashes, spotting something he immediately recognizes. Bending down, he picks up a carved stag. He knows it was Shireen’s and that finding it there means she died in a fire.
And now we’re off to Meereen again but this time there are new visitors to the city. Tyrion faces Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), reminding him how he joked about Tyrion’s height the last time they saw each other in Winterfell. Tyrion tells him he must not have been having an easy time in Winterfell since he had to kill the Stark boys. Theon says he didn’t murder the Stark boys but that he did other horrible things. Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) brought Dany 100 ships and wants to work with the Mother of Dragons, with Theon explaining what’s happened on the Iron Islands. Tyrion says with their 100 plus the Masters’ ships, they have enough to head out to Westeros.
Theon and Yara tell Dany their uncle, Euron Greyjoy, also wants to offer Dany ship but his offer will come with a marriage demand. Theon says Euron would murder her if she marries him, and Dany seems to like Yara after finding out from Theon that it’s his sister who should rule the Ironborn. They want her to help them take back the Iron Islands and kill their uncle. Yara and Dany are bonding over the fact they both had evil fathers who were horrible rulers. Dany tells Yara they will respect her way of doing things and support her claim to the Iron Throne, in exchange she will help them take back the Iron Island. Yara agrees and offers her hand. Dany takes it. #TeamSisterhood is formed.
Jon’s army (with the Wildlings) waits patiently on the battlefield with the giant in the front of the lines. Across the field, the Bolton army is assembled. In between, men are burning upside down to match the Bolton’s Flayed Man banners. Ramsay rides to the front of their line, with Rickon attached by rope behind him, hands tied in front. Jon sees Ramsay advancing with Rickon in tow while the rest remain in place. Ramsay pulls his sword and holds it high in the air, as Jon walks forward. Ramsay slices Rickon’s rope and tells him they’re going to play a game. He tells him to run to his brother – that’s the game. “Easy. Ready? Go,” says Ramsay, pushing him forward. Rickon runs as Ramsay takes up his bow and arrows.
Kit Harington in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Courtesy of HBO)
Jon rides out to get his brother. The first arrow misses as Jon charges across the field. The second arrow also misses on purpose. Jon’s getting closer to Rickon as Ramsay this time takes careful aim. Rickon is hit and falls to the ground, quickly dying. Jon looks across the field at Ramsay, probably remembering what Sansa told him. Ramsay smiles and turns away. The first wave of arrows flies and Davos tells the first wave of men to charge. This is not what Jon initially planned, but he’s so furious with Ramsay that he forgets to follow the battle plan. Ramsay’s archers hit Jon’s horse and he stumbles. Then Ramsay orders the cavalry to charge. Jon slowly stands and sees the approaching army. He briefly looks to the ground and then pulls his sword, ready to face hundreds on his own. Just then the first wave of his men (which is made up of most of his army) arrive and the two armies are now locked in fierce battle.
Ramsay commands his archers to shoot, not caring if they kill their own men. It’s a bloody battle with Jon killing man after man as arrows land all around him. Horses ram into each other as Ramsay launches another attack from his archers. The arrows land indiscriminately, taking Bolton men and the Stark army alike. The men fight on top of large piles of dead bodies. Davos leads his men forward finally, and Ramsay says it’s time for them to also get into the battle on foot. Ramsay, of course, stays back and lets his men fight, unlike Jon.
Tormund saves Jon and the giant rushes into the fray. The Bolton army surrounds the Stark army and the Wildlings, forming a wall around them so they can’t escape. They advance inwards with spears out, cutting down the army with row after row of shielded men. Davos commands the men to break down the lines, but they’re ineffectual. Even the giant isn’t making much headway. Men are dying and holding their innards in as others use their bodies to try to make a break for it. The Bolton army’s wall is holding and, in fact, closing in on three sides. Jon’s army tries to make a break for it and Jon is nearly trampled to death as they climb over the mountain of dead men. He gasps for air, seeing the fighting going on all around him yet unable to move. His men are being crushed even as he’s being driven deeper into the pile. He emerges from the pile, gasping for air, but with nowhere to go.
The giant is also being repeatedly hit with arrows, but then a horn sounds in the distance. Ramsay Bolton turns to look and it’s the Vale army arriving in full force. Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) rides up and sits next to Sansa on horseback, looking out over the field of battle. The Vale army easily break through the lines on horseback, stampeding through the Boltons as Sansa smiles from a short distance. Jon spots Ramsay still seated on horseback while the Bolton army is being decimated. Jon is nearly unrecognizable and Ramsay is completely untouched. The giant, Tormund, and Jon race after Ramsay who flees back to Winterfell with a few men.
Once inside the gate at Winterfell, Ramsay tells his men they can just wait it out because they hold the castle and it doesn’t matter if his army is gone. The giant pounds down the gate as Ramsay’s men shoot him full of arrows. He’s a giant pincushion as the Stark army enters Winterfell. Jon stands next to the giant with Tormund on the other side as he takes his final breaths. Ramsay shoots him through the eye, killing the giant. The Stark men surround Ramsay, arrows poised to fly. Ramsay says he’s reconsidered and will fight one-on-one, but doesn’t give Jon a chance to respond. He begins shooting arrow after arrow at Jon who deflects them with a shield. Jon pulverizes Ramsay’s face with punch after punch as Sansa watches. He’s not quite dead when Jon gets off of him.
The Bolton banners fall and the Stark banners are hung again on the walls at Winterfell. Davos survived the battle and quietly stands off to the side holding Shireen’s carved stag while staring at Melisandre.
The dead are brought in, including Rickon who Jon wants to bury in the crypt next to his father. Sansa wants to know where Ramsay is and she’s taken to him. He’s tied up in a cell, badly injured but alive. He looks up to see Sansa and says hello, asking where he’ll be staying. She doesn’t reply. “Our time together is about to come to an end,” says Ramsay, believing she’s come to kill him. “Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear.” Just then a growl is heard and it’s Ramsay’s dogs. “My hounds will never harm me,” he says, sounding confident. Sansa reminds him they haven’t been fed in seven days, and Ramsay insists they’re loyal. She says they were, but now they are starving. One approaches his master and sniffs his face. Ramsay tells it to get down as it licks the blood from his face. It doesn’t, instead lunging at his face and ripping it as he screams. Sansa walks away as dogs bark and Ramsay screams, a small, satisfied smile on her face. If only Ghost had been able to join in on the feast!!!
Episode 11 of season two is special because Diana Gabaldon, “Herself” as the Outlander fandom call her, wrote this week’s script. If you were expecting it to go strictly by the book you might need to change your expectations just a bit. A few surprises snuck in, and some interesting twists as well. But trust me when I say you will NOT be disappointed.
We open with one of the best title cards this season, though ‘The Fox’s Lair’ title card was very majestic with that beautiful red fox, in my humble opinion. A servant is dusting and preparing the Duke of Sandringham’s (Simon Callow) wig, and when he is just about done it topples forward to the floor. A bit of foreshadowing of things to come maybe? Let’s find out.
As the episode opens we see the current Jacobite encampment in northern England. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) begins explaining through voice-over that they have done very well in the early aspects of the campaign. But, as Jamie tried to warn Prince Charles (Andrew Gower) in France, the clans do not always do as expected. The Prince had anticipated them all rallying to his cause, but many have not. This leaves the Jacobite forces weakened in comparison to the British. As everyone is waiting, we see Claire working on a man’s teeth. From nurse to dentist, very versatile our Sassenach!
Inside the ‘war room’ the leading officers and junior officers, including Jamie (Sam Heughan), are all discussing the next approach to the mission. All of the room is against the Prince’s approach to push further southward to take London. Jamie is the only one in the room firmly behind the Prince in this decision. Book readers are probably scratching their heads at this, I know I was for a minute, then I realized why. When they all come out of the room Jamie apologizes to Claire for not succeeding in getting the other military leaders to join the push south. They must change history and refrain from the deadly day they spend on Culloden Moor. The push south might have done this, but there will be no push southward to London. They are to head back north for the winter.
Later that night, as Claire slept, Jamie was naked and kneeling by the bed. He was offering up a Gaelic prayer over her. Thanks to the person responsible for giving us subtitles this time – usually we don’t get the Gaelic words translated, so this was a treat to be sure. The showrunner, Ronald D. Moore, has said that it is because Claire doesn’t know the language, so it stays true to the books in that way. Jamie was praying blessings over her and any possible future child she might carry. If this scene does not put at least a lump in your throat, you cannot call yourself a true Outlander fan!
He does unintentionally wake Claire by kissing her shoulder. As she turns slightly to regard him, she asks if he is all right. He says that he wanted to watch her sleep. {OMGsh too cute.} When she touches him she can tell how cold his skin is, and he is kneeling naked to boot. {I am suppressing a wisecrack, so insert your own here if you like.} She tells him to get into bed, so he does. He snuggles up right behind her to be almost like a second skin. He can snuggle up behind… Okay, I won’t finish that thought. Claire asks him what he was saying, but he doesn’t tell her. He says she will think he is daft in the head. All right, men, let me tell you something: we women just might like to hear those daft things you think, especially if they are tender and show your love for us! Mark me!! {giggle snort}
The next morning Dougal (Graham McTavish) barges into their room without so much as a knock. Good thing they were up and dressed. Sheesh man, manners much! He was angry over a conversation he had just had and a letter he was given to send Jamie, and the rest of the Lallybroch troops, to Inverness. The men ride to perform the ordered task and gift us with more of that amazing Scottish countryside. The snow on the mountains, the green of the grass, incredible contrasts that are simply breathtaking.
As the group is camping, a British band starts shooting at them from a ridge above their encampment. Everyone has to scatter. Jamie is shouting orders for them all to meet up at the crossroads, but eventually several of them are cornered in a church: Jamie, Claire, Dougal, Rupert (Grant O’Rourke), Fergus (Romann Berrux), Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), and Ross (Scott Kyle). The reason they had to stop is that Rupert was shot in the eye, of all places, and Claire has to dig out a musket ball to have any hope of saving Rupert’s life. In the book, Rupert dies in the church due to a different wound, but I have to say I’m glad he didn’t after we already lost Angus (Stephen Walters) in the last episode.
Claire gets the musket ball out of Rupert’s eye socket and covers it up, with a fair amount of yelling on Rupert’s part. {Can’t say I blame him, OUCH.} She certainly has the knack of a nurse to push past the patient’s pain and get the job done. Love the cheeky Scottish retort Rupert gave when Ross asked what happened to him. “I decided to take a closer look at a musket ball.” Thanks, Diana, I’m sure that was your idea but so much like Rupert too. Those little cheeky sarcasms are Diana’s trademark, LOVE IT! Another trademark in this series is Claire’s 20th-century references that no one else gets except the viewers/readers. She starts going on about pirates to Rupert as she covers up his eye with a makeshift patch. The reference to Long John Silver is clear; did we just cross over to a Black Sails reference there, Starz? He even asks her what she is going on about and she says her customary, “Never mind.”
As Murtagh and Dougal are watching out the windows they see British troops arrive. Not good! Jamie says he will sacrifice himself for the rest to get away. They want Red Jamie, certainly. Claire, always quick on her feet, uses her English-ness (as Jamie’s sister put it in episode 113) to try to save the men. Jamie is trying to shut her up, but she shouts loud enough for the soldiers to hear her. Yet again Claire overrules her husband. With no time to argue, they do so anyway. Claire is determined to perform the ruse to save the men. Jamie is determined that she will NOT. Dougal goes out to bargain for the men to get away if they turn over the Englishwoman. Another throwback to the first season, Dougal tells them her name is Mistress Beauchamp.
Jamie is NOT happy about the entire situation, but once they heard Claire shouting for help the choice was made. Fergus suggests that she act like she fainted from fright when Dougal carries her out to the soldiers. Jamie wanted to do it, and does in the book, but Dougal does it instead. They cannot know Red Jamie is inside or the deal will be broken. Too funny when Claire does the fake faint in Dougal’s arms, total dead weight. Jamie is left standing there with complete fear for his wife written clearly on his face.
The British mount up and take Claire, the Scots’ horses and weapons, and head off. Jamie finally comes out of the church after they are gone. He is expecting to go alone but Murtagh is not going to let Jamie leave without him. Dougal agrees with Murtagh and tells Jamie that he will need help. Rupert tells Jamie to give Claire a wink for him when they get her back… bwhahaha. The book readers know that Jamie cannot wink, he ends up squinting both eyes at the same time. Just a little inside joke for the book readers. It is also funny because Rupert now has only one eye to do his winking at anyone. The men expected that they would be going to the nearest British garrison. The soldiers and Claire stop at an Inn in a nearby village. As Claire passes a building, who do we see but the astonishing mute friend of Jamie’s, Hugh Munro (Simon Meacock). What a fortunate turn of events for Jamie and Claire. As Claire is passing a tavern door she sees the wanted poster of her beloved Red Jamie. Watch the expressions, Claire, your face tells more than you want it to.
The next morning, after Claire slept the entire night in a chair before the fire in the tavern, they come out to head off. Claire is told they will be going to a different location than the garrison, and she is almost at the point of panic. Thankfully the soldier doesn’t notice her anxiety. Just then, as they come out, Hugh steps forward begging for money. The soldier throws him to the ground, but not before Claire recognizes him. She scolds the soldier for his beastly behavior and helps Hugh up off the ground, in the process whispering what Jamie needs to know as her final destination. Hugh understands and sets off after him. In the book, Hugh comes into the picture in a different way.
Claire is taken to a magnificent estate. Really gorgeous view of this massive house and grounds is gifted to us before they show us the exquisite interiors. This is said to be the residence of a Duke, so you would expect it to be a large house and grounds. Can you guess what Duke this estate belongs to? If you are any sort of Outlander fan, you certainly can. It is the Duke of Sandringham. Our Sassenach is out of the frying pan and into the fire. Such the slippery little eel he is, too. He gives no sign of knowing our heroine. The soldier asks that she be given a place to stay for a bit, and the Duke graciously obliges the request.
As Jamie and Murtagh are looking for Claire they encounter a pair of soldiers and plan to take their horses. Murtagh asks if Jamie has ever had second thoughts about taking Claire as a wife given that she has caused them to be traitors, murderers, and now horse thieves. Jamie gives a resounding, “No, it doesn’t,” as his only reply to this snarky question. That is our Jamie, blindly in love and supportive of his wife. Again, husbands take note! I’m lucky enough to have such a husband. Just had to take the opportunity to brag slightly on the hubs.
The Duke maneuvers Claire into thinking that he wants Jamie to come and rescue her and is willing to help toward that end. He lets Claire write a note to Jamie and he promises to get it through the soldiers by way of a messenger. Claire does write the note but does it in her own version of Gaelic. This is not an activity that happened in the book, so it is a nice little add to the story. Hugh sees her here in the book and that is how Jamie finds out where she is. The messenger (Scott Hoatson) is sent off to look for Hugh Munro so he can find Jamie to deliver the note. Just then Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day) comes into the room to surprise them both. The poor dear is the Duke’s goddaughter. She begs Claire to help her not have to marry a man the Duke has promised her to.
The messenger does find Hugh and pays a bit of a price for it. The man might be crippled, but Hugh is not without an ability to defend himself. He throws the man to the ground, but the messenger manages to get out that he is trying to give him a letter for James Fraser. Hugh takes it and is off immediately to find Jamie.
Claire meets with the Duke again after he has had time to try to get the soldiers around the house to back away from the estate for a while. When the manservant Danton (Andrea Dolente) takes the Duke’s cloak Claire sees a mark on his hand and recognizes him. He is the man who raped Mary in France. The Duke is angry that he’s recognized and the entire thing comes out. The Duke actually tries to spin the tale as a good thing for Claire. The Le Comte St. Germain (Stanley Weber) meant for Claire to be killed. The Duke has proposed that she be only {only, sheesh} raped and let go. The Duke is the eternal optimist and conniving politician rolled up into one. Then the Duke goes right to a desire for gossip. He wants to hear the story of how she killed the Comte. Claire warns them that they will suffer when Jamie arrives. The Duke says that he is looking forward to it. The reason the soldiers are moving away from the house is because the Duke let them know that Red Jamie is on his way there. The trap has been set and Claire is the bait.
Hugh finds Jamie and Murtagh galloping toward the garrison as expected. He gives them the note that Claire wrote. Murtagh is fussing about Claire’s attempt at writing in Gaelic. Jamie just says they will give her lessons later as they try to work out what she is saying. Another gem out of the mouth of Murtagh; he says that the Duke is the original bad penny…snort. The men head off for the estate. They go to Belmont House as expected.
Claire is looking out the window and sees Hugh walking up the back of the house. Mary comes into the room where they locked Claire away, asking why she was locked in. Claire doesn’t have time to explain, she is near panic that Jamie will be caught trying to enter the house. Of course, Mary is scared and afraid to help with any requests that Claire makes of her. Claire runs out of the room and tries to get out through the kitchen. Who might be having a midnight snack…none other than the Duke himself (bad penny, indeed). Does that man do anything but eat? He has an appetite for gossip too and wants to know all the details about how she dispatched the Comte. The cat continues to play with his captive mouse.
Mary, scared but trying to do what Claire asked her to do, goes to the front door to intercept Hugh. She manages to get the message to Hugh just before the manservant Danton catches her at the front door. Hugh gets the message to Jamie and Murtagh, so they manage to go around back to enter from the kitchen. As Claire stalls for time by indulging the Duke’s desire for the tale of how the Comte died and listening to what the gossip the Duke heard on the subject, Mary and Danton come into the kitchen. The Duke tells her to go to bed, so the servant takes her by the arm and is trying to escort her there when Jamie bursts into the kitchen. Danton has Claire with a knife pressed to her neck in the blink of an eye.
Jamie is standing there with his dirk in hand but must drop it or Danton will hurt Claire. Murtagh sneaks in from behind Danton and Claire. Claire takes the opportunity to hit the man in the ribs with her elbow and Jamie grabs Danton and starts to wrestle with him. Claire points out that he is the one who attacked her and Mary in Paris. Mary is struck by this knowledge, as is Murtagh. You will remember he took it very personally that Mary was raped and Claire almost was too. Danton blurts out that it was the Duke’s idea and Claire backs that up, based on what the Duke had bragged to her earlier about saving her life. As Jamie approaches the Duke with measured steps you can see Murtagh grab an axe and Mary grab a knife.
Jamie sees the look on Murtagh’s face and knows he wants revenge. Jamie pushes the Duke that way without the Duke knowing Murtagh is standing behind him holding the diabolical axe. No one sees the knife in Mary’s hands. She stabs Danton and it surprises everyone in the room, including Danton. He crumples to the floor. Murtagh only has eyes for HIS revenge though. As the Duke turns thinking he can escape out the door, he is further surprised by the axe about to relieve him of his head. It takes three blows, but Murtagh takes the head and places it at Mary and Claire’s feet. Murtagh and Jamie are pleased but the ladies look a bit repulsed. Mary simply says, clearly (no stutter this time), that they should go. The group depart together to end the episode. I guess Claire can tell Frank how the Duke died now. If you remember in the first episode of the series, ‘Sassenach’, Frank (Tobias Menzies) was talking to the Reverend Wakefield (James Fleet) about the Duke and mentioned that he died under mysterious circumstances.
Only two more episodes this season but complete joy can still be had in the knowledge that Starz has renewed the series for TWO more seasons. We get the books Voyager and Drums of Autumn still to come. See you all next week!
Steve Gleason and Rivers Gleason in ‘Gleason’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Open Road Films)
Open Road Films released the official trailer for the documentary Gleason, an inspirational and heartbreaking examination of the life of NFL player Steve Gleason following his diagnosis with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The film had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and has been called “an emotional powerhouse of a documentary” by Variety. Open Road Films is releasing it in theaters on July 29, 2016.
The Plot: The hit documentary from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival goes inside the life of Steve Gleason, the former New Orleans Saints defensive back who, at the age of 34, was diagnosed with ALS and given a life expectancy of two to five years. Weeks later, Gleason found out his wife, Michel, was expecting their first child. A video journal that began as a gift for his unborn son expands to chronicle Steve’s determination to get his relationships in order, build a foundation to provide other ALS patients with purpose, and adapt to his declining physical condition—utilizing medical technologies that offer the means to live as fully as possible.
Bleecker Street’s unveiled a new trailer and poster for the dramatic film Anthropoid starring Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades franchise, The Fall). Based on a true story, Anthropoid was directed by Sean Ellis from a script he co-wrote with Anthony Frewin. The cast also includes Charlotte Le Bon, Anna Geislerová, Harry Lloyd, Alena Mihulová, Marcin Dorociński, Bill Milner, Sam Keeley, Jiří Simek, Mish Boyko, Václav Neuzil, Andrej Polák, and Toby Jones. Anthropoid opens in theaters on August 12, 2016.
The Plot:Anthropoid is based on the extraordinary true story of “Operation Anthropoid,” the code name for the Czechoslovakian operatives’ mission to assassinate SS officer Reinhard Heydrich. Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Solution, was the Reich’s third in command behind Hitler and Himmler and the leader of Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia. The film follows two soldiers from the Czechoslovakian army-in-exile, Josef Gabčík (Murphy) and Jan Kubis (Dornan), who are parachuted into their occupied homeland in December 1941. With limited intelligence and little equipment in a city under lock down, they must find a way to assassinate Heydrich, an operation that would change the face of Europe forever.
John Turturro and Riz Ahmed in ‘The Night Of’ (Photo: Craig Blankenhorn / HBO)
HBO will premiere the new eight-part limited dramatic series The Night Of on July 10, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT. The series was created by Steven Zaillian (American Gangster) and Richard Price, with Zaillian directing seven episodes and co-writing four with Price. Zaillian, Price, Jane Tranter, James Gandolfini, and Peter Moffat executive produce. John Turturro and Riz Ahmed lead the cast that includes Michael Kenneth Williams, Bill Camp, Jeannie Berlin, Poorna Jagannathan, Payman Maadi, Glenne Headly, Amara Karan, Sofia Black-D’Elia, Paul Sparks, Ben Shenkman, Afton Williamson, Paulo Costanzo, Ned Eisenberg, Mohammad Bakri, Nabil Elouahabi, Ashley Thomas, Glenn Fleshler, and Chip Zien.
“It’s a crime story, a police story, a legal story, a corrections story,” said Zaillian. “You make a story about all that, tell it honestly, and it will naturally be a social story.”
The Plot: Pakistani-American college student Nasir “Naz” Khan, who lives with his parents in Queens, NY, takes his father’s taxi to go a party in Manhattan. But what starts as a perfect night for Naz becomes a nightmare when he’s arrested for murder. The show delves into the intricacies of a complex New York City murder case with cultural and political overtones. The story examines the police investigation, the legal proceedings, the criminal justice system and Rikers Island, where the accused await trial.
The Night Of July 2016 Episodes
Part 1: “The Beach”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 10 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: July 10 (10:30 p.m., midnight), 11 (1:30 a.m.), 12 (7:00 p.m.), 14 (10:05 p.m.), 15 (11:00 p.m.) and 16 (10:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: July 12 (11:05 p.m.), 13 (8:00 p.m.), 16 (4:00 p.m.) and 22 (8:00 p.m.)
What starts as a perfect night for Pakistani-American student Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed) becomes a nightmare when he’s arrested for murder.
Created by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price; teleplay by Richard Price; directed by Steven Zaillian.
Part 2: “Subtle Beast”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 17 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 17 (12:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m.), 18 (12:40 a.m.), 19 (7:00 p.m.), 21 (11:30 p.m.), 22 (11:00 p.m.) and 23 (1:50 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: July 19 (11:30 p.m.), 22 (9:20 p.m.), 23 (5:10 p.m.), 24 (8:00 p.m.) and 29 (8:00 p.m.)
As attorney John Stone (John Turturro) counsels Naz, lead detective Dennis Box (Bill Camp) investigates the crime.
Created by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price; teleplay by Richard Price; directed by Steven Zaillian.
Part 3: “A Dark Crate”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 24 (12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m.), 25 (1:05 a.m.), 26 (7:00 p.m.), 28 (11:20 p.m.), 29 (11:00 p.m.) and 30 (12:50 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: July 26 (11:30 p.m.), 29 (9:00 p.m.), 30 (2:35 p.m.) and 31 (8:00 p.m.)
Awaiting his formal arraignment at Rikers Island, Naz (Riz Ahmed) realizes that his survival, or perhaps his demise, rests with a particular inmate, Freddy (Michael Kenneth Williams).
Created by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price; teleplay by Richard Price; directed by Steven Zaillian.
Part 4: “The Art of War”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 31 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 31 (12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m.) and Aug. 1 (12:15 a.m.), 2 (7:00 p.m.), 4 (10:30 p.m.), 5 (11:00 p.m.), 6 (12:10 a.m.) and 12 (9:00 p.m.)
Stone (John Turturro) works to uncover information about the crime.
Created by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price; teleplay by Richard Price; directed by James Marsh.
The CW renewed 11 of its primetime series in 2015, which meant there was very little room on their 2016-2017 fall schedule for new shows to earn a timeslot. The network just announced its upcoming fall premiere dates and only newbies No Tomorrow and Frequency will be making their debuts as part of The CW’s lineup, along with the second season of Supergirl which moved from CBS to The CW following season one. And The CW’s sticking with the delayed premiere of their schedule, opting to kick off the new fall season in October rather than compete with the other networks for viewers with September launches.
No Tomorrow Details: Evie Callahan (Tori Anderson), a risk-averse quality-control assessor, appreciates order. Whenever she’s making a list, “make a list” is both the first thing on it and the first thing crossed off. Such a regimented life has its drawbacks. Her on-again/off-again romance with the sweet, but soft-spoken Timothy (Jesse Rath) has sputtered out. Her career has stalled. Her boss, Deirdre (Amy Pietz), a petty tyrant with breath that could kill a plant, laughs off her ambitions. Then Evie meets charming, free-spirited Xavier Holliday (Joshua Sasse), and the attraction is immediate and electric. He brings a jolt of joyful, rollicking romance into her life. Xavier encourages Evie to carpe that diem, because it’s more fun that way and because, well, the apocalypse is, you know, nigh. He believes humankind has a mere eight months and twelve days until a runaway asteroid smacks us all into stardust. That’s why he made an Apocalyst – a tally of every last thing he wants to do before the world goes kaput. So with the help of her friends – Hank (Jonathan Langdon), a diehard conspiracy theorist, and Kareema (Sarayu Blue), a droll nihilist – Evie must decide whether Xavier is certifiable and whether that even matters, if being with him means living her life more fully. Based on the International Emmy-nominated Brazilian format from Grupo Globo, NO TOMORROW is a romantic comedy with the ultimate ticking clock.
Frequency Details: Detective Raimy Sullivan (Peyton List) has always wanted to prove that she is nothing like her father. In 1996, when Raimy was eight years old, NYPD Officer Frank Sullivan (Riley Smith) left Raimy and her mother, Julie (Devin Kelley), behind when he went deep undercover, got corrupted, and got himself killed. Or so the story has always gone. Few people knew about the secret undercover sting operation Frank was really charged with, led by Stan Moreno (Anthony Ruivivar), who has now risen to Deputy Chief of Police. Frank’s former partner, Lieutenant Satch Reyna (Mekhi Phifer), is now Raimy’s mentor and friend, and he has urged her to let go of the hurt and anger she still feels about Frank’s disappearance and death, but the old pain still lingers. Raimy can barely bring herself to discuss Frank, even with her devoted boyfriend, Daniel (Daniel Bonjour), or her childhood friend, Gordo (Lenny Jacobson). Now, twenty years later, Raimy is stunned when a voice suddenly crackles through her father’s old, long-broken ham radio – it’s Frank, somehow transmitting over the airwaves and through the decades from 1996. They’re both shocked and confused, but Raimy shakes Frank to the core when she warns him that the secret sting he is undertaking will lead to his death. Armed with that knowledge, Frank survives the attempt on his life. But changing history has dramatically affected Raimy’s life in the present – and there have been tragic consequences. Separated by twenty years, father and daughter have reunited on a frequency only they can hear, but can they rewrite the story of their lives without risking everyone they love?
The CW Fall Premiere Dates and Schedule:
Tuesday, October 4
8-9 p.m. The Flash (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. No Tomorrow (series premiere)
Wednesday, October 5
8-9 p.m. Arrow (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. Frequency (series premiere)
Thursday, October 6
8-10 p.m. iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1
Friday, October 7
8-10 p.m. iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 2
Monday, October 10
8-9 p.m. Supergirl (The CW premiere/season two premiere)
9-10 p.m. No Tomorrow (premiere episode encore)
Thursday, October 13
8-9 p.m. Dc’s Legends of Tomorrow (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. Supernatural (season premiere)
Monday, October 17
8-9 p.m. Supergirl (original episode)
9-10 p.m. Jane The Virgin (Season Premiere)
Friday, October 21
8-9 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (season premiere)
