Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox have just released a brand new trailer for the latest entry in the Ice Age film franchise, Ice Age: Collision Course. They’re also showing off a brand new poster featuring the acorn-loving Scrat who actually sets off a global catastrophe in the new animated film. Directed by Mike Thurmeier, the voice cast includes Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, and Keke Palmer.
The voice cast also includes Wanda Sykes, Jennifer Lopez, Stephanie Beatriz, Adam DeVine, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Nick Offerman, Melissa Rauch, Michael Strahan, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Ice Age: Collision Course will open in theaters on July 22, 2016.
The Plot: Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego, and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, traveling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colorful new characters.
Universal Pictures has released a new featurette for the upcoming Bourne film, Jason Bourne, with Matt Damon reprising his role as Bourne. Directed by Paul Greengrass, the return to the action-packed world of Jason Bourne also features Alicia Vikander (the new Lara Croft), Vincent Cassel, Tommy Lee Jones, and Julia Stiles. Greengrass co-wrote the script and produces along with Damon, Frank Marshall, Jeffrey M. Weiner, Ben Smith, and Gregory Goodman. Jason Bourne is set to open in theaters on July 29, 2016.
The Plot: Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.
Jason Patric and Djimon Hounsou join the cast of Fox’s Wayward Pines for season two, with Patric playing Dr. Theo Yedlin and Hounsou playing CJ Mitchum. Yedlin’s described as a confident surgeon with leadership skills and Mitchum is a historian who understands the town’s unique setup and provides a “bridge between the current world of Wayward Pines and the previous world that humans inhabited.” Based on the bestselling books by Blake Crouch, Wayward Pines is executive produced by Crouch, M. Night Shyamalan, Donald De Line, Ashwin Rajan, and showrunner Mark Friedman.
Fox’s set to debut the first of season two’s 10 episodes on May 25, 2016 and at this year’s WonderCon in Los Angeles new co-stars Patric and Hounsou teamed up to talk about the upcoming season which is set shortly after the events of season one. And speaking of season one, Patric hasn’t seen it. “I saw the pilot and it was explained to me a little bit. I thought it was best that my character didn’t see any of that stuff because I’m dropped in the middle of it and so I wanted my reactions to be as pure as possible,” explained Jason Patric.
Patrick and Hounson describe the actual set of Wayward Pines the town as big and freaky. “It’s kind of like when you get on a roller coaster that you hate, that you despise. You didn’t like the first ride and it just continues,” said Hounsou, and Patric added, “There is a strange sort of never-ending timeless feeling about the town and the strangeness of it. I had a scene where I just walk in for the first time and it’s very much almost like a Western. Walk into the town and standing there, and this shot all the way down. It’s interesting.”
Both actors said one of the things that drew them to Wayward Pines was the fact it was such a short season and they didn’t have to commit to doing 20+ episodes. “I haven’t done television and I’ve never had to extend a character on stage or in a movie past two hours, and when you do that for 30 years… I mean, that’s the type of ballplayer I am. It is. So to try to find a way to extend something and in this way it was very cinematic,” said Patric. “I’m just looking at it as sort of 10 installments of a larger movie.”
“This is my first proper TV also and it threw my off a little bit when I first started. You get so much info and actually you don’t need all that info,” said Hounsou. “You’re starting here and that’s all that matters. It’s pretty engaging that way.”
“Not knowing what’s going to happen in the middle or the end really forces you to the present. But of course you bring who you are and what your skillset is,” offered Patric. Hounsou also felt the limited series format allowed him to be much more creative because he didn’t have any real preconceived notions about what’s happening down the line with his character. “I think it’s safe to just stay sort of content with the one storyline that you have and deal with that, and then you can figure out the next one.”
As for playing a doctor, Patric admitted he didn’t do any special research but viewers will have the opportunity to see his character practice medicine a little during this second season. “I used my great imagination,” said Patric, smiling. “If it was specifically about that and you saw that stuff, yeah. But if you see me doing stuff, you’ll buy it. Also, we’ve seen enough of those medical shows that I hope you’ll believe that I’m a doctor.”
Watch the full interview with Jason Patric and Djimon Hounsou:
IFC Films has released the first teaser trailer for The Land, an indie film about four skateboarder friends that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by first-time helmer Steven Caple Jr, the cast of The Land includes Erykah Badu, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Moises Arias, Rafi Gavron, Ezri Walker, Machine Gun Kelly, Kim Coates, Linda Emond, amd Natalie Martinez. IFC Films will open The Land in theaters and on VOD on July 29, 2016.
The Plot:The Land tells the story of four teenage boys who devote their summer to escaping the streets of Cleveland, Ohio to pursue a dream life of professional skateboarding. When they get caught in the web of a local drug queen-pin, their motley brotherhood is put to the test.
Lana Parrilla and Sean Maguire in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)
ABC’s Once Upon a Time season five episode 21 included the tragic death of a main character, a touching reunion, two supporting characters biting the dust, and a pivotal moment that altered the relationship between siblings. Fans weren’t happy with the loss of a key character but at least one fan favorite returned to Storybrooke after performing a heroic act in the Underworld. Episode 21 titled ‘Last Rites’ was jam-packed with potentially game-changing moments, and it’ll be interesting to show how the season finishes up and if we lose any more key characters.
Outside of Storybrooke, Present Day: Hades (Greg Germann) is thrilled to be in the land of the living, telling Zelena (Rebecca Mader) he’s finally becoming himself. Zelena’s anxiously awaiting her sister, but Hades says it’ll be fine. Zelena also wonders why they’re outside of the town and Hades says he’s worried they will all still think of him as a villain. Passing off her daughter to the surprised Hades, Zelena heads into Storybrooke. As he’s waiting with the baby, King Arthur races up and wants to be unshackled. He says he was destined to rule a kingdom, and Hades introduces himself as Hades, God of Death. Hades thinks he’s destined to rule this kingdom, and so he kills off King Arthur.
Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) is upset Merida (Amy Manson) allowed King Arthur to escape and sends everyone out to search the town. Just as Snow says to her baby that they need their family back, in walks David (Josh Dallas) followed by Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Henry (Jared Gilmore). Only Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) wasn’t able to make the journey. Snow hugs Emma and tells her at least she got to see Hook one last time. David then breaks the bad news that Hades and Zelena are also back and they have Robin’s baby.
Zelena meets up with Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Robin (Sean Maguire) on the way into town, and Robin tells her Hades has absolutely not changed. Zelena’s confused and Regina says Hades tried to trap them in the Underworld, but Zelena absolutely won’t believe them. Zelena doesn’t want to give up Hades’ location after Regina confirms they’ll do whatever they have to do to protect themselves from him. Zelena reminds them Hades is a god and if they try to hurt him, they do so “at their own peril.”
King Arthur (Liam Garrigan) shows up at the diner in the Underworld and has no clue where he is. Hook’s there and King Arthur threatens him with death if he doesn’t explain where he is. Hook simply says you can’t kill a dead man, which should answer King Arthur’s question. King Arthur won’t believe it…he had so much left to do. Hook demands answers from King Arthur about who killed him, and King Arthur says it was Hades. The Blind Witch butts in saying Hades never reveals his weakness. That gives Hook the idea that he and King Arthur should take off on a quest to find out what Hades is hiding and learn the secret to defeating Hades.
Meanwhile back in Storybrooke, Merida, Emma and David find King Arthur’s dead body and know it’s Hades’ work. Emma wants to immediately rush off and fight Hades but David tells her she has to stop and think about her actions and she has to deal with Hook’s death by grieving.
Zelena’s back with Hades and he says he’d give up his freedom to save her and the baby. Liar, liar, pants (and everything else) on fire! Zelena’s buying into it for some reason (she used to be so smart!) and stops him from turning himself in. If he can’t do that, then Hades says they have to defend themselves. If it comes to a fight, he has something that will end the feud. He has the Olympian Crystal that belonged to Zeus and he’s waited a long time to use it…
Regina and the gang show up at the town hall only to discover Zelena’s placed a protection spell around the building. But, Regina knows there’s a secret tunnel under the town hall that can help them get Robin’s daughter back. No one wants Emma’s help because she’s too emotional and they tell her she can’t help them until she works through her grief issues. Robin and Regina head down into the tunnels where Regina apologizes but to Robin it sounds more like Regina’s continuing to defend Zelena.
At the flower shop, Gold shows up to ask if Belle’s dad will try and wake her with a kiss. He won’t do it, mainly because he hates Gold so much. Until Gold’s gone for good, she stays asleep. Gold shows him a gold handled cane…but Emma barges in and tells Gold she needs his help. She has to stop Hades and needs to know how to kill him. Gold won’t tell her because she’s the one who got them into this mess in the first place.
Down in Hades’ throne room, Hook and King Arthur look around for anything that can be used against him. The Holy Grail they’re looking for is pages from the storybook that Hades kept them from seeing. They’re tearing his place apart when Hook admits it’s all about Emma and he has to move on but can’t while Emma’s still in danger. Nearly in tears, he asks King Arthur where he hid his treasures while he was king. Arthur says the one place no one would ever dare touch: his throne. And there they are…Hook’s Holy Grail. The pages will allow Emma to destroy a god!
Hook and King Arthur meet with Cruella and she’s overcome with their hunkiness. They need the phone booth she ripped out but it’s been destroyed. She didn’t want anyone to resolve their unfinished businesses. So, Hook needs the book but she put it in the River of Souls. The book could be their way to get the pages to Emma.
Emma shows up at the library where Snow, David, Henry, and Merida are looking through books for a clue how to get rid of Hades. They want her help but she doesn’t want to go through books. She tells them she can’t grieve for Hook because he’s still trapped in the Underworld and can’t move on.
Hades puts the crystals back together – something he can do because he now has a beating heart. He promises Zelena they can live any life they want or they could even rule Storybrooke, but that’s not something she really thought they wanted. Hades convinces her they may have to make a show of strength to survive. Gold rings up, asking if Hades wants a deal. Hades says no, but then Gold reveals he knows Hades has the Olympian Crystal. Still, Hades refuses the deal.
In the tunnels, Robin thanks Regina and she says, once again, she feels horrible for what she did. She’s trying to make up for it. Robin agrees they owe Zelena another chance and tells Regina she is his future. They kiss, deeply, and then he reveals he doesn’t have a plan on how to actually get his daughter out.
Hook and King Arthur sail the River of Souls and find the book. Hook goes for it, trusting Arthur to stay with book. Arthur’s grabbed by a soul but he tells Hook to go for the book. Hook doesn’t and instead saves Arthur. The soul then goes for the book instead but Arthur wipes it out with a torch and Hook saves it just before it falls into the river. Hook says the Olympian Crystal can kill Hades, putting the pages that contain the info back in the book.
As Emma’s at the library, she picks up the storybook but puts it away without looking at the new pages. Thankfully, it opens itself to the pages and she knows they’re from Hook. Awww. Meanwhile, Hades has completed the process to make the Olympian Crystal whole again. Zelena wants to leave Storybrooke and not fight, but Hades will have none of that. Fortunately, Regina and Robin overhear their plans. Outside, Emma is trying to break in. Zelena and Hades leave the baby and go out to see Emma, leaving Robin and Regina to get to Robin’s baby. Outside, Emma’s working on a spell and when Zelena pops out, Emma explains she doesn’t want to hurt her. She has figured out a way to kill Hades and knows he has the crystal. Zelena grabs the pages from Emma, demanding to know if Regina agreed to it. As Robin and Regina pick up the baby, Hades reappears thwarting their escape. He tells them the crystal ends them – no Underworld, no anything. As he tries to use it on Regina, Robin steps in front of her and absorbs the blow. He dies but smiles one last smile as he disappears. Just as he’s about to kill Regina, Zelena comes in and Hades lies that he killed Robin only to save her. Regina tries to convince Zelena it’s all a lie, but Zelena doesn’t know who to believe. Then Hades admits he did trap Regina and the rest of the gang in the Underworld and now he must kill them and create a new kingdom. Hades says it’s about getting back at the families who didn’t believe him. While he’s distracted, Regina knocks the crystal from his hand but Zelena gets to it first. Hades wants Zelena to end Regina, and Regina says Robin tried to defend her. True love is sacrifice and that’s what Robin did when Hades killed him. Hades twists the story to make Regina the bad guy again, but now Zelena isn’t buying it. Love would never have been enough for Hades so Zelena stabs him through the heart with the crystal. Regina rushes back to Robin’s side, holding her love’s dead body. Zelena and Regina hug, crying.
Hook thanks Arthur for his help, but he’s just glad to have finished one quest that was righteous. Hook’s sure Emma did what she needed to. All of sudden a bright light appears and Hook heads toward it, but he thinks the defeat of Hades might have been Arthur’s unfinished business, too. But, Arthur tells him to go without him because he believes he has to repair the Underworld. They shake hands and Hook again heads toward the light. He’s pulled through and meets Zeus, who thanks him for helping to destroy the God of Death, Hades. He’s there to escort Hook onward to where he belongs. Hook heads down a hall.
Meanwhile in Storybrooke, Emma visits Hook’s grave and thanks him for the pages. She’s crying and says she hopes he’s in a better place. “It just feels like now you’re really gone,” completely breaking down.
The gang gathers at Robin’s grave, each stepping forward and placing an arrow on his casket. Zelena and Regina are together and talking about Robin never being able to name their daughter. Zelena says it has to be Robin, and Regina agrees. Emma and Snow are the last at the grave and Snow tells her it’s not her fault. Emma just wants to say goodbye alone, and Snow leaves after one last hug. As she’s standing there she feels an electric charge. Killian’s back!!! They kiss and Emma can’t believe he’s back, and Hook says it was Zeus who sent him back to Storybrooke. She then tells him Robin was killed.
Gold walks over to the pile of Hades dust and finds a piece of the Olympian Crystal. “Like I told you, this is my kingdom.”
Colin O’Donoghue and Jennifer Morrison in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)
As anticipated, Captain America: Civil War opened to huge numbers over its first three days in theaters. The third film to feature Captain America in the lead rang up $181 million in domestically over its opening weekend. That’s good enough to move Captain America: Civil War into fifth place on the all-time list of theatrical openings. Narrowing the comparisons to just Marvel films, Captain America: Civil War‘s opening weekend is the third highest to date, with Marvel’s The Avengers holding the title of top Marvel opening weekend at $207 million and Avengers: Age of Ultron in second with $191 million.
The Captain America: Civil War Plot: Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
Emilia Clarke in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 6 (Photo: Macall B. Polay / Courtesy of HBO)
HBO’s Game of Thrones season six episode three split time between Jon Snow’s return from the dead, Arya’s journey to become no one, the High Sparrow’s continued demand for Cersei to finish atoning for her actions, Dany’s involvement with the Dothraki, and the reappearance of a Stark who’s been absent for a season. Episode three titled ‘Oathbreaker’ also caught us up on Sam’s voyage on the high seas, the wheelings and dealings of Cersei and Jamie, and even threw in another scene of Bran finding out the truth behind a legendary battle between his father and Sir Arthur Dayne. While not nearly as entertaining as either episode one or two, episode three did serve to set up the new chapter in Jon Snow’s journey which, hopefully, will be given more screen time in episode four.
The Recap:
Sir Davos (Liam Cunningham) stares at Jon Snow (Kit Harington) as he sits up, naked with the ever-faithful Ghost at his side. Jon gasps for breath, completely overwhelmed and confused by what’s transpired. He feels the wounds on his chest and tells Davos and Melisandre (Carice van Houten) that he remembers being stabbed, and even remembers Olly (Brenock O’Connor) putting a knife in his heart. “I shouldn’t be here,” he says, and Davos tells him the Red Woman brought him back. She demands to know what he saw after he died, and Jon Snow says there was nothing at all. “The Lord let you come back for a reason,” says Melisandre and tells him Stannis wasn’t the chosen prince, but someone has to be.
After asking for a moment alone, Davos tells Jon he was dead and now he’s not – and that’s “completely f**king mad.” Jon reconfirms he did what he believed was right, and he paid the price by being murdered. But, now he’s back. He has no idea why, and Davos tries to make him move on from the subject by saying they may never know why he’s back but he must continue to fight. Jon admits he’s not sure how to do that. He thinks he failed and Davos tells him that’s okay. “Now go fail again,” says Davos.
The Night’s Watch and the wildlings have gathered in the courtyard of Castle Black. Jon walks through them as they part to let him pass. Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) is the first to actually approach Jon Snow, letting him know the men think he’s a god. Jon shakes that suggestion off, saying he’s not. Tormund gives him a hug and jokes about the size of his penis, saying no god would ever have one so small. Jon continues walking through the men, still in pain, it seems as he finds Edd (Ben Crompton) in the crowd and hugs him. Edd tells Jon his eyes are still brown so he thinks Jon’s still in there. Jon, now in a joking mood following Tormund’s penis putdown, tells him to hold off burning his body for now.
Meanwhile out on the high seas, Sam (John Bradley) is dealing with a touch of seasickness. Gilly (Hannah Murray) tries to take his mind off it by rambling on about the definition of the word sea. Sam breaks the news the Citadel won’t take women or a baby, so she can’t stay there. She says she’ll stay in Old Town, but he tells her he’s taking her to Horn Hill – his home. His mom and sisters will take care of her, but she doesn’t want to be separated. Finally, she agrees to go as long as he thinks it’s for the best.
Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and the Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow) are having another flashback of Ned as a young man. This time the peek back at Stark family history involves Bran’s dad and Sir Arthur Dayne (Luke Roberts), the best swordsman Ned Stark ever encountered. Stark tells Sir Dayne the Mad King is dead and wants to know why they weren’t there to protect their prince. Ned’s searching for his sister and Dayne, unwilling to disclose her location, draws his swords. Ned’s men and Sir Dayne’s square off until only Sir Dayne is left standing against Ned and a handful of men. Sir Dayne is holding his own, with only Ned and Howland Reed left standing.
Dayne is the better fighter and Bran recalls that his father told him he beat Dayne during this battle. Ned actually wasn’t able to kill Dayne until after Howland stabbed him in the back. When the fight is over, Ned heads up the hill after hearing his sister scream and Bran wants to follow him but is stopped by the Three-Eyed Raven. Bran demands to know who’s in the tower but the Three-Eyed Raven tells him he can’t stay too long in the past or he won’t be able to return to the present.
Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and the Dothraki finally arrive at the temple housing the widows of Khals. The women strip her naked and she’s given simple, plain clothes to wear. She’s upset to be there and doesn’t understand why she has to stay, reeling off her long list of titles including Mother of Dragons. They explain that because she didn’t come to them immediately, there are many outcomes but the best would be she was allowed to stay with the rest of the widows. However, it’s up to the khalasars to decide her fate.
Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) meets with Valla to discuss her act of treason against Daenerys. She sacrificed her body for a cause and she helped the Sons of the Harpy kill the Unsullied and the Second Sons. She’s unapologetic, but Varys offers an explanation as to how he sees her actions. He uses the fact he knows about her son to scare her into talking, wondering how her young son will get along without her. He then offers her safe passage with her son on a boat leaving in the morning, if she spills the beans and tells what she knows about the Sons of the Harpy’s backers. It’s really her only option.
Back in Meereen, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is trying to get Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) to engage in small talk. They are both horrible at it so Tyrion suggests they play a game. Missandei has played a (sex) game before but Tyrion says that’s not what he’s talking about. He makes up a drinking game but that doesn’t go over well either because they don’t drink. Thankfully, Varys enters and tells them he’s learned three rich foreign cities are funding the Sons of the Harpy. The Unsullied can’t march off to fight but Missandei says the masters only speak one language and if they want to be heard, they must speak it back to them. Tyrion wants Varys to send out his little birds to the three rich masters backing the rebellion.
Back at King’s Landing, Lord Varys’ children gather with Qyburn (Anton Lesser) and are given candied plums in exchange for whispers. In walks Sir Gregor, Cersei (Lena Headey), and Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and the little birds scatter. Qyburn says the little birds are now Cersei’s, not Varys’, which interests Cersei but Jamie is more interested in what exactly Qyburn did to Sir Gregor. Apparently, Sir Gregor does still understand orders and Jamie wants him to crush the High Sparrow’s head like a melon. Cersei reminds him that he has hundreds of faithful and Sir Gregor can’t face them all. Cersei says she wants little birds sent out throughout the kingdom. She wants to know everything that’s going on and wants news on anyone who disparages her family or laughs about her walk of shame.
Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Photo: Helen Sloan/Courtesy of HBO)
The small council is meeting and discussing Sir Gregor when he, Cersei, and Jamie barge in. Cersei wants to know why Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) is involved in the meeting, and Olenna responds by telling her she’s there to check on the queen who is still imprisoned. Cersei starts to thank her for her concern when Lady Tyrell says she’s of course talking about her daughter, Margaery, the actual queen. “You are not the queen because you are not married to the king. I do appreciate these things can get a bit confusing in your family,” says Olenna Tyrell, delivering the second-best line of dialogue in the episode. Cersei wants to know if they consider Myrcella’s death an important issue, and even though Cersei isn’t a member of the small council she stays. The council leave en masse, refusing to discuss matters with her since she has no business dealing with them.
King Tommen (Dean Charles Chapman) visits the High Sparrow and tells him Cersei wants to see Myrcella’s final resting place. The High Sparrow turns down the request because she hasn’t fully atoned for her sins. She must stand trial but Tommen continues to demand that she be allowed to see the grave. The High Sparrow continues to say no and says there’s a great deal of falsehood in Cersei except for when she speaks of Tommen. Her love for her son is truly real. Her walk of atonement was for Tommen, but the High Sparrow says the gods still want more from her.
And now it’s time to catch up with Arya (Maisie Williams) who is, once again, getting beaten by the Waif. She talks about her old life – her brothers, sister, mother, and father. Arya doesn’t know if they’re all dead. The Waif asks about The Hound and Arya believes he’s dead because she left him to die even though she’d taken him off her list. Still left on Arya’s list are Cersei, Gregor, and Walder Frey. The Waif says that’s a short list and it can’t be everyone. “Which name would you like a girl to speak?” asks Arya. Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) will give Arya her eyes back if she tells him her name. She says she has no name and she passes the final test. Her sight returns.
Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and Lord Karstark meet with Lord Umber, representing a family that refuses to pledge themselves to the Boltons. He’s there delivering the news that Jon Snow led an army of wildlings past the Wall and now the Umbers need help. Bolton says if Umber pledges to House Bolton, they’ll fight together to defeat Jon Snow and the wildlings. Umber won’t kneel but he has a gift for Ramsay instead, revealing Rickon Stark and Osha (Natalia Tena). Bolton doesn’t trust that it’s Rickon but Lord Umber produces Rickon’s direwolf’s head as proof. “Welcome home, Lord Stark,” says Bolton, smiling.
Back at Castle Black, Jon Snow grabs his sword and allows the four Night’s Watch prisoners – including Sir Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale) – to say their final words. Alliser said he acted because Jon Snow brought the wildlings into their world and he’d do it all over again. Last up is Olly, who looks at Jon with utter contempt and says nothing. Jon slices the rope and the four men swing from the gallows. After they’re dead, he hands over his coat to Edd and tells him to wear it, burn it, or whatever he wants. And now comes the best line of dialogue from season six episode three: “You have Castle Black. My watch is ended.”
Ma Memoire est sans faille {My memory never fails}. There is something about the events of this episode that would not let you forget even if you wanted to. Several things come to light during the fifth episode of Starz’s Outlander’s season two, ‘Untimely Resurrection.’ The books are so context-rich, how they squash it down into episodes is astonishing to me. Have you ever sat to watch a show and when the credits rolled you shouted at the TV that it was lying to you? I seem to be doing that a lot with this show, but this one really took me by surprise when it ended. I was just so engrossed I could NOT believe it. Promise me you will watch for yourself, and tell me if it didn’t happen for you too. So, on to the recap…
We open with the Fraser home in complete disarray after the infamous dinner party. Furniture broke, glass and decor scattered about. The servants doing their best to set things right as quickly as possible. Again, can I get a few of those to run behind my teenagers? Just playing… Only Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Fergus (Romann Berrux) are left to await Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) return after being taken away to the Bastille, along with the rest of the dinner guests who were still there when the police arrived. When Jamie comes in during the early morning hours he finds Claire, and a passed-out Fergus, awaiting his return.
Jamie scoops exhausted Fergus up and takes him to bed, then Claire and Jamie discuss the events of the night in their bedchamber. Alex Randall (Laurence Dobiesz) was kept in jail and charged with the rape of Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day). We all know that the nasty and dastardly deed was done by a gang of men, and our Sassenach scared them off, but not before Mary’s assault was realized. The Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) was so kind as to relieve Alex from his employment to allow him more time to contemplate his plight in the French Bastille {said in all sarcasm}. The Duke is the perfect politician in military clothing, sheesh!
The couple circled around to the topic of the attack and Claire mentions that they screamed that she was La Dame Blanche, and this is what saved her. See, you didn’t have to wait long to find out what that meant. La Dame Blanche is a mythical creature that is considered the ‘white witch’ in French stories. So you can see how Claire might react given her almost burning at the stake in Scotland after a witch trial. Jamie actually started this rumor though, much to Claire’s utter surprise. The rumor might be a good thing since it saved Claire, and because he knows where it originated. Jamie said it to Prince Charles (Andrew Gower) at the brothel where they usually meet. This gives them a starting place to investigate the men who did the crime. Events might lead to Le Comte St. Germain’s (Stanley Weber) involvement in the recent attacks on Claire, in the street and the poisoning event at Versailles.
Our poor gallant Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) is kicking himself most profoundly for the events in the last episode. He and Jamie end up in the office down near the docks while Jamie conducts business as usual. Murtagh cannae forgive himself for the rape of Mary and the possible terrible events that could have harmed Claire and the bairn had the men not run off in fear of her reputation. Murtagh had been tracking St. Germain and also inquired after the clue from the brothel. St. Germain wasn’t presenting any curious evidence, but Murtagh did find out that an underground gang was formed by aristocrats from many of the noblest families in Paris.
The way into the gang was to take a woman’s virginity. This explains why the assailant screamed out in glee when he discovered that Mary was one. WAS being the operative word, devil take him for such a terrible thing {the character, not the real actor}. Murtagh is so downcast about the entire situation, Jamie knows the best way to make him feel like he was redeemed in his eyes would be to lay justice at Jamie’s feet by finding the criminals and evidence of St. Germain’s involvement. Murtagh vows that he will deliver no less than justice or his own life for the balance owed.
Claire goes to see Mary. She takes her medicine box and wants to see how she is doing. Mary asks her to deliver a letter to the jail explaining the attack and explaining how Alex could not have done the rape. Claire promises to deliver the letter but this is before she realizes that Mary and Alex are hoping to be married. Claire is forever troubled by the connection to Frank in the future through the direct line of Black Jack Randall and Mary being married. She considered not taking the letter to free Alex so that he cannot marry her. But as any good person would do, she cannot let an innocent man rot in the Bastille for a crime he did not commit.
Still at the docks and dealing with inventory, Jamie is surprised by the Prince’s arrival. The Prince looks in good spirits to have taken a sharp loss after the disastrous dinner party. A new scheme has been hatched by the Prince, and he is overjoyed to share it with Jamie. Le Comte St. Germain has agreed to be a business partner to the Prince in a shipment of fine brandy from Portugal.
Jamie looks happy for the news when the Prince is looking at him, but his face turns to frowning concern once the Prince looks away. Two reasons of course; the Prince wants Jamie to assist with the shipment which means he will have to work with St. Germain, AND the shipment would bring the Prince much-needed funds for the rebellion that Jamie and Claire hope to stop. Double disaster indeed! The Prince has arranged for Jamie and St. Germain to meet at the brothel to sort out the details. That should be fun! Look out Madam Elise (Michele Belgrand), you might need to take precautions.
Claire did get Alex released from jail but does her best to make him think about Mary’s future before running off to marry her. He is without an income, is of a sickly nature, and it would reduce Mary to a difficult existence as a consequence of all this. Alex takes the comments from Claire as her watching out for Mary, but Claire does have additional motives in the form of Frank that Alex knows nothing about. She feels bad about the attempt to talk him out of things, she knows that they feel deeply for each other.
And back to the lovely brothel we go. The supercharged meeting between Jamie and St. Germain could not be pricklier. Of course, the Le Comte has to get mouthy about Claire. He mentions his memory is long {the French note I started on} and has not forgotten about what Claire cost him by his ship having to be burned, along with the cargo, due to the Small Pox that she diagnosed. Jamie mentions that his memory is also long and enumerates all the recent events that Claire has endured with the attack, the poisoning, and Mary’s rape. They conclude the arrangements about the shipment and get the visit over quickly.
Jamie explains the situation to Claire when he returns home. Claire thinks she can fake a ship’s contaminant of Small Pox by using some other herbs and maybe get the shipment destroyed. Then Jamie presents Claire with a christening gift for the bairn, and Claire voices her concerns about being a good mother. Just about every mother goes through that, and many never lose that concern as their children grow. Jamie tells her she would be a wonderful mother, and calls her Mo Nighean Donn again for the first time in far too long {sqeeee}.
The next day they are back at Versailles, at the King’s stables to be more precise. I cannot believe, nor do I care, how they found this garden, but WOW. I have no words to help you know what I mean. That is one you will have to watch the episode to see, but you will NOT be disappointed. Just stunning and incredible to see. Jamie is there to help Sandringham purchase some horses. Jamie doesn’t owe him anything but also voiced a desire not to provoke the man either. Claire gets a wave of morning sickness standing so close to the horses, so she takes her leave just after the Duke shows up.
As Jamie and the Duke take the measure of the horses, Claire is met at the food table by an old flame of Jamie’s, Annalise de Marillac (Margaux Chatelier). An oddity in pregnancy, you can have morning sickness and turn right around and be super hungry. Okay, gotta do this just once this recap. Claire’s gown is just amazing. I love that gown so much. Yellow Rose as my Twitter handle might have given that away… The yellow coloring and the flowers are just lovely. I need this entire wardrobe, seriously I do!
As Claire and Annalise are walking about the gardens, they chat about Jamie. The green-eyed monster arrives to be sure. As they are having a lively banter back and forth, Annalise spots a handsome man looking most intently at Claire from over her shoulder. As Claire turns to look and see this gentleman, she vaper-locks when she sees that it is none other than Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) himself. I think we can all relate to a sharp increase of blood pounding in the ears, and an attempt to keep our feet under us right about now. And the demon son has the nerve to use her first name as his first word. Boy, I don’t know that I could restrain myself like Claire did. My hand would have ached to smack him, or my foot to kick vital parts of his anatomy.
BJR flinches when he tries to bestow a bow on the Ladies. GOOD! At least he is not over his crushing encounter with the cows. Oh MY GOSH, he had the NERVE to use Jamie’s name after Annalise left to find Jamie because Claire looked unwell. Can we blame her? Like I said last time, that poor child will be born just bouncing off the walls due to all the stress she is under.
BJR has such incredulously twisted ways to look at things. He gives Claire a speech on how it is destined for them to have their paths cross so many times. I certainly hope I never understand the man; I would fear for my own sanity. While Captain Randall has a grasp of Claire’s arm, and she demands to be let go, the King of France, Louise XV (Lionel Lingelser) arrives behind them. Being the good King that he is, and having a fondness for Claire’s beauty and Jamie’s assistance with the whole constipation issue, the King puts BJR through some humiliation. This part was not in the books, but I LOVED it so much and giggle-snorted the entire time. BJR had to take it all with a grin and in silence. The King made him get on his knee no less. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!
Jamie comes bounding up behind BJR and Claire, and into the King’s presence. Jamie and Claire get great enjoyment of the King putting BJR through his paces. The King noticed Claire’s discomfort and Jamie’s tense exchange with Black Jack. Everyone starts giggling at BJR as the King is messing with him. Claire asks to take her leave and the King allows her and Jamie to go. As they are walking away Jamie expresses concern for Claire and she says she is okay but wanted to get away.
Jamie walks, quick-paced, back to BJR and challenges him to a duel. Many things wrong with this concept, so more stress comes on Claire with this acknowledgment. They go back to the Fraser home, and Jamie jumps out all excited to prepare for the duel. He doesn’t even notice that Claire did not depart the coach. She went to the Bastille to swear out a statement that she and Mary were attacked by BJR so he could be arrested. She is trying to buy time so she can make Jamie understand that he cannot kill BJR yet.
Here comes the major blow up between Jamie and Claire. She begs him to reconsider the duel because of Frank. How can you beg your current husband not to kill the ancestor of your future husband, or is it the past husband? Jamie starts cussing in Gaelic, and tells Claire to choose between him and Frank. She is only asking that this devil be spared for one year. What could be wrong with that? He is only the demon spawn that tortured, raped, and mind warped our Jamie, that is all.
Claire’s only choice is to claim a life debt that Jamie owes her for saving his life from Wentworth. Jamie is disgusted by it, but he kisses his blade as a promise not to kill BJR for one year’s time. Every blasted time our dashing couple take one step toward each other they get shoved back two. How do they come back together from this ghastly rift? You will just have to watch next week. See, I told you this week’s episode passed quickly.
Director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody are teaming up with Oscar winner Charlize Theron once again on the comedy movie Tully. The trio previously worked together on the 2011 dramedy Young Adult which earned Charlize Theron both Golden Globe and Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations for her performance in the starring role. Tully will be produced by Bron Studios’ Aaron L. Gilbert, Right of Way Productions’ Reitman and Helen Estabrook, and Denver & Delilah Productions’ Theron, AJ Dix, and Beth Kono. Cody and Mason Novick are also producing the comedy which is aiming for a summer shoot in Vancouver.
Theron’s currently shooting American Express directed by Nash Edgerton and co-starring Amanda Seyfried and Joel Edgerton. She’s also working on Fast 8 alongside Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Kurt Russell, Jason Statham, and Michelle Rodriguez. Reitman most recently directed Men, Women & Children with Jennifer Garner and Adam Sandler. Cody’s writing credits include Juno, Jennifer’s Body, and Ricki and the Flash.
The Plot: The new comedy tells the story of Marlo (Theron), a mother of three including a newborn, who is gifted a night nanny by her brother. Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully.
Liev Schreiber stars in ‘Ray Donovan’ (Photo Credit: Showtime)
The official trailer’s arrived for season four of the critically acclaimed dramatic series Ray Donovan starring Liev Schreiber. Showtime’s unveiled the full length trailer for the upcoming season which will premiere on June 26, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT.
The cast of season four is led by Schreiber and includes Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Steven Bauer, Katherine Moennig, Pooch Hall, Kerris Dorsey, and Devon Bagby. Lisa Bonet, Stacy Keach, Embeth Davidtz, Ted Levine, Gabriel Mann, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Chris Coppola, and Billy Lush will guest star in Showtime’s hit drama created by Ann Biderman. David Hollander, Mark Gordon, Bryan Zuriff, and Lou Fusaro executive produce.
The new music-driven comedy series Roadies will debut on June 26th immediately following Ray Donovan‘s return.
The Plot:Ray Donovan stars Liev Schreiber as L.A.’s best professional fixer – the man called in to make the city’s celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls’ most complicated and combustible situations go away. Last season’s intense battle with the Armenian mafia leads a wounded Ray to reconnect with his forsaken faith. With this second chance at redemption, Ray is on a path to becoming a much better husband and father. But while things at home are improving, his work introduces him to worlds more formidable and dangerous than ever before. Meanwhile, Mickey (Jon Voight) has fled Los Angeles, hoping to plant roots on his own terms and to begin anew, one scam at a time.
