Hulu just released the first trailer for The United States vs. Billie Holiday starring Grammy Award nominee Andra Day. The streaming service unveiled the trailer while announcing they’ve picked up the U.S. rights to the much-anticipated drama from Oscar nominee Lee Daniels (Precious).
In addition to Andra Day as the legendary Billie Holiday, the cast includes Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne, and Garrett Hedlund. Miss Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Evan Ross, Tyler James Williams, Tone Bell, and Erik LaRay Harvey also star.
Hulu has set a February 26, 2021 premiere date.
“Whether you are new to the story and legacy of Billie Holiday or know every note she ever sang, I do hope our celebration of this complex woman does justice to a great musical legend and civil rights activist whose artistry resonates as well today, as it did 80 years ago. Hulu releasing this film and giving it a platform to be seen nationwide is a blessing, because as recent events reveal, our country has much work to do in fulfilling its promise of a more perfect union,” stated Lee Daniels.
Lee Daniels, Jordan Fudge, Pamela Oas Williams, Tucker Tooley, Joe Roth, and Jeff Kirschenbaum produce with New Slate Ventures, Lee Daniels Entertainment, and Roth Kirschenbaum Films. Hilary Shor, Jeremy Allen, Patty Long, Johann Hari, Cassian Elwes, Mark Bomback, and Dennis Stratton serve as executive producers.
The Plot, Courtesy of Hulu:
The legendary Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, spent much of her career being adored by fans across the globe. Beginning in the 1940’s in New York City, the federal government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to escalate and racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial and heart-wrenching ballad, “Strange Fruit.” Led by Oscar® nominated director Lee Daniels and introducing Grammy® nominated singer-songwriter Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday unapologetically presents the icon’s complicated, irrepressible life.
Screenwriter Suzan-Lori Parks, the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, pens this intimate tale of a fierce trailblazer whose defiance through music helped usher in the civil rights movement.
The full trailer for season two of TNT’s critically acclaimed sci-fi drama Snowpiercer promises the new season’s going to be one wild ride. Season two will premiere on January 25, 2021, with new episodes airing on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT.
Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) and Grammy and Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs (Hamilton) return to lead the cast as Melanie and Layton, respectively. The season two cast also includes Emmy nominee Alison Wright (The Americans), Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha), Iddo Goldberg (Peaky Blinders), Katie McGuinness (Dirty Filthy Love), Tony Award winner Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Annalise Basso (Bedtime Stories), Sam Otto (Jellyfish), Roberto Urbina (Narcos), Sheila Vand (Argo), and Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead). Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) joins the cast of the post-apocalyptic sci-fi action thriller as Mr. Wilford.
Graeme Manson, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Matthew O’Connor, Ben Rosenblatt and Scott Derrickson executive produce the series. Bong Joon Ho, Miky Lee, Tae-sung Jeong, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun, and Dooho Choi – producers of Snowpiercer the film – also are involved as executive producers.
Sean Bean stars in ‘Snowpiercer’ season 2 (Photo Courtesy of TNT)
The Snowpiercer Plot, Courtesy of TNT:
At the end of season one, the survivors of the revolution are trying to pick up the pieces and maintain a fragile peace amongst the now merged classes with Layton (Diggs) emerging as the train’s leader. Discovering Mr. Wilford (Bean) is alive and headed their way on a rival train, Melanie (Connelly) risks going outside to prevent him from invading Snowpiercer.
While she’s out there, it’s revealed that Alexandra (Blanchard), Melanie’s daughter, who she thought had died, is alive and has become Wilford’s dedicated protegee.
In season two, an entirely new power struggle emerges, causing a dangerous rift as people are divided between their loyalty to Layton and to Mr. Wilford, who has a new train, new technology and a game plan that keeps everyone guessing. While Layton battles Wilford for the soul of Snowpiercer, Melanie leads the charge on a shocking new discovery that could change the fate of humanity.
Randall’s questions about his birth mother are answered as her backstory is revealed on NBC’s This Is Us season five episode six. New photos of Jennifer C. Holmes as Randall’s mom, Laurel, have just arrived for episode six, “Birth Mother,” which will air on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT.
Season five cast includes Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Milo Ventimiglia as Jack, Justin Hartley as Kevin, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, and Chrissy Metz as Kate. Susan Kelechi Watson is Beth and Chris Sullivan stars as Toby.
“Birth Mother” Plot: Randall uncovers new truths about his past.
This Is Us Series Description, Courtesy of NBC:
Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their kids (the big three), Kevin (Hartley), Kate (Metz) and Randall (Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day along with Toby (Sullivan) and Beth (Kelechi Watson). This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who we become, and how the connections we share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth, and Vien Hong as Hai Lang in ‘This Is Us’ season 5 episode 6 (Photo by: NBC)Jennifer C. Holmes as Laurel in season 5 episode 6 (Photo by: NBC)Jennifer C. Holmes as Laurel in season 5 episode 6 (Photo by: NBC)Vien Hong as Hai Lang in season 5 episode 6 (Photo by: NBC)Jennifer C. Holmes as Laurel and Anthony Hill as Marshall Winston in season 5 episode 6 (Photo by: NBC)
Aya Cash, Antony Starr and Dominique McElligott in ‘The Boys’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Amazon Studios)
Palm Springs and Soul each took home three awards in film categories at the first-ever Critics Choice Super Awards held on January 10, 2021. On the television side, members of the Critics Choice Association chose The Boys as the big winner among the inaugural Super Awards nominees. Additional films and series earning multiple awards included Da 5 Bloods, The Invisible Man, Lovecraft Country, and BoJack Horseman.
Kevin Smith and Dani Fernandez hosted the Critics Choice Super Awards which aired on The CW and recognized the best in Superhero/Comic Book, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, Action, and Animation films and television.
FILM WINNERS FOR THE INAUGURAL CRITICS CHOICE SUPER AWARDS
BEST ACTION MOVIE
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Betty Gilpin – The Hunt (Universal)
BEST ANIMATED MOVIE
Soul (Disney+)
BEST VOICE ACTOR IN AN ANIMATED MOVIE
Jamie Foxx – Soul (Disney+)
BEST VOICE ACTRESS IN AN ANIMATED MOVIE
Tina Fey – Soul (Disney+)
BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE*
The Old Guard (Netflix)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE*
Ewan McGregor – Birds of Prey (Warner Bros.)
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE*
Margot Robbie – Birds of Prey (Warner Bros.)
The story of Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones is the focus of an upcoming limited series at FX. The network just greenlit the six-episode limited series Pistol based on Steve Jones’ 2018 memoir, Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol.
Oscar winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) is executive producing and directing. Pistol was created by Craig Pearce and Pearce will write along with Frank Cottrell Boyce. Jones, Pearce, Gail Lyon, Anita Camarata, Tracey Seaward, Paul Lee, Hope Hartman, and wiip also executive produce.
Filming is expected to begin in early March 2021.
“It’s great to be back in business with Danny Boyle, an exceptional artist responsible for so many great feature films and TV series,” said Nick Grad, President, Original Programming, FX Entertainment. “Steve Jones was at the center of the storm that shook the rock establishment and we’re thrilled to have Danny and the rest of the creative team tell his story as a member of one of music’s most notorious bands – the Sex Pistols.”
FX confirmed the limited series will star Toby Wallace (Babyteeth, Acute Misfortune) as Steve Jones, Anson Boon (Crawl, 1917, Blackbird) as John Lydon, and Louis Partridge (Enola Homes, Medici) as Sid Vicious. Jacob Slater plays Paul Cook, Fabien Frankel (The Serpent, NYPD Blue) is Glen Matlock, Dylan Llewellyn (Derry Girls) is Wally Nightingale, Sydney Chandler (Don’t Worry Darling) is Chrissie Hynde, Emma Appleton (The Witcher, Traitors) as Nancy Spungen, and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) stars as punk icon Jordan.
“Imagine breaking into the world of The Crown and Downton Abbey with your mates and screaming your songs and your fury at all they represent,” said Boyle. “This is the moment that British society and culture changed forever. It is the detonation point for British street culture…where ordinary young people had the stage and vented their fury and their fashion…and everyone had to watch & listen…and everyone feared them or followed them. The Sex Pistols. At its center was a young charming illiterate kleptomaniac – a hero for the times – Steve Jones, who became in his own words, the 94th greatest guitarist of all time. This is how he got there.”
“The Sex Pistols changed music forever and Danny Boyle is the perfect director to tell Steve Jones’ story fueled by raw creativity and destruction,” added Paul Lee, CEO wiip. “We’re thrilled to be making this with our friends at FX.”
Pistol Plot, Courtesy of FX:
Anchored by Jones’ memoir, which offers a fascinating new perspective on one of rock’s greatest ever stories, Pistol moves from West London’s council estates, to Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s notorious Kings Road SEX shop, to the international controversy that came with the release of Never Mind the Bollocks, which is frequently listed as one of the most influential albums of all time. Their single “God Save the Queen” was banned by the BBC and reached Number 1 on the UK’s NME chart, but appeared at Number 2 on the Official UK Singles chart, leading to accusations that the song was purposely kept off the top spot. For the only time in chart history, the track was listed as a blank, to avoid offense to the monarchy.
New season 3 ‘The Umbrella Academy’ cast (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Netflix’s critically acclaimed The Umbrella Academy will start production on season three next month in Toronto. The 10-episode third season will once again star Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, Adam Godley, and Colm Feore, all previously confirmed to reprise their roles for the upcoming season.
Today, Netflix revealed details on new cast members along with their character descriptions. The streaming service didn’t announce when they expect to launch the third season.
New The Umbrella Academy Season 3 Cast/Characters:
JUSTIN CORNWELL (Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, I Am the Night) will play MARCUS, Sparrow #1.
A charming, chiseled, colossus. Honest, virtuous, and demanding, Marcus keeps the family together. Graceful but lethal, calculated but compassionate, he is as smart as he is strong. Marcus is disciplined, rational and in control. He oozes confidence and leadership without ever having to raise his voice.
JUSTIN H. MIN (After Yang, The Umbrella Academy) will play BEN, Sparrow #2.
This is not the sweet Ben we know and love. This Ben is a Machiavellian tactician, wrapped up in a pretty boy body with a rumbling inner-squid. Vicious, pragmatic, and hyper-vigilant— Ben is determined to gain his status as the leader at all costs.
BRITNE OLDFORD (The Path, Hunters) will play FEI, Sparrow #3.
Fei sees the world in a special way. She comes across as a misanthrope who would rather be alone than spend even a second with you. But truth be told, Fei wishes she had a friend. Most of the time, Fei is the smartest person in the room and willing to work things out. But if you cross her there’s no looking back because Fei won’t stop until the job is done.
JAKE EPSTEIN (Designated Survivor, Suits) will play ALPHONSO, Sparrow #4.
Years of crime fighting have left his face and body with countless visual reminders of his battles. To compensate, Alphonso is armed with a caustic and biting sense of humor. The only thing he likes better than verbally battering anyone foolish enough to get in his face, is a good pizza and a six-pack of beer.
GENESIS RODRIGUEZ (The Fugitive, Big Hero 6) will play SLOANE, Sparrow #5.
A romantic and a dreamer who feels a higher cosmic calling leaving her eager to see the world and experience a life beyond her upbringing. But obligations to her family keep Sloane tethered to the Academy, as does her fear of crossing the family line. But Sloane has plans… and one day she might just be brave enough to act on them.
CAZZIE DAVID (86’ed, NY Times best-selling author of “No One Asked for This”) will play JAYME, Sparrow #6.
Jayme is a loner hidden under a hoodie. She doesn’t say much because she doesn’t have to. Jayme has a fear-inducing snarl. Catch a glimpse of it, and you’ll run across the street to avoid what follows. Smart and sharp as a knife, she spends most of her time hanging with Alphonso, her only friend.
EXISTENTIAL DREAD INDUCING PSYKRONIUM CUBE (Newcomer) will play CHRISTOPHER, Sparrow #7.
Christopher is a telekinetic cube of unknown origin. He can turn the room freezing cold and induce paralyzing fear. He acts as the Sparrows’ consulted oracle who hands out incredible advice and serves as the family mediator. Trustworthy, loyal, and is treated by the Sparrows like any other sibling, Christopher is a force to be reckoned with.
The Umbrella Academy is based on the Dark Horse comic book series written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. Way, Bá, Steve Blackman, Jeff F. King, Keith Goldberg, Mike Richardson, and Jesse McKeown executive produce, with series creator Blackman also serving as the showrunner.
A Look Back at Season 2, Courtesy of Netflix:
Five warned his family (so, so many times) that using his powers to escape from Vanya’s 2019 apocalypse was risky. Well, he was right – the time jump scatters the siblings in time in and around Dallas, Texas. Over a three year period. Starting in 1960. Some, having been stuck in the past for years, have built lives and moved on, certain they’re the only ones who survived. Five is the last to land, smack dab in the middle of a nuclear doomsday, which – spoiler alert! – turns out is a result of the group’s disruption of the timeline (déjà vu, anyone?).
Now the Umbrella Academy must find a way to reunite, figure out what caused doomsday, put a stop to it, and return to the present timeline to stop that other apocalypse. All while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins. But seriously, no pressure or anything.
Lola’s out on maternity leave when CBS’s All Rise returns for season two episode seven, “Almost The Meteor.” Episode seven was directed by David Harp from a script by Aaron Carter and will air on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT.
Simone Missick leads the cast as Judge Lola Carmichael, Wilson Bethel plays Mark Callan, Marg Helgenberger is Lisa Benner, and Jessica Camacho stars as Emily Lopez. J. Alex Brinson plays Luke Watkins, Lindsay Mendez is Sara Castillo, Ruthie Ann Miles is Sherri Kansky, Lindsey Gort plays Amy Quinn, and Audrey Corsa is Samantha Powell.
Coy Stewart, Bryan Michael Nunez, Shannyn Covington, Melanie Reif, and Jesus Ruiz guest star.
“Almost The Meteor” Plot: While Lola is on maternity leave after going into labor while on the bench, she attempts to participate remotely in Judge Brenner’s special training about brain science and the law. Also, when Luke finds himself opposite Emily on an armed robbery case, he sees an ally in his experiment with restorative justice, and Mark hits another roadblock in his high profile case against a sheriff’s deputy
All Rise is a courthouse drama that follows the chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of its judges, prosecutors and public defenders, as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal process. Among them is newly appointed Judge Lola Carmichael, a highly regarded and impressive deputy district attorney who doesn’t intend to sit back on the bench in her new role, but instead leans in, immediately pushing the boundaries and challenging the expectations of what a judge can be.
Sex and the City‘s Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte are reuniting without Samantha. HBO Max has greenlit And Just Like That…, a 10 episode sequel to the popular, award-winning HBO series that premiered in June 1998 and ran for six seasons.
Sarah Jessica Parker will return as Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon’s back as Miranda Hobbes, and Kristin Davis will slip back into the role of Charlotte York for the new chapter of Sex and the City. Kim Cattrall, recently seen in Fox’s Filthy Rich (canceled after one season), is not involved in the new half-hour series.
Parker, Nixon, and Davis will executive produce with Michael Patrick King. According to the official announcement, filming is expected to begin in New York this spring.
“I grew up with these characters, and I can’t wait to see how their story has evolved in this new chapter, with the honesty, poignancy, humor and the beloved city that has always defined them,” stated Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max.
The network released this description of the upcoming series: “The new Max Original series is based on the book, Sex and the City, by Candice Bushnell and the original TV series created by Darren Star. The series will follow Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.”
All four Sex and the City stars reunited for the Sex and the City feature films released in 2008 and 2010.
Ricky Whittle stars in ‘American Gods’ season 3 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Season two of Starz’s American Gods ended with my favorite character, Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schreiber), dead at the hands of Shadow Moon who, in a shocking twist, learned he’s actually Odin’s son. (Those familiar with Neil Gaiman’s book weren’t surprised by this turn of events.) Laura Moon pledged to kill Wednesday while Shadow found himself on the run, the target of a massive manhunt by law enforcement in connection to the Bellefontaine massacre.
Season three episode one, “A Winter’s Tale,” begins with…of all things…a ballet dance. The dance devolves into a performance by Viking death metal band Blood Death in honor of the Allfather. Odin (Ian McShane) rises to cheers from the crowd as lead singer Johan Wengren (Marilyn Manson) demands the crowd spill blood in his name. Odin leaps from a balcony and crowd surfs as the performance continues.
His followers chant “Odin” and he screams his approval and acceptance of their devotion.
Elsewhere, Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) has adopted the name Mike Ainsel and is sporting a glorious full head of hair. Although he’s new to the job at Northwest Foundry Steel Casting and Machinery, his co-workers seem to like him and his boss even offers him a promotion. This new job is a government contract which means a thorough background investigation is required. Shadow knows he’ll be in deep trouble if his real identity is discovered.
Laura Moon (Emily Browning) pays a visit to Maman Brigitte (Hani Furstenberg) and learns Baron Samedi is out of town. Laura’s looking for a way to bring Mad Sweeney back from the dead. Although she claims she’s only doing so to obtain something from his horde so she can get revenge on Wednesday, we know it’s because she genuinely likes the towering leprechaun. Unfortunately, Maman says resurrecting a god isn’t as easy as it used to be.
Although she can’t really help Laura, Maman’s happy to announce Mad Sweeney’s dead body is in good shape.
Laura fumes as she wheels Mad Sweeney’s body away in a shopping cart covered by a tarp. She’s not exactly gentle when she pushes the cart down a short flight of stairs. Mad Sweeney’s body – which is in fact in great shape – flies out and lands in the dirt. She carries him into a crypt, arranges his body, and then writes “Get Spear Kill Odin” in marker on Mad Sweeney’s forehead. She then slices open her abdomen and retrieves Sweeney’s coin.
Her strength is waning as she places the coin in Sweeney’s hand. Unfortunately, it falls to the floor and rolls away as Laura’s body disintegrates into dust. (I screamed “No!” watching this as Laura Moon and Mad Sweeney are my favorite American Gods tag team.)
Wednesday reenters Shadow’s life, something which pisses off Shadow to no end. Wednesday reminds “Mike” he was supposed to head to Lakeside, Wisconsin, and Shadow reminds him he’s no longer his man. Shadow, who’s figured out Wednesday set it up so that he’d have to pass a background check, warns Wednesday to stay away. He’s done playing Odin’s games.
Meanwhile, Mr. World (Crispin Glover) slips into a different form. He appears to his minions gathered around a conference table as Ms. World (Dominique Jackson) and they’re impressed with his new form. Ms. World’s unhappy about the social media response of her team which was supposed to ensure the first components of their new project (building a virtual church of the mind) trends on all platforms. Instead, video of Odin crowd-surfing is generating all the buzz.
Ms. World demands her team make people pay attention to them, not Odin and the Old Gods. They need to do more to control people’s minds.
Technical Boy (Bruce Langley) arrives at the meeting and quickly expresses his approval of Mr. World’s new look. She reminds everyone that Wednesday becomes more powerful with all this attention. Ms. World also warns her minions Wednesday only needs to throw a lightning bolt into the power grid to take them offline. One minion makes the mistake of disagreeing with her and she bashes him to smithereens with a bat. Blood squirts everywhere as he’s taken permanently offline.
She warns her remaining underlings they will suffer the same fate if they disappoint her.
Technical Boy asks for a moment alone, confessing he’s concerned Ms. World’s angry with him. She ticks off a list of things he’s done wrong including basically declaring war on Shadow Moon, messing up his own upgrade, and not delivering Bilquis. Technical Boy explains he’s playing it slow with Bilquis but remains optimistic she’ll come around to their side.
Ms. World orders Technical Boy to finish up with Bilquis as well as explain why he hasn’t procured funding for their project. Technical Boy says it’s because of the huge expense of creating a “digital pipeline direct into every cerebral cortex” and that bankers don’t want to lend $20 million to a yet-to-be-developed technology that will alter humans forever. Plus, he believes asking the humans for money for the project makes them appear weak.
Ms. World reminds him the humans need to be convinced to fork over the funds in order to feel like they’re the ones actually building the project. Once it’s done, the New Gods will control it and wipe out the Old Gods. She adds that while the other Old Gods might not be powerful enough to hurt them, Wednesday is. Ms. World declares she’s taking care of that problem by taking Wednesday out of the game.
And back to the Shadow Moon story we go… Shadow is returning home when he spots cops knocking at his door. Wednesday’s parked nearby and Shadow flips him off as he hurriedly walks away. Shadow winds up at a diner and Wednesday follows, showing up uninvited at his table. Wednesday offers Shadow the opportunity to pepper him with questions, and Shadow’s first inquiry is to whether he’s truly his father. Wednesday, as usual, talks in circles and his answer angers Shadow.
Wednesday admits his relationship with Shadow’s mom was a mistake because she was too young. Wednesday confirms he did love her but couldn’t follow her when she left America. If he left, he would cease to exist per the rules of gods who come to America. Wednesday attempts to convince Shadow he’s just trying to save the human race, but, again, Shadow’s having none of this.
Wednesday calls the New Gods parasites that allow humans to indulge in their most destructive instincts. Shadow doesn’t know whether to believe Wednesday or not, but he’s done with this conversation for now. As he attempts to leave, Wednesday grabs his arm and tells him he needs him. Shadow asks why and Wednesday replies, “Because war is coming, Shadow, and if I don’t have the loyalty of my own son, how can I expect support from anyone else?”
Wednesday hits the road with Shadow in an old RV which he confirms is Betty in a new form. They’re on the road to see Wisakedjak (aka Whiskey Jack), a Native American deity who doesn’t exactly get along with Wednesday. They haven’t been on speaking terms in hundreds of years – a fact that doesn’t surprise Shadow in the least.
As they drive, Wednesday answers Shadow’s questions about the New Gods. He confirms they’re both dangerous and powerful but doesn’t sound worried. Shadow turns his questions to more personal topics, asking again who he is. Wednesday replies, “You are the son of the Allfather so walk this path with me and greatness shall be yours.”
Wednesday doesn’t actually reply when Shadow asks if he’s a god, too. Instead, he turns his attention to the road where up ahead minions sent by Ms. World have set up a barricade across the road. He momentarily hits the brakes before speeding ahead, rising from the driver’s seat and instructing Shadow to take over.
Those set up on the road prepare to fire but Wednesday concentrates, symbols appear, and he instructs Shadow to take a hard right. Shadow hesitates and Wednesday suggests he trust himself on this. Shadow speeds forward a few yards more and then turns the wheel to the right. The RV’s lit by blinding yellow light and appears on the verge of overturning. It settles and Shadow steps out into another dimension lit up like the aurora borealis.
Half an hour into season three episode one we catch up with Bilquis (Yetide Badaki) as she’s scrolling through her Sheba app looking at available men. None seem to be to her liking. Technical Boy shows up and although she attempts to send him away, he pushes his way into her home. After reminding Bilquis he rescued her from sleeping in doorways, he asks that she join the New Gods and their war against Wednesday. Bilquis refuses.
Although Wednesday didn’t help her when she was down, Bilquis is fully aware Technical Boy did so only to get her on the New Gods’ side. Bilquis has no intention of going to war ever again.
Graham Greene and Ricky Whittle in ‘American Gods’ season 3 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Wednesday and Shadow arrive back at the RV, with Wednesday warning that once they enter it it’s easy to get lost. They step through and are transported into a forest. Birds chirp, the sun shines through tall trees, and up ahead Shadow spots a man by a campfire. It’s Wisakedjak (Graham Greene) and he announces he’s been waiting for Shadow. Wednesday’s nowhere to be seen and Wisakedjak tells Shadow Wednesday’s on the wrong path.
“The twilight of the gods and the end of humanity are at hand. But you have a destiny to fulfill so don’t screw it up or everything will come to an end,” says Wisakedjak. He admits he doesn’t know what that destiny is but there are those who do.
Shadow looks into the flames and sees figures but doesn’t know who they are. Wisakedjak says once Shadow’s head and heart are in alignment, he will know the answer to their identities.
Wednesday shows up and Wisakedjak tells him he’s not welcome there. That doesn’t deter Wednesday from joining them and discussing their upcoming war against the New Gods. Wisakedjak remains angry that Odin’s followers slaughtered his people and stole their land, blaming Wednesday for allowing that to happen.
Wednesday wants to mend fences but Wisakedjak refuses to agree to join his war.
Wednesday and Shadow exit the RV, stepping out into a chilly North Dakota. An old VW van pulls up with Cordelia (Ashley Reyes) driving. Wednesday introduces her as his fiancé and she announces they should hit the road immediately to Utah to beat the storm. Shadow’s confused about their choice of destination and Wednesday explains they’re off to see another old friend of his. Wednesday offers Shadow a ride, and Shadow accepts but says he’ll find his own place to lay low. Wednesday suggests Lakeside, telling him there’s a paid apartment waiting for him there and he’ll be safe.
Shadow declines and again asserts he’s going to make his own way. Wednesday’s okay with that and agrees to drop Shadow off at the nearest bus stop. Although he turned down Lakeside, Wednesday tries to hand him the apartment keys just in case Shadow changes his mind.
They hop into the van and Shadow instantly recognizes it as a new version of Betty. “Same soul, different chassis,” confirms Wednesday.
They drop Shadow off at a bus station after dark. His attempts to buy a ticket to, well, anywhere other than Lakeside don’t work. Every bus is canceled to Chicago, Kansas City, Springfield, etc., etc., etc. Shadow chuckles as he realizes he’s being forced to head to Lakeside against his will and that Wednesday put the apartment key in his jacket.
Hours later Shadow arrives in Lakeside and heads into the general store. The clerk can’t believe his coat is so thin and offers him a cup of coffee to warm up. She’s super friendly and overly talkative, and even calls up a friend – Chad Mulligan – to take him to Gorman Street. The woman introduces herself as Ann-Marie Hinzelmann (Julia Sweeney), and when Chad (Eric Johnson) arrives it turns out he’s not just helping out with taxi service – he’s also the local cop.
Chad gives Shadow a history of the town as he drives him to Gorman Street. After that small talk ends, he begins questioning Shadow about his visit to Lakeside. Shadow explains his uncle rented a place and he’s planning on checking out the town out for a few days.
Chad issues a friendly warning about Shadow’s neighbor. The neighbor, Marguerite Olsen, runs the paper and Shadow needs to watch what he says in front of her.
Chad drops him off and Shadow tries the door to his apartment. The key breaks off and he heads outside to look for another way in. As he’s trying a door, someone comes up behind him and puts a gun to his head.
Netflix has released a gorgeous new trailer for Malcolm & Marie, a romantic drama starring Emmy Award winner Zendaya (Euphoria) and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman). The sparks fly off the screen in this luscious trailer for the upcoming February 5, 2021 release.
Malcolm & Marie was written and directed by Sam Levinson (Euphoria, Assassination Nation). Levinson also produced along with Zendaya, John David Washington, Kevin Turen, and Ashley Levinson. Will Greenfield, Aaron L. Gilbert, Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, and Scott Mescudi executive produced.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Writer/director Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love.
Working with cinematographer Marcell Rev, Levinson creates a film of rare originality; an ode to the great Hollywood romances as well as a heartfelt expression of faith in the medium’s future.
Poster for ‘Malcolm and Marie’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
