The following is a review of the second episode of season three.Expect spoilers in the plot description.
Thank God for bingewatching! I am back with my review of episode two, in which Claire and Frank are to battle for their political lives, as well as set a direction for the rest of Frank’s first term. So, let’s get to the plot description:
The episode opens with Claire having to defend her nomination publicly. She’s asked specifically about DR Congo, and she answers it rather well. Back at the White House, Underwood is being told that the Democratic Party doesn’t want him to run in 2016. If he does run, he is being informed, the Democratic leadership will not support him. Back at the Ambassador-meeting Mendoza, who said he wouldn’t oppose her, is grilling Claire publicly. And he traps her, when she utters that the military is irrelevant in a specific discussion. The Underwoods are under fire, and Frank postpones a meeting for the third or fourth time. The episode becomes a race for supporters for both Underwoods. Whereas Claire is unable to find support from the Senate, Frank finds out that Terry Womack was the one fielding the idea of a new face for 2016. Continue reading “REVIEW: House of Cards – “Chapter 28””→
The following is a review of the first episode of season three.Expect spoilers in the large plot description.
And they’re back! After waiting for more than a year we’ll finally be able to see Underwood as the Commander in Chief, we’ll finally be able to find out if Doug Stamper truly is dead, and we’ll finally be able to enjoy Spacey’s soliloquys again. Let’s talk about the general plot of this episode: Continue reading “REVIEW: House of Cards – “Chapter 27””→
Batman #39 Cover by Greg Capullo, FCO Plascencia & Danny Miki
The following is a full written review of Batman (Vol. 2) #39 – Written by Scott Snyder, with art by Greg Capullo – Release: February 25th 2015.
The Endgame story of the New 52 Batman-run has been extremely entertaining, and we’re almost at the very end of it. Last month’s issue was great, and today we’ll go into Endgame Part 5 – as Batman seeks out a group from his past to clear his head, and make him understand just what the Joker is up to.
Let’s talk about the cover. I really like it this month. I wasn’t a big fan of the cover in #38, but I like the Joker-centric cover for #39. The chair of victims is extremely morbid, and befitting of the situation the Joker is in. Some may argue that this is another cover that is too simplistic, with not enough going on in the background – but I think that’s a very subjective issue to have with a comic book cover.
Warning – the following plot-summary contains spoilers.
Endgame Part 5 opens with the Caped Crusader having a chat with the Court of Owls, looking for their cooperation in finding this Dionesium and finding answers. Sadly, they refuse to cooperate – and an ancient Talon attacks The Dark Knight. He asks if the Talon remembers the Pale Man being around 400 years ago. We are not explicitly told the answer at this point. At this point we learn that the Joker has infiltrated the armory, and Alfred has taken him on – but is unsuccesful and his right hand is cut off. The World’s Greatest Detective finds out that the only way to get a cure, is to retrieve it from the Joker’s spine, and he seeks out help from the Bat-family…. and the antagonists of Gotham. As Wayne’s plan is set in motion, the A-Story for Batman #39 concludes.
If there’s one thing I didn’t like about the issue, it is how suddenly it ends. Just like that. Sure, I get that there’s one more issue – but for a monthly series, this issue isn’t really chock-full of things we’ll remember, and answers we need. We don’t get the answer about the Pale Man, we don’t see Alfred following his encounter with the Joker, and the story ends just before ‘the big bang’ of Endgame. This isn’t a filler story, this is an important one, but we find no answers in Batman #39.
The artwork in Batman #39’s A-story is spot-on as always. This issue is very graphic, there’s a lot of blood – and it’s not for everyone – but darn it, Capullo and the rest of the art team just does a perfect job once again. I would like to mention how perfect the final image in the A-story is. The Joker looks very much like Two-face here. See how on one side his hair is perfect, his face is clean – but on the other side his hair is gone, and his face looks rotten. Perhaps this is a hint. Perhaps the Joker is rotting right before our eyes – and maybe, just maybe, he eyed this as his very last trick. Maybe he knows that he, the Pale Man, is about to die, maybe that’s why he’s going all out this time.
The B-Story The Last Smile by James Tynion IV & Dustin Nguyen is very interesting. The Doctor we’ve been following tells the inmates the story she’s uncovered. The man she thinks the Joker is – a mere mortal. The convicts don’t like the sound of that. Then our Doctor meets the Joker who reveals he had let her to the story – a story designed by him. Fake. As the convicts break through, she is gifted with a gun and six bullets – as the Joker wanders off. The Joker had fabricated her story. And we don’t know who he is.
The artwork of the B-story is actually very good – probably the best it’s been in the Endgame B-stories. I only thought the Joker wasn’t as scary as he should be, but all in all the artwork was great in the B-story.
Final Grade: B+ – Beautiful artwork is the key for Batman #39, and some might argue that the A-story is too secretive. We don’t learn anything new, really, and the concluding part of Endgame will reveal all. The B-story is excellent, the best B-story yet. For full list of Comic Book Review grades gohere.
The following is a review of the fourth episode of AMC’s Better Call Saul, which premiered in Europe on Netflix this morning.
Hamlindigo Blue? Seriously? – The fourth episode of the first season of the new AMC-hit Better Call Saul gives us a proper introduction to Slippin’ Jimmy McGill. The secretive attorney from Breaking Bad was full-on con-man in the episode Hero, wherein we saw a great flashback – and the original nature of Jimmy. Continue reading “REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Hero””→
For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.
On this, the sixth ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to preview, and talk about, the fandom madness that will become reality in 2016. The thing is that DC isn’t the only comic book company releasing a ‘versus’ film in 2016. On the 6th of May 2016 Marvel Studios releases Captain America: Civil War, which will be an adaptation of the general idea behind the polarizing comic book crossover event ‘Civil War’ by Mark Millar & Steve McNiven.
So far I’ve tiptoed around the fact of the matter that SPOILERS Civil War has been, and will be, about differing opinions or ideologies – specifically Captain America and Iron Man not seeing eye to eye. When Marvel released their Phase 3 lineup they hyped this movie up a lot, and it is the movie I’m most excited about in the MCU, and they even had Downey Jr. and Evans standing in front of eachother – ready to battle. A fun little moment for the fans, but also a preview of what will, no doubt, make the studio a lot of money.
Recently, I was reminded of the marketing ploy that Twilight used to reel in fandoms – Team Edward and Team Jacob. This was a genius move, and I expect Marvel to do the same thing. Team Stark and Team Rogers – which will, in truth, be Team Downey vs. Team Evans. This should help them reel in fanboys/-girls of the actors, as well as us comic book nerds – the ones that day and night discuss who’s the better character. But before I move on, do note that I won’t pull any punches while talking about the Civil War comic book – expect some spoilers. And at the end of this post I’ll tell you with which character my allegiance lies.
Here we are again on the eve of the Academy Awards. This year I had my heart set on Boyhood for Best Picture and Richard Linklater for Best Director – boy was I upset. Eventually Inarritu took it all, and I mean it all, even the screenplay award they were nominated for. I’m just saying, Academy – you should at least have given Linklater the Director Award if you were going to give Inarritu the scriptwriting award… Continue reading “REACTION: Academy Awards 2015 Results”→
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.
Though it’s nice to see Howard Stark, played by Dominic Cooper, again, I didn’t really like the opening of the episode – sure Carter is as cool as ever, but I didn’t like how Jarvis was acting in the negotiation – actually I thought James D’Arcy’s character was subpar in this episode.
The little ‘game’ at the Griffith was entertaining – though Howard doesn’t seem like his own character – more like a caricature of his son. If he is to have a huge role on this show then he needs to be more than that.
Back at the SSR station I wasn’t very pleased to begin with. I didn’t particularly care for the Sousa-interrogation, though it was nice to hear more about Enver Gjokaj’s character. Thompson’s character did the only sensible thing, and his part in the interrogation was what we needed – sure Thompson can be very arrogant, but he was the smarter Agent of the two during the interrogation.
One of my biggest pet-peeves is seeing Americans act as a Germans. There are a lot, and I mean a LOT, of great German actors – or even just central-european actors – that could’ve done a greater job than Jack Conley as Ernst Müller.
This episode did have a great way of making it feel important in the grand scheme of the MCU. By adding the vial of Steve Rogers’ blood the whole operation felt important suddenly – Peggy’s reaction was spot-on. This was when Dominic Cooper finally did something worthwhile – his argument in the case of the Rogers-vial was much more sound than his portrayal in the beginning of the episode. Hayley Atwell was perfect, I really mean that – and her argument in the giant discussion was touching, incredibly so.
And STAN LEE!! I love that man, great to see him at the very end. Oh and what about Dottie Underwood? That was one hell of a surprise. I wonder who she really is.
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.
As explained after Bridge and Tunnel, I am starting to like the vibe Carter and Jarvis are giving off when they’re together. The dialogue is fun, and D’Arcy is very entertaining. At the beginning of this episode, he was as stellar as ever when delivering humorous dialogue.
As Jarvis was interrogated I was worried that it would fall flat – that it wouldn’t feel as real as it should. Thankfully, the show managed to keep us entertained during the interrogation. They handled it rather well. Jarvis is a very interesting character, and I’m glad that Chad Michael Murray had something to do in this episode by interacting with D’Arcy’s character.
I really enjoyed the debate by the pier between Jarvis and Carter – Jarvis was spot-on – and his subsequent phonecall to Sousa was hilarious. Jarvis and Carter are winning me over, I am starting to really like this show. Sidenote, is it just me or did you also find it weird that Sousa and Krzeminski were signalling that they were on their way to the pier? The SSR should be secret and silent, not loud like they were going to the pier.
The death of Krzeminski adds to the drama of the show, and also aids Carter somewhat. Hard to know how to react to that scene. His death means her secret is safe for now, though the reaction of Rose and the gals was tough to stomach.
The silence was chilling. The fact that they blamed Stark for what happened is good for the show, so I’m not complaining. I liked that Peggy “English” opened up to Angie at the end of the episode, Peggy needs to open up – she seems like too much of a loner (as I’ve mentioned before). This was a great episode. Great story, great character interaction and a great episode conclusion.
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.
We need more great female characters, and I fully expected one to come out of Agent Carter. One of the things I love about this show is how they write Carter as a strong female character – she’s equally smart, and like she proved in the premiere she doesn’t need anyone’s protection. She’s perfectly capable.
One of the great things about episodes following the pilot – and what’s great about sequels in general – is that they don’t have to explain themselves or their characters. This can help any show settle in, and in Bridge and Tunnel this show becomes much more settled. No actions are forced, and the plot is much more nimble and free-flowing on the screen.
I love The Captain America Adventure Program radio opening – it fits in perfectly with the time period – and I like to see how the general world is coping with people like Cap having fought for them. Having Carter as the star, the hero, when hearing the radio program later in the episode was also perfect. Atwell is great again, and her little attempt at finding the supposed photograph of her at the club was as fun as it should be.
I am beginning to really like Jarvis, who is actually quite fun in this episode. He wants to help, he feels that it is his responsibility – which doesn’t always jibe with the very capable loner, Peggy Carter. I want to see more from Lyndsy Fonseca’s character – and she did appear quite a lot in this episode – I really like that actress.
This show is really pleasing me, even though I don’t care a lot about Leviathan yet. The characters are interesting, and the way they write Peggy Carter is stellar – this show is entertaining, much more than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was 2 episodes in.
For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things DC. This is a test-run, however. Meaning that if this goes well, it’ll be a permanent fixture on I’m Jeffrey Rex in 2015, like Marvelous Monday is right now.
Here we are. Recently I asked for your opinion on whether I should start writing about DC. I’ve really enjoyed writing about Marvel every week, so this was a natural step for me. So why did I choose Saturday? I think Friday was off the table from the get-go, as was Sunday. And seeing as I wanted it late in the week, I thought Saturday was a comfortable day to place it.
To start off with I thought it would be fitting to talk about what DC means to me, and why it matters. Obviously Marvel is the most important comic book company for me – they have most of my very favorite characters – but DC holds a special place in my heart, specifically for specific characters that I love, some that I am intrigued by – and some that I’ve grown to, uhm, dislike. Continue reading “Detective Comics Saturday #1 – Why DC Matters To Me”→
The following is a review of the second episode of season three. Expect spoilers in the plot description.
I'm Jeffrey Rex 